National Center of GIS & Space Applications

What National Center of GIS & Space Applications does

The National Center of GIS and Space Applications (NCGSA) is a Pakistan government-funded research and education initiative, established in 2020 as one of five flagship programs of the Higher Education Commission (HEC). It functions as a federated national research center comprising seven state-of-the-art labs embedded inside seven partner universities: the Spatial Decision Support System Lab (SDSSL), Space and Astrophysics Research Lab (SARL), GNSS and Space Education Research Lab (GSERL), Small Satellite Technology and Research Lab (SSTRL), Agricultural Remote Sensing Lab (ARSL), GIS & Space Applications in Geosciences Lab (G-SAGL), and the Remote Sensing, GIS and Climatic Research Lab. NCGSA's Secretariat and core infrastructure are hosted at the Institute of Space Technology (IST) in Islamabad, including the IST Astronomical Observatory equipped with Pakistan's only dedicated Lunt 152mm Solar Telescope.

The center's core technology stack spans remote sensing, GNSS, small satellite systems (CanSat and CubeSat), agricultural remote sensing, geo-information science, and astronomy/astrophysics. Its portfolio includes the Student Satellite Design and Development Program, Space Summer School, RSGIS and GNSS Summer Schools, Astronomy Camps, the CanSat laboratory model, and a new 4K digital planetarium. NCGSA also produces mass-media science communication products, including the 2025 climate-change telefilm 'Jahan Aur Bhi Hain – Beyond the Blue'. Its flagship Research Fund program allocated PKR 200 million in 2021 to support 13 joint industry-academia projects at up to PKR 15 million each.

The business model is primarily government grant-funded rather than commercial. NCGSA receives HEC appropriations and distributes research funding to academia-industry collaborations. Modest direct revenue comes from program fees (Astronomy Camps at PKR 5,000/participant, World Space Week registration at PKR 10,000/institution) and small film festival prize pools. End users include Pakistani university faculty, secondary and undergraduate students, researchers, and remote/underserved school communities reached through the Space Destination Schools program. The center serves as Pakistan's national coordinating body for World Space Week and operates the National Astronomy Education Coordinator role under the IAU/OAE, while partnering with SUPARCO, HEC, BRAIA, CAST, JAXA, and ICESCO for international programming.

Name

National Center of GIS & Space Applications

Legal name

National Center of GIS and Space Applications

Website

https://ncgsa.org.pk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

NCGSA is a Pakistani government-funded research and education center under HEC, operating 7 labs across 7 universities to build national capacity in GIS, remote sensing, GNSS, small satellites, and astronomy for students, researchers, and educators.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Islamabad

HQ country

Pakistan

HQ region

Asia

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: NCGSA is one of five major initiatives of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan, receiving government funding to develop capabilities in emerging technologies. The Research Fund program was allocated PKR 200 million to support cutting-edge research.
2. Workshop and Program Fees: Revenue generated from educational programs including Astronomy Camps (PKR 5,000 per participant) and various training workshops. These programs provide hands-on learning experiences in space science and technology.
3. Film Festival Participation: 180 Seconds Space Film Festival (180SSFF) invites submissions globally with awards including PKR 50,000 cash prizes per genre, funded through program sponsorship and partnerships.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

NCGSA is a national research and education center operating 7 state-of-the-art labs across 7 partner Pakistani universities, providing research, training, and outreach programs in GIS, Remote Sensing, GNSS, Small Satellite Technology, Astronomy, and Space Applications. Its core offerings include research lab facilities, student satellite development programs, international conferences, research funding for joint academia-industry projects, and nationwide space education outreach initiatives.

