PRESS RELEASE

MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN AFRICAN UNION COMMISSION (AUC) AND SPACE TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE GROUP (STSG, FINLAND)

Addis Ababa 10 June 2014 – On Thursday 5th June 2014 in the central focus of the International Conference on Collaboration in Space Technologies, held in Riga Latvia and opened by HE Vaira Vike-Freiberga (Former President of Republic of Latvia), Minister Ina Druviete (Minister, for Science and Education), Dr Abdul Hakim Elwaer (Director, AUC), Dr. Mahama Ouedraogo (Head of Division, AUC) and Professor Marek Banaszkiewicz (Chairman STSG) saw the culmination of bilateral discussions

spanning this year to form the pioneering Memorandum of Understanding between the African Union Commission and the Space Technology Science Group Oy. The MoU is aimed at establishing a framework for collaboration between the AUC and STSG with regard to activities in the field of space technology and science with a major focus on building African capabilities and increasing its autonomy to develop and use space derived products and services for sustainable development.

STSG, is a Pan Central European, Nordic and Baltics integrated space Technology group, based in Finland - consisting of industry and research base across its region. This MOU sets out a long-term relationship between the Commission and STSG for collaboration in the field of small satellite design, development, integration and launch.

   The MOU also covers collaboration to enhance capability through research, academic and tailored training and development including commercialisation of space science and research in ground stations and integrated applications development.

For more information contact–  Dr  Mahama  Ouedraogo  Human  Resources,  Science  and  Technology  Directorate  ouedraogom@africa-­‐union.org