The first International Space Summit in Paris has seen a series of major India-related space agreements, strengthening cooperation between French and Indian companies. The summit has brought together governments, space agencies, companies and scientists to discuss the future of space activities and their growing role in society.

The summit has recorded 51 announcements worth around €20 billion. The agreements highlight the economic and scientific growth of the space sector. They also underline the need for international cooperation to protect orbital and frequency resources and promote the sharing of scientific data. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also scheduled to address the summit later on Thursday.

Among the key announcements, French launch-services provider RIDE! France announced a new agreement with India’s TakeMeToSpace. Under the deal, RIDE! will launch two new satellites for the Indian company. TakeMeToSpace is India’s first designer of orbital data centres. The agreement builds on several years of cooperation between RIDE! and Indian space companies. Their recent collaboration included the successful integration, launch and return of a European atmospheric re-entry capsule aboard India’s PSLV launcher.

Safran Space France has also signed multiple contracts with India’s Dhruva Space. The agreements are worth more than €5 million and aim to strengthen the strategic space partnership between France and India. Under the contracts, Safran Space will provide critical technologies, communication systems, inertial navigation units, optical payloads and ground stations.

These systems will support India’s planned SBS-III space-surveillance constellation. The programme aims to deploy 52 satellites between 2027 and 2030. The partnership reflects the growing role of India’s New Space sector and French industry’s support for India’s efforts to build sovereign space capabilities. It could also lead to further cooperation under future Space-based Surveillance (SBS) programmes. Safran has had a long-standing role in India’s space programme, including its contribution to the Chandrayaan-III lunar mission and expansion of its industrial presence in the country.

Another agreement was signed between French company U-Space France and India’s AXISCADES. The companies will explore opportunities in the Indian microsatellite market and work to meet growing commercial and institutional demand. The agreement combines French space technology with India’s industrial capabilities. It also sets out a gradual roadmap under the Make in India initiative.

The Paris summit seeks to promote direct discussions on the future of the global space sector. High-level talks, announcements and workshops are focusing on areas such as the growing use of low Earth orbits, the space economy, major scientific research, Moon exploration and skill development. The summit also aims to bring governments, international organisations and private companies closer to coordinate their priorities and future actions.