Product overview

The National Center of GIS and Space Applications (NCGSA) is a research and education center under Pakistan's Higher Education Commission, comprising 7 state-of-the-art research labs (SDSSL, SARL, GSERL, SSTRL, ARSL, G-SAGL, and Remote Sensing/GIS/Climatic Research Lab) across 7 partner universities. NCGSA offers a portfolio of products and services including research laboratories focused on geo-information science, satellite technology, remote sensing, and astrophysics; educational programs such as Summer Internship, Space Summer School, GNSS/RSGIS Summer Schools, and workshops; outreach initiatives including World Space Week, Space Destination Schools, and Astronomy Outreach; international conferences (ICASE, ICAST); competitions like the 180 Seconds Space Film Festival and Geo Hackathon; and research funding programs. The center also produces science communication products including telefilms and has developed an IST Astronomical Observatory with advanced telescope equipment. Together, these offerings form a comprehensive ecosystem supporting space science education, research capacity building, and public engagement across Pakistan.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ICAST: International Conference on Applications of Space Science and Technology - Pakistan's largest space event uniting legacies of ICASE and SUPARCO's International Conference on Space
• ICASE
• Space Summer School
• 180 Seconds Space Film Festival (180SSFF)
• World Space Week Pakistan

Products and services

• Spatial Decision Support System Lab (SDSSL) State-of-the-art research laboratory dedicated to cutting-edge research in Geo Information Science and spatial decision support systems, part of NCGSA's network of 7 research labs across partner universities in Pakistan.
• Space and Astrophysics Research Lab (SARL) Research laboratory focused on Astronomy & Astrophysics, conducting research in space science and astrophysical applications within NCGSA's research ecosystem.
• GNSS and Space Education Research Lab (GSERL) Laboratory dedicated to Global Navigation Satellite Systems research and space education, focusing on positioning technologies and educational outreach in satellite navigation.
• Small Satellite Technology and Research Lab (SSTRL) Research laboratory focused on small satellite technology development and research, supporting Pakistan's capabilities in nano-satellite and CubeSat design and implementation.
• Agricultural Remote Sensing Lab (ARSL) Laboratory applying remote sensing technologies to agricultural monitoring, crop analysis, and food security research using satellite and aerial imagery.
• GIS & Space Applications in Geosciences Lab (G-SAGL) Laboratory integrating GIS and space applications for geosciences research, including geological mapping, mineral exploration, and earth system science studies.
• Remote Sensing, GIS and Climatic Research Lab Research laboratory focused on remote sensing, GIS applications, and climate science research for environmental monitoring and climate change studies.
• IST Astronomical Observatory Astronomical observatory equipped with Meade 16 LX200-ACF, Meade 10 LX200, two Celestron Edge HD 8 telescopes, and Pakistan's only dedicated Lunt 152mm Solar Telescope for solar observations, enabling photometry, imaging, and hands-on astronomy education.
• Research Fund Program PKR 200 million flagship research funding initiative launched March 2021 to support innovative, market-oriented research in GISc and Space Applications. Joint industry-academia projects with max budget of PKR 15 million over 24 months. 13 projects selected for funding across 6 research domains.
• Student Satellite Design and Development Program Hands-on program enabling students to design, develop, and launch educational satellites including CanSats and CubeSats, providing practical experience in satellite systems engineering through workshops, national competitions, and mentoring.
