The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and the State of New South Wales, Australia, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on future space activities. The Memorandum puts in place a framework for cooperation on space related activities such as:
- Space science, technology and applications, including high-tech instrumentation, ground communications and services, smart payloads development, space and intra-space communications and commercialisation of space data;
- Space policy, law and regulation.
The exploration and sustainable utilisation of space resources is given particular emphasis, along with the desire to foster a sustainable use of space and its resources.
New South Wales and Luxembourg both have strong space industries and research communities. The MoU will enable a mutually beneficial exchange of ideas and personnel as well as the exploration of commercial possibilities.
Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said, "NSW already excels in mining technology and services, including smart sensor systems, robotics and automation and this MoU will help the State build and deliver on its world-leading research in such areas as space resource utilisation”.
The MoU is an outcome of Mr Ayres and Luxembourg's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Economy Étienne Schneider's space industry meeting during Mr Schneider's visit to Sydney in November 2019.
Étienne Schneider said: "The cooperation with NSW is yet another driver behind Luxembourg's ambition to become a European hub for the exploration and use of space resources. We are focused on supporting a sustainable ecosystem for the space industry and offering a platform in Europe for commercial space development.”
New South Wales
New South Wales is home to over 40 per cent of Australia's space industry, with a very broad range of space capabilities. The state excels in mining technology and services, including smart sensor systems, robotics and automation. The state also undertakes world-leading research into the application of these fields to the exploration, exploitation and utilisation of space resources.
Luxembourg
Luxembourg has a thriving space industry and research community, fostered by government policy designed to encourage high tech industry - space in particular. Luxembourg space sector's contribution to the nation's GDP is amongst the highest in Europe.
Over the past four decades, the Luxembourg space industry has grown significantly. The country hosts world leaders of satellite-based communications and is the home to other highly advanced technology companies. Luxembourg is strongly engaged in research, development activities and support industry providing products and services in areas such as telecommunications, earth observation, navigation and security.
Press release by the Ministry of the Economy and the Luxembourg Space Agency