Lauding them for showing the courage to take up challenges in a new realm, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told a group of space entrepreneurs that they could become the strongest magnet for attracting global scientific and technological talent to India.

Ahead of the National Space Day on Sunday — the third anniversary of Chandrayaan-3 landing on the Moon in 2023 — Modi met founders and CEOs of over 20 space start-ups, and congratulated them for the successes they have had so far. “You have shown tremendous courage. It is great to see India’s youth working in areas like this. It was difficult to imagine just a few years ago. Now, you can become the magnet that attracts a global talent pool in science and technology to India… Our private space ecosystem can become a major force for India and for the world,” Modi told the young entrepreneurs, according to transcripts and videos of the meeting released on Sunday.

“People working in this field anywhere in the world should think that if they have to make a career, and do something great, they should go to India, get connected to India’s space ecosystem, start working with one of your companies. I believe very strongly that because of you we can attract a global talent pool to India. And that can become a big strength for India,” he said. India has opened up its space sector for domestic private players, offering favourable policies and incentives for companies wanting to work in this area. Over 400 space start-ups — like Agnikul, Skyroot and GalaxEye — have come up in the last few years.

GalaxEye co-founder Pranit Mehta told the Prime Minister that many Indians working in other countries were showing interest in coming back.

Antariksh Parichha and Monika Ekal of the Bhubaneswar-based company Serendipity Space met Modi for the first time. Their start-up recently tested a satellite that can work as a space-based manufacturing facility for certain drugs. “It was a great opportunity for us to tell the Prime Minister about the work we are doing. He is extremely enthusiastic about the space sector, and very sharp in grasping things. He could immediately connect the technologies being built to the real value created on the ground for the people – which is the ultimate measure of the work we are trying to do,” Parichcha said.

“He (Modi) wanted to know the interest of pharmaceutical companies in India in trying out the facility being created by Serendipity Space, and asked us about our plans to scale up. I think this meeting was very important for mature and emerging space start-ups… it was a huge boost for our morale,” he said.

Modi promised the young entrepreneurs the government’s support and a stable space policy. “I have always been of the opinion that whatever decision we take, we should be consistent with our policy. And I am happy that you have reposed trust in our effort. You are taking immense risks. It is possible that you would sometimes stumble, but you should have the confidence that you will continue to have government support,” he said. Modi encouraged the space start-ups to explore new applications of their technologies and focus on how these can make people’s lives easier.