• NCGSA Summer Internship Program Annual hands-on internship at Institute of Space Technology offering students exposure to space science, satellite technology, geospatial applications, and research-based project development under expert supervision. Duration: 6-8 weeks, 150-200 hours.
• Space Summer School Flagship STEM-based learning program featuring hands-on activities, software simulations, and interactive learning across Astronomy, Astrophysics, Earth Sciences, Aviation, Rocketry, and Satellite Technology domains.
• GNSS Summer/Winter School Program targeting scientists, researchers, and students in GNSS, GNC, Aerospace, RS&GIS, Space Systems and Navigation domains, focusing on positioning aspects including GNSS system evolution, positioning determination techniques, coordinate systems, and satellite orbit determination.
• RSGIS Summer School Five-day summer school on Remote Sensing & GIS featuring interactive lectures and hands-on workshops covering fundamentals of Geographic Information Science, Remote Sensing & Applications for socio-economic development and UN SDGs achievement.
• Astronomy Camp Extended program featuring interactive lectures, hands-on activities, software simulations, and guided solar and stargazing sessions in Fundamentals of Astronomy, Observational Astronomy, and Computational Astronomy.
• Space Maker Camp Belt and Road Teenager Maker Camp program engaging Pakistani students in CubeSat technology education and competition, organized in collaboration with China Association of Science and Technology and multiple Pakistani organizations.
• Geological Remote Sensing Workshop International workshop on Geological Remote Sensing & Applications featuring presentations, case studies, and hands-on exercises on state-of-the-art methods, sensors, and processing steps for mining and exploration applications.
• World Space Week Pakistan Annual celebration of space science and technology from October 4-10, coordinated globally by UN World Space Week Association. NCGSA-IST organizes nationwide STEM/STEAM activities, competitions, workshops, and exhibitions engaging thousands of students annually since 2005.
• Space Destination Schools Grassroots outreach initiative bringing space education to remote and underserved regions of Pakistan through short-term immersive camps at selected schools, engaging students in Astronomy, Earth Science, Aviation, Rocketry, and Satellite Technology. Has reached over 2,000 students from 150+ schools.
• Astronomy Outreach Program Program connecting people with cosmos through astronomy education and stargazing sessions, led by National Astronomy Education Coordinator for Pakistan appointed by IAU's Office of Astronomy for Education.
• 180 Seconds Space Film Festival (180SSFF) International film festival inviting space enthusiasts and visual creators worldwide to submit 180-second creative works in animation, fiction, or documentary formats themed around Space Science, Technology and Applications.
• Geo Hackathon Three-day online event comprising technical talks, mentoring sessions, and team-based competition where students and researchers develop geospatial solutions/prototypes addressing challenges in UN Sustainable Development Goals.
• ICASE (International Conference on Aerospace Science & Engineering) Biennial international conference providing global platform for cutting-edge aerospace research, featuring technical presentations, collaborative opportunities, and IEEE-indexed publications. Held since 2009 with 7 editions. Legacy continues under ICAST.
• ICAST (International Conference on Applications of Space Science and Technology) Biennial global forum uniting legacies of ICASE and SUPARCO's ICS, marking transformative milestone in Pakistan's space science journey. Largest space event in Pakistan with theme 'Space for Sustainable Development' for 2025.
• Jahan Aur Bhi Hain – Beyond the Blue Pakistan's first space-science telefilm on climate change, blending scientific vision with cinematic storytelling. A 38-minute Urdu-language Sci-fi/Drama produced in collaboration with Beaconhouse National University and LockDown Productions, addressing cloudburst prediction and disaster preparedness through space technology.

Quantifiable outcome

• Research Fund program supports 13 joint academia-industry projects with up to PKR 15 million each
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Higher Education Commission (HEC) PakistancoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020HEC Pakistan is the parent organization of NCGSA, one of five major initiatives to develop capabilities in emerging technologies. HEC provides funding, institutional support, and national coordination for the center's activities across 7 partner universities.
• Institute of Space Technology (IST)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIST serves as the host institution for NCGSA Secretariat and primary research hub. Located at 1 Islamabad Highway, Islamabad, IST provides facilities including the Astronomical Observatory and hosts flagship programs like summer internships and conferences.
• 7 Partner Higher Education InstitutescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNCGSA comprises 7 research labs established in partner universities across Pakistan, including University of Peshawar (G-SAGL), Lahore institutions, and Karachi-based universities, enabling nationwide research coverage.
• Belt and Road Innovation Alliance (BRAIA)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on organizing ICASE 2021 and Belt and Road Teenager Space Maker Camp 2021, facilitating international cooperation in space education and research.
• China Association of Science and Technology (CAST)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in organizing Belt and Road Teenager Space Maker Camp and RSGIS Summer School in collaboration with Chinese institutions including Deqing Association for Geospatial Information Professionals (DQGIP).
• Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational space agency collaborating on research projects, student outreach programs, and co-organizing ICAST conference that unifies SUPARCO's International Conference on Space with ICASE.
• International Astronomical Union - Office of Astronomy for Education (IAU/OAE)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNCGSA's Space Education Research Lab is led by Pakistan's National Astronomy Education Coordinator appointed by IAU/OAE. Enables international standards in astronomy education and outreach programs.
• Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on APRSAF Space Education Seminar hosted at IST, bringing international expertise in space education and facilitating hands-on activities with Japanese experts.
• National Engineering and Scientific Commission (NESCOM)majorTechnology or IntegrationIndustry partner in multiple Research Fund projects including MEMS accelerometer development and Attitude Determination system development for satellite applications.
• Pakistan Science Foundation (PSF)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on CubeSat Training Camp 2023 and Belt and Road initiatives, supporting science popularization and youth engagement in space technology.
• Beaconhouse National UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-producer of telefilm 'Jahan Aur Bhi Hain - Beyond the Blue', combining space science communication with cinematic arts for public outreach.
• Khwarizmi Science SocietymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on Lahore Science Mela exhibitions, bringing space education to large public audiences through interactive displays and demonstrations.
• ICESCOmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational partner for Aerospace Symposium and CanSat Training Workshop 2025 at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, engaging participants from over 15 countries.
• STEMx - The STEM School for the WorldmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on satellite engineering workshops at NUST College of E&ME, providing structured STEM education in space technology through immersive learning experiences.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO): ISRO is India's national space agency and the parent of IIRS. It is comparable to NCGSA's broad space science mission, with a much larger scale and budget. It serves as the regional benchmark for national-level space research and capacity-building infrastructure that NCGSA aspires to complement within Pakistan.
• SUPARCO (Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission): SUPARCO is Pakistan's national space agency and a direct NCGSA partner. It is comparable as the broader incumbent responsible for Pakistan's space program; NCGSA's mandate (capacity building and research) is complementary and partially overlapping with SUPARCO's mission, including co-organizing ICAST and student outreach.

Regional players

• UAE Space Agency: The UAE Space Agency is the national regulator and promoter of space activity in the UAE. It is comparable to SUPARCO and NCGSA's mandate in terms of national space policy and capacity building, with a comparable emerging-market positioning but much greater financial resources and global visibility.
• Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC): MBRSC is the UAE's space research and satellite development center. It is comparable as a regional space center combining satellite technology development, scientific research, and educational outreach, though it operates with significantly higher funding and a commercial satellite program focus.
• Indian Institute of Remote Sensing (IIRS): IIRS is an ISRO entity providing education, training, and research in remote sensing, GIS, GNSS, and space applications. It is comparable to NCGSA in its focus on geospatial/space education and research capacity building, though it primarily serves the Indian market and has a longer operational history.
• Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) – National Space Agency: As Pakistan's national space agency and a co-organizer of ICAST 2025 with NCGSA, SUPARCO is a closely linked peer. It is comparable in operating satellite programs, research initiatives, and student outreach, but at a significantly larger national-scale remit that encompasses operational space activity as well as research.

Direct peers

• Space Science Institute (Boulder, Colorado): Space Science Institute is a non-profit research and education organization combining space science research, instrument development, and STEM education/outreach. It is comparable to NCGSA in combining technical research with public engagement and educational programming, though it operates with private/nonprofit funding rather than government mandate.
• Centre for Space Science and Technology Education in Asia and the Pacific (CSSTEAP): CSSTEAP is a UN-affiliated center offering postgraduate education, short courses, and research in space science, GNSS, remote sensing, and satellite communications. It is highly comparable to NCGSA's mission of capacity building in space science for developing country professionals, with a similar educational and research training model.
• Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA): IIA is a premier Indian research institute dedicated to astronomy, astrophysics, and related space sciences, with active education and PhD programs. It is comparable to NCGSA's Space and Astrophysics Research Lab (SARL) and IST Astronomical Observatory in combining astrophysics research with student training and public astronomy outreach.
• Institute of Space Technology (IST): IST is NCGSA's host institution and Pakistan's premier space-focused university. It is comparable because it operates the IST Astronomical Observatory housing NCGSA's telescopes, hosts the Secretariat, and delivers the Summer Internship Program and student satellite initiatives—directly overlapping in space science education, research, and infrastructure.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/SpaceOutreach
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ncgsa
• Instagraminstagram.com/serl.ncgsa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about National Center of GIS & Space Applications