ROLE OF INDUSTRY IN SPACE PROGRAMMES FOR DEVELOPING COUNTRIES TO BE HIGHLIGHTED AT UN/ESA GRAZ SYMPOSIUM
Press Release
OS/1731
ROLE OF INDUSTRY IN SPACE PROGRAMMES FOR DEVELOPING COUNTRIES TO BE HIGHLIGHTED AT UN/ESA GRAZ SYMPOSIUM
19970903 (Reproduced as received.)VIENNA, 3 September (UN Information Service) -- The worldwide rush towards privatization, deregulation and commercialization is transforming the space industry. While in the past government space agencies have been the driving force behind new developments in equipment and methodology, today private ventures have become the dominant players in the space technology applications market.
This trend and its impact on future space activities with special consideration of the role of developing countries will be the focus of a forthcoming symposium organized jointly by the United Nations and the Austrian Government. The symposium, part of a series of activities being conducted this year by the Vienna-based United Nations Space Applications Programme, will be held in Graz from 8 to 11 September. It is co-sponsored by the European Space Agency (ESA).
Presentations -- by representatives of industry, government space agencies and the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs -- will address the opportunities and challenges of programmes to improve third world living conditions through the use of small satellite platforms, telecommunications, tele-education, tele-medicine, remote sensing, satellite agricultural monitoring and space-based navigation.
The expected outcome will be a set of guidelines which the United Nations will disseminate to high-level decision makers throughout the world.
In addition to representatives of French, German, Czech, British and American space enterprises, speakers will also include representatives of the United Nations, ESA, the International Space University, the Indonesian Telecommunications Agency, the national remote sensing centre of China and the national space agencies of Brazil, India and Spain.
Specialists from the following countries will take part in the symposium: Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil, Cameroon, China, Costa Rica, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Kenya, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Romania, Sri Lanka, Syria, Thailand, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Viet Nam and Zambia.
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The symposium, entitled "Space Industry Cooperation with the Developing World", will hear opening speeches beginning at 9 a.m. on Monday, 8 September, by representatives of the Austrian Government, the City of Graz, the Austrian State of Styria, the Technical University of Graz, ESA and the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs. The sessions will be held at the Technical University, Rechbauerstraße 12.
For further information, contact UNIS Vienna, Tel.: (43-1) 21345-4666, Fax: (43-1) 21345-5899, e-mail: vpetzoldt@unvienna.un.or.at
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