Ashraf AboArafe
The Kingdom, represented by the Saudi Space Agency (SSA), signed an agreement with the World Economic Forum to establish the “Future Space Center” in the Kingdom. The center, which is the first of its kind, will support; Growth in economic, research and innovation areas of space.
This came during the special meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF), which was hosted by the capital, Riyadh, under the generous patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister – may God protect him.
The agreement was signed by His Excellency the CEO of the Saudi Space Agency, Dr. Mohammed bin Saud Al-Tamimi, and the Director-General of the World Economic Forum and Head of the Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, Mr. Jeremy Jurgens, in the presence of His Excellency the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Space Agency, Eng. Abdullah Al-Sawaha, and the President of the World Economic Forum, Mr. Borg Brende.
Through the Space Future Center, the Saudi Space Agency seeks to enhance cooperation and exchange experiences and knowledge in the field of the global space economy. The center will also provide access to the Fourth Industrial Revolution community, while the agency will manage and lead the center in cooperation with the World Economic Forum. The center will work to achieve many goals, foremost of which is establishing a global platform to maximize the economic and environmental value of the space sector, developing best practices and regulatory and legislative policies, in addition to stimulating technical innovation.
In a statement on this occasion, His Excellency the CEO of the Saudi Space Agency, Dr. Mohammed bin Saud Al-Tamimi, stressed that the center is committed to promoting a vibrant, prosperous and sustainable space economy globally by developing principles, expanding knowledge, improving models and developing partnerships, pointing out that the Kingdom, through this partnership The strategy; It aims to seize the tremendous opportunities of space with great responsibility and care.
For his part, Executive Director of the World Economic Forum, Mr. Jeremy Jurgens, explained that the impact of space on Earth is significant and can be observed in view of the great services that space technologies provide to humanity, such as monitoring the effects of climate change and increasing human communication via satellites, adding that the Center’s joining the C4IR network is Recognition of the importance of addressing diverse topics such as: technological innovation in space, policy and regulation, as well as sustainability.
It is noteworthy that the center will work side by side with the Kingdom’s existing Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution “C4IR” to enhance the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, which represents a road map for economic diversification and building a distinguished future at all levels, in addition to raising the quality of life.
