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#SpaceWatchME review: Global Space Congress: Day 1 Highlights

Delegates and Speakers queued in for registration; Credits: SpaceWatch Middle East

The Global Space Congress at St. Regis Saadiyat Island Abu Dhabi Hotel was buzzing on 31 January 2017 as it welcomed an international delegation including heads of space agencies, C-Level executives from leading space and aerospace companies, government ministries, top researchers, and academics.

The day was packed with presentations and panel sessions focused on new technology and the future of innovation in addition to the critical importance of collaboration in research and development as we deepen our understanding of the universe.

HE Dr. Mohammed Al Ahbabi, Director General, UAE Space Agency; HE Dr. Khalifa Al Romaithi, Chairman, UAE Space Agency and Sheikha Al Maskari, Chief Innovation Officer, UAE Space Agency welcomed the attendees.

This was following by a keynote address from HH Prince Dr. Turki bin Saud bin Mohammad Al Saud, President, King Abdul Aziz City for Science and Technology in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The congress was honoured by the attendance of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai, to the Global Space Congress and accompanying exhibition, where he met exhibitors and had a special interest engaging with students – the next generation of space professionals.

L to R: HE Dr. Mohammed Al Ahbabi, Sheikha Al Maskari, Dr. Jean-Yves Le Gall, HE Yousef Al Shaibani, HE Dr. Yanghee Choi, HE Dr. Khalifa Al Romaithi, HH Prince Dr. Turki bin Saud bin Mohammad Al Saud; Credits: Streamline Marketing Group
Panel on Financing Space with Joerg Kreisel explaining his view; Credits: SpaceWatch Middle East

Among the more prominent developments on Day One of the Global Space Congress:

  • H.E. Dr. Yanghee Choi, the South Korean Minister of Science, announced that his government and the UAE Space Agency would sign a space cooperation Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 31 January 2017;
  • H.E. Yousef Al Shaibani, Director General of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre in Dubai, announced that Dubai will bid to host the 71st International Astronautical Congress (IAC) to be held in 2020.

Day One has seen a phenomenal gathering of leading experts from around the world to assess and invest in solutions for the most critical challenges impacting their businesses today. We are looking forward to continued discussions, networking, and relationship building on Day Two.

Original published at: http://spacewatchme.com/2017/02/global-space-congress-day-1-highlights/

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