Cyprus’s first domestically developed satellite is scheduled for launch in 2026 with the support of NASA and COSPAR (Committee on Space Research), marking a milestone in national technological advancement, Chief Scientist of the Republic of Cyprus and Chairman of the Research and Innovation Foundation, