Ahmedabad: A policy paper titled ‘The Vertical Economy: A unified policy framework for India’s drone, near space and space sectors’ was launched during the Space Economy and Drone Innovation Summit, organized from August 6 to 8 in the city.The document is prepared by the Knowledge Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI).Experts at the meet highlighted need for an integrated approach from 400 feet to 400 km – encompassing areas under Ministry of Civil Aviation and DG of Civil Aviation, Drone Rules, Department of Space and Indian Space Policy, 2023. The experts pointed at China that recently named its low altitude economy a ‘strategic industry.’Among the recommendations, experts called for policy governing near space where DGCA, IN-SPACe and Ministry of Defence can work in tandem.The event was jointly organized by INDEXTb and iHub along with KCCI. The event saw participation of startups, drone and defence technology firms and academia. Some of the themes covered under panels included need for capacity building and trained human resources, scalable tech venture for drone innovations, and space-based data for earth observation and geospatial intelligence.
