Space Technology: The Next Business Frontier

Deadline: 18-May-21

The U.S. Mission to India is seeking eligible applicants for its Space Technology: The Next Business Frontier project. The project will bring together forty (40) entrepreneurs, startups, investors, government/space agency representatives, and other stakeholders from the Indo-Pacific region for a three-day conclave which will focus on challenges, impediments, and the way forward to realize the full potential of the space technology sector.

Project Components

The project will have three major components:

Virtual working groups
Three-day conclave/launch of the Indo-Pacific Association of Space Entrepreneurs (IPASE)
White Paper recommendations

Project Objectives

Within two months of the project start date: Form four Working Groups and identify the four key themes/issues that will be discussed during the conclave. Members will include representatives from leading private sector space technology companies and governmental agencies such as SpaceX, IN-SPACe, NASA, and others.
Within four months of the project start date: Connect the Working Group members to each other and organize at least three virtual meetings of each of the four Working Groups. At the end of the individual Working Group meetings, organize at least one plenary virtual meeting with all the members of the four Working Groups to create an agenda for the three-day conclave.
Within six months of the project start date: Host a three-day conclave in Bengaluru, Karnataka for 40 participants from India, the United States, and Indo-Pacific countries. The applicant must outline an alternate virtual option for the conclave in case health and safety concerns caused by the COVID-19 pandemic do not allow for an in-person event.
Within 10 months after the project start date: Compile a White Paper of the recommendations as the outcome of the conclave, which will include details about the newly formed Indo-Pacific Association for Space Entrepreneurs (IPASE) and its goals and objectives as evidenced by sharing the draft White Paper with officials of the U.S. Mission in India.
Within 12 months after the project start date: Share the approved version of the White Paper widely with stakeholders in the space sector in India, the United States, and Indo-Pacific countries.

Funding Information

Estimated Total Project Funding: USD 80,000
Estimated Award Ceiling (Maximum): USD80,000
Estimated Award Floor (Minimum): USD 50,000
Length of Project Period: 12 months

Project Audience(s)

Entrepreneurs, startups, innovators in the space technology sector in India, the United States and other Indo-Pacific countries;
Representatives from governments and space agencies including NASA (U.S.) and ISRO (India) and other Indo-Pacific countries;
Academics, think tank representatives, and business journalists focusing on the space sector from India, the United States, and select Indo-Pacific countries;
Representatives of local formal/informal space technology business associations.

Eligibility Criteria

The following organizations are eligible to apply:
- Not-for-profit organizations
- Civil society/non-governmental organizations
- Think tanks
- Public and private educational institutions
- Public International Organizations and Governmental institutions
Organizations may sub-contract with other entities, but only one, non-profit, non-governmental entity can be the prime recipient of the award. When sub-contracting with other entities, the responsibilities of each entity must be clearly defined in the proposal.
Cost sharing or matching is not required for this funding opportunity.
Pre-award costs are not an allowable expense for this funding opportunity.
This award does not allow:
- Projects relating to partisan political activity;
- Charitable or development activities;
- Construction projects;
- Projects that support specific religious activities;
- Fund-raising campaigns;
- Lobbying for specific legislation or programs
- Scientific research or surveys;
- Commercial projects;
- Projects intended primarily for the growth or institutional development of the organization;
- Projects that duplicate existing projects;
- Illegal activities.