The Northeast can play a much larger role in India’s rapidly evolving space economy by leveraging its unique geography, strategic location, talent and institutional capabilities, speakers said at the Northeast India Space Workshop 2026 held in Guwahati.
The two-day workshop, titled “Leveraging Space Technology: Regional Transformation to Global Reach”, is being organised by the Space Industry Association of India (SIA-India) in partnership with the North Eastern Space Applications Centre (NESAC). The first day focused on how space technology can contribute not only to regional development but also help the Northeast emerge as an important participant in India’s expanding space ecosystem.
The discussions explored opportunities in space-enabled connectivity, disaster management, Earth observation, geospatial intelligence, innovation, manufacturing and national security. Participants also examined ways to enable regional enterprises, startups and skilled professionals to participate in emerging national and international opportunities.
SIA-India President Dr Subba Rao Pavuluri said the organisation was taking its national space-industry dialogue beyond New Delhi for the first time by bringing it to the Northeast. He said the move represented more than a geographical shift and reflected the changing nature of India’s space economy, which is becoming increasingly distributed, private-sector driven and focused on practical applications.
The workshop also discussed the possibility of developing a shared Vision 2030 for the Northeast’s participation in India’s New Space economy, with Assam emerging as a potential economic and institutional hub for the wider region.
North Eastern Council Secretary Satinder Kumar Bhalla said the focus should extend beyond considering what the Northeast would look like in 2030. He stressed the need to develop a vision in the present that can shape the region’s journey towards 2047.
Participants emphasised that space-based infrastructure should increasingly be treated as an important component of regional development and resilience. In Assam, this could involve wider use of satellite communication, Earth observation, geospatial intelligence and space-derived data in planning and delivering services across key sectors.
Science and Technology Secretary of Assam Pallav Gopal Jha said the real objective should not be measured by the number of satellites launched but by how effectively space technology can turn data and real-time information into action. He stressed the importance of ensuring that information reaches citizens, officials and field-level workers in time to help them prepare for and respond to emerging situations.
The workshop also examined opportunities for local industries, MSMEs and startups to develop capabilities and establish stronger supply-chain connections in areas such as space and semiconductor manufacturing. Speakers highlighted the importance of infrastructure, skills, investment and supportive policy frameworks to build such an ecosystem.
NESAC Director Dr S.P. Agarwal said the Northeast’s strategic importance goes well beyond its geographical share of India. He pointed to the region’s biodiversity, proximity to Southeast Asia and strategic location as factors that could enable it to make a significant contribution to the national space economy.
Agarwal said the Northeast should not remain merely a consumer of space technology but should develop into a creator of space-based solutions by fostering startups, innovation and indigenous capabilities.
The region’s location could also provide opportunities for deeper technological and economic links with Southeast Asia and the wider Indo-Pacific. Its challenging terrain and vulnerability to natural disasters make it a potential testing ground for technologies related to connectivity, disaster resilience, Earth observation, geospatial intelligence and border awareness.
Solutions developed to address the Northeast’s specific challenges could eventually be adapted for use in other parts of India and potentially across the wider Indo-Pacific region.
SIA-India Director General Anil Prakash said the Northeast needs to develop the scale and ecosystem necessary to support innovation, startups and advanced technology. He said the objective should not simply be to bring technologies into the region, but to enable local talent and enterprises to develop solutions and take them to national and global markets.
As part of this effort, SIA-India is working with the Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) and the Assam government to establish a Centre for Space Entrepreneurship in Assam. The proposed centre is expected to provide startups, innovators and emerging enterprises with access to mentorship, industry networks, technical expertise and market opportunities.
The centre will also be linked with the Centre of Excellence in Space Technology in Bengaluru, creating opportunities for the exchange of ideas, knowledge, experience and best practices between innovators in the Northeast and established space-technology ecosystems elsewhere in the country.
The workshop brought together policymakers, government officials, representatives of space institutions, defence and security experts and industry leaders. Participants included North Eastern Council Secretary Satinder Kumar Bhalla, Assam Science and Technology Secretary Pallav Gopal Jha, NESAC Director Dr S.P. Agarwal, SIA-India President Dr Subba Rao Pavuluri, SIA-India Director General Anil Prakash, former Eastern Command Commander Lt Gen Rana Kalita, AISF Managing Director Dr Nayanjyoti Goswami, Spacefaring Technologies Managing Director Dr Saraj J. Saikia and senior representatives of BSNL, Hughes Communications India, Gilat Satellite Networks, KPMG India, XDLINX Space Labs, GalaxEye and other organisations.
The second day of the workshop will continue the discussions with the participation of Tripura Governor Indra Sena Reddy Nallu, adding a state-level perspective to the deliberations.
With India’s space economy moving towards greater commercialisation and wider participation, the workshop underlined the opportunity for the Northeast to move beyond being a user of space technology and emerge as a centre for innovation, enterprise and space-based solutions.