Global Space Technology Forum spotlights commercial and investment opportunities in space

Attracting over 30 high calibre speakers from around the world, the Global Space Technology Forum was officially opened by His Excellency Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, UAE.

Sheikh Nahayan was accompanied by Nick Webb, Director of Streamline Marketing Group, as he cut the ribbon to officially inaugurate the conference and exhibition, which is the first event of its kind in the Middle East. He then toured the exhibition hall, talking with representatives from the world's leading space organisations.

The three day event at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, organised by Streamline Marketing Group, attracted senior representatives from international space agencies and space programmes, government officials, policy makers, investors and scientists, in addition to aviation and aerospace professionals.

The Global Space Technology Forum Conference opened with a keynote session, including a global keynote address delivered by Sheikh Nahayan and chaired by Rachel Villain, Director, Space and Communications, Euroconsult.

Villain provided a forecast for the global space industry and spoke on the current space market, which is dominated by governmental investment from nations around the world. The combined civilian and military government expenditures for space were $50bn in 2007. Civilian Earth observation and meteorological satellites alone cost governments $5.15bn in 2007, or about 20% of their civilian expenditure for space.

Speaking on the possibility of a Pan Arab space agency and referring to the investment required to develop satellite technology and launch the satellites, Villain said:

"I think the concept is good, as the investment in space technology is costly and multilateral cooperation can help to do things that an individual country could not do."

"At the European Space Agency (ESA), applications satellites, including telecommunications, navigation, Earth observation/meteorology, and the development of launch vehicles for access to space are funded differently for scientific satellites, i.e. by voluntary participation of the member states. More can be said about ESA as a benchmark and about the opportunity for countries in the Middle East to commit to such a project," Villain said.

Sir Martin Sweeting, Chairman, Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd., a company that specialises in small satellites, delivered a keynote address on the international benefits of satellites and the importance of international cooperation in widening access to space. He said while large satellites, weighing up to 1000 kg and costing approximately $300m require major funding, small satellites weighing less than 1000 kg have a price tag of under $50m, a cost which can easily be shouldered by a collection of countries.

Sweeting's address was followed by a speech by Andras Roboz, Space Policy Coordinator, European Commission, on how the European Space Policy, making Europe a global space player, was made possible by the smooth cooperation of the European Union and the European Space Agency.

Speaking of the benefits of a collective space agency, with collaboration from larger governing bodies, Roboz said: "By coordinating the financial and intellectual resources of its members, The ESA can undertake programmes and activities beyond the scope of any single European country."

Also speaking on the conference's opening day, Jean-Yves Le Gall, Chairman and CEO, Arianespace, shared his thoughts on gaining access to space and Eric Anderson, CEO and Founder of Space Adventures, outlined the importance of space exploration and research.

Anderson was joined in the same session by Yamin Mustafa, Managing Director, Marsh Limited, Professor Mohamed Bahey Argoun, Director, Egyptian Space Program; Ken Harvey and Allen Herbert of JAKA Consulting Group, and Allen Herbert and Andrew Nelson, COO, XCOR, Aerospace.

The Global Space Technology Exhibition is running alongside the conference, providing a unique opportunity for worldwide space industry organisations to highlight their products, services, technologies and capabilities.

The exhibitor line-up includes the UAE Space Reconnaissance Centre, Virgin Galactic, Thales Alenia Space, Geo Eye, International Space University, Emirates Institution for Advanced Science and Technology, Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd, LSE Space Middle East and Global Scan Technologies.