Rwanda, Poland partner to boost space technology ecosystem

Rwanda Space Agency (RSA) and Poland Space Agency (POLSA), on Monday, February 26 signed an agreement to explore opportunities of bilateral collaboration in space technology. ALSO READ: Rwandan firm inks satellite solutions deal with Polish space company The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed aims to leverage the robust Polish space ecosystem to develop collaboration on activities of mutual interest and solidify the commitment of both nations to harness space capabilities in support of their development agendas. Additionally, it seeks to foster inter-agency cooperation between industries and academia to advance capabilities in space technologies, facilitating knowledge transfer and promoting tailored research and development initiatives. Col. Francis Ngabo, CEO of RSA, said Rwanda remains dedicated to leveraging space technology capabilities to support the sustainable development of priority sectors within the country. “This collaboration with the Polish space ecosystem through POLSA opens up unique avenues for joint initiatives and knowledge exchange to boost the growth of our emerging space sector. ALSO READ: Rwanda Space Agency official discusses priorities as body steps up awareness effort Grzegorz Wrochna, President of POLSA, noted that this partnership underscores the urgency of addressing pressing challenges through collaborative and innovative approaches. By synergizing our efforts, we aim to make significant strides in the application of space technologies and contribute to the well-being of our populations. Rwanda and Poland share bilateral ties, recently cemented by the visit of Polish President Andrzej Duda to Kigali, earlier in February, which bore fruits in connecting business leaders from both countries, and inking agreements in trade, geology, and green technologies, among others. More particularly in space ecosystem, the relations also saw the initiation of a partnership between Rwanda’s Locus Dynamics (LD) and SatRev –a Polish space company –in the development and operation of earth monitoring satellite infrastructure which will provide solutions in Rwanda and beyond. Rwanda continues to make strides with its ambition of creating a vibrant space ecosystem shaped by cooperation with different nations and prominent institutions to help develop its space capabilities in the use of geospatial data, in the design, and manufacturing of satellites. Each year, African governments spend millions of dollars on the acquisition and utilization of satellite data from commercial space companies, a gap that RSA seeks to bridge by tapping into the recent global investor appetite in the space sector and becoming the gateway for space commerce on the African continent.

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Rwanda, Poland partner to boost space technology ecosystem