India-US Space Business Forum opens in Bengaluru, focuses on collaboration

The US-India Space Business Forum, a two-day conference aimed at strengthening space cooperation between India and the United States, began on Tuesday, bringing together senior government officials, space agencies and industry leaders from both countries.

The forum is focused on enhancing policy coordination, aligning regulatory frameworks and unlocking commercial opportunities while advancing collaboration under the US-India Civil Space Joint Working Group (CSJWG). Discussions emphasised moving beyond traditional cooperation towards co-creation in the space sector.

Addressing the gathering, Carey Arun, US Consul General, noted the participation of 14 American space companies along with officials from the US Department of Commerce. He praised India’s achievements in space science and innovation and expressed confidence in deeper bilateral collaboration in the years ahead.

The chief guest and keynote speaker, V Narayanan, ISRO chief, traced India-US space cooperation back to 1975, describing it as a human-centric and application-oriented partnership.

🚀 🌌 🪐 Our keynote address at the U.S-India Space Business Forum in Bengaluru featured an address from
Dr. V. Narayanan, Secretary, Department of Space, Government of India.

Dr. Narayanan touched on @isro and India’s space program and the impact and contribution of the United… pic.twitter.com/VauinIhZI1

— US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (@USISPForum) February 10, 2026

He highlighted key joint milestones such as Chandrayaan-1, the NISAR mission, cooperation under the Gaganyaan programme, and the upcoming Axiom-4 mission. Dr Narayanan reiterated India’s openness to global collaboration, investment and shared growth in the expanding space economy.

“The Indian space programme was started not to compete with anybody but to bring advanced space technology for the benefit of the common man of India,” said Narayanan.

“Today, we strongly believe it is not only for the common man of India, but it also serves the global community. And it is a human-centric, application-oriented program,” he said, calling for deeper international partnerships in space exploration and commerce.

Welcoming US delegates and industry leaders, he said the forum symbolised the growing convergence between India and the United States in the space sector.

“This type of programme should be collaborative; an internationally collaborative one, and in that context the US-India Space Business Forum has brought almost 14 business partners from the USA,” he added.

With inputs from agencies