From Scratch: Creating a Regional Space Center
With the University Center for Research in Space Technologies (CURTS) at Mohammed V University in Rabat and the African Regional Center for Education in Space Science and Technology in French, affiliated with the United Nations (CRASTE-LF)Satellite technology has moved from the edge of national development strategy to its centre. Earth observation, positioning and navigation, and secure communications now underpin agriculture, climate adaptation, disaster response, transport, and security, and the global space economy continues to grow at pace. As this demand grows across Africa and the Middle East, so does the opportunity to strengthen the region's own engineering talent, institutions, and enterprises, and to build lasting partnerships with established international suppliers that can support that growth.
On 21 and 22 October in Rabat, CAGG convenes "From the Ground Up: Building a Regional Space Hub" with the University Center for Research in Space Technologies (CURTS) at Mohammed V University in Rabat and the African Regional Centre for Space Science and Technology Education in French Language, an affiliate of the United Nations (CRASTE -LF). It is the first convening of the partnership behind establishing an Africa and Middle East hub in space technologies to be hosted at Mohammed V University and equipped with satellite components, that will deliver hands-on training to further partner countries' ability to design and build their own satellites.
The seminar brings prospective partner countries from across Africa and the Middle East together with international satellite technology suppliers, to map the training interests of the partner countries and the capabilities the suppliers can provide, and to begin building the relationships on which the Hub's ongoing work will depend".
