France To Strengthen Its Cooperation With The United Arab Emirates By Bringing 13 First-Class Companies To IAC 2021 (International Astronautical Congress)

organised by Business France, the French Space Days will be held from October 26 to 28 in partnership with the CNES,French government agency responsible for shaping and implementing France’s space policy,the UAE Space Agency, Mohammed Bin Rachid Space Center (MBRSC)and the International Astronautical Federation (IAF). This three-day event aims to strengthen commercial and strategic ties between the United Arab Emirates and France.

After the insertion of the Hope probe in Mars’ orbit and before sending the lunar rover named Rashid to the moon, the UAE clearly demonstrate their huge ability to innovate in the space industry and through the French Space Days program, France is willing to develop new way of collaboration through technical contributions, share of expertise and advanced solutions fitting the UAE’s vision in the field of space exploration, technologies, and applications.

The kick-off for this tailor-made program will start with a French presence on the International Astronautical Congress 2021 (IAC) running from 26 to 28 October. The 13 French companies will then keep-up with three intensive days of business meetings with engineers and technicians from the UAE Space Agency, the Mohammed Bin Rachid Space Center (MBRSC), the National Space Science and Technology Center (NSSTC) and the Al Yah Satellite Communications Company (Yahsat).

Among the French specialists of the space industry, 7 companies have been selected by a local jury to pitch their solutions during the French Global Networking Forum, part of the International Astronautical Congress.This forum’s official opening will be chaired by the UAE Space Agency in presence ofH.E Xavier Chatel, French Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, and moderated by Elodie Robin, Founder of Alidade Ventures and President of the French Techhub in the United Arab Emirates.

The Space industry, at the forefront of the France Pavilion at Expo 2020, Dubai, UAE, in October 2021:

After celebrating France day at Expo 2020 with an unprecedented duplex between Dubai & the International Space Station currently commanded by Thomas Pesquet, Ambassador of France at Expo 2020 andthe first French astronaut in the history to take command of the ISS, the French Space Agency will showcase during two weeks the cutting-edge technologies that allow astronauts to live in Space and to explore Mars while celebrating the milestones reached thanks to international Space cooperation.

French Space in a few figures:

• Space in France generates €4.2 billion in consolidated turnover, more than half of which will be in the commercial market in 2020 (source: Ministry for the Economy, Finance, and the Recovery)
• French space accounts for more than 50% of sales in the European space industry.
• It represents 16,000 high-level direct jobs across the entire manufacturing chain.
• As the world leader in the accessible commercial market for launches and satellites, it has the capacity to offer the State high-performance, competitive national solutions.

Key facts :

Arianespace: 10 launches in 2020

2020 satellite orders: 9 satcom (geostationary), contracts for new Copernicus missions

Ariane 6 1st flight in the 1st half of 2022.