India and Australia continue to enhance cooperation in the space sector through strategic discussions aimed at addressing regulatory and market challenges. As part of these efforts, SIA-India and SIA-Australia jointly hosted PRISM (Perspectives on Regulatory Issues in Strategic Markets) 2.0 on February 20, 2025. The webinar focused on export controls, technology transfer, and research and development (R&D) cooperation to support industry-level partnerships.
The PRISM initiative, launched by SIA-India, seeks to address trade barriers in strategic sectors such as space and dual-use technologies. PRISM 1.0, held in November 2024, concentrated on India-U.S. export control regulations, while PRISM 2.0 aimed to advance India-Australia space collaboration.
The event featured industry representatives and policymakers, including Vinod Kumar from IN-SPACe, David Gottlieb from Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Nathan Davis from Austrade, and executives from organizations such as Skyroot Aerospace, Space Machines Company, and Clifford Chance. Discussions centered on aligning regulatory frameworks, intellectual property protections, and investment strategies to facilitate space-related trade and innovation.
Australia’s involvement in India’s Gaganyaan mission was also highlighted. The country is providing tracking and recovery support through its Cocos (Keeling) Islands ground station, assisting with astronaut recovery operations and contingency planning for ascent phase aborts near Australian waters.
India’s space industry, currently valued at $8.6 billion, is projected to grow at a 16% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) to reach $44 billion by 2033. The sector has seen significant expansion in the past five years, with over 190 startups securing more than $300 million in private investment in 2023. Australia’s space industry is growing at 7% annually, with its workforce increasing by 30% in the past five years, now comprising 17,000 professionals across more than 600 organizations.
India and Australia are working to improve export opportunities by addressing regulatory complexities, including compliance with International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and Export Administration Regulations (EAR). Under the India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA), over 96% of Indian exports to Australia receive preferential access, benefiting space-sector components such as satellite hardware and ground station equipment.
Future priorities for collaboration include mutual certification frameworks for export controls, security protocols, and mechanisms for resolving commercial disputes. The India-Australia Bilateral Investment Treaty’s annual termination clause was noted as a factor requiring stable investment policies. Additional investment programs discussed include the Space Maitri Program, the Australia-India Business Exchange, the Australia-India Strategic Research Fund, and an $18 million allocation for collaborative space projects under the International Space Investment (ISI) Initiative India Project.
SIA-India plans to expand the PRISM dialogue series to include Japan, France, and Germany, leading up to a QUAD-focused session at the India Space Congress 2025, scheduled for June 25-27. A report on PRISM 2.0 is expected to be released soon, providing further insights for industry stakeholders and policymakers.
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