Empahsising the urgent need to strengthen PNT (positioning, navigating and timing) technologies in India, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman Dr S Somnath said here today that much needed to be done to “improve the penetration of NavIC” or Navigation with Indian Constellation for “handheld devices” across the country.
Speaking at the inaugural programme of the Catalyst and Indian Defence Conclave 2023, Dr Somnath said that while ISRO “will create high value technologies which will be required in the space sector where about 200-300 companies are already contributing even as many among them have created a niche for themselves”.
Mr Ajay Kumar Sood, the Principle Scientific Advisor to the government, National Security Advisory Board (NSAB) Chairman P S Raghavan and Invest India MD & CEO Mr Nivriti Rai also spoke during the programme organised by Bharat Shakti. One of the knowledge sessions at the programme was on ‘Utilisation of New and Emerging technologies for Civil and Military Domains’.
Maintaining that private sector companies and start-ups were assuming greater importance, especially in the domain of communications and PNT services, Dr Somnath said that the “strategic capabilities of communications infrastructure” cannot be overstated.
His comments come in the backdrop of media reports that most Indian smartphone manufacturers, including Lava and Bhagwati (Micromax) were “struggling to meet their incremental targets under the production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme for the third year in a row in FY24”.
While hinting that Indian players in the smartphone segment might seek the PLI scheme’s extension till FY26, the reports said that global iPhone makers such as FoxConn (Hon Hai), Wistron and Samsung “have been meeting their targets. Even Pegatron, another iPhone manufacturer in India will also likely meet its targets for FY24.
In the context of the development of space-based technologies, Dr Somnath said that India’s “space economy was vibrant” and that it was very clear that the Centre is in favour of “strengthening private partnership” in the strategic sector.
On his part, Mr Ajay Kumar Sood, the Principle Scientific Advisor to the government “technology was a key player in the fusion between civil and military sectors involved in the country’s security” and that the Centre’s Anusandhan Research Foundation was focused on developing a “synergy between various ministries, organisations and funding agencies so that the government is able to approach other partners, including industry and academia, can come under this body”.
Bengaluru-based Elena Geo Systems has developed vital technology required for meeting the target. Lt Col V S Velan, the CTO of Elena Geo Systems, said during the event that the company has the right chip and the required technology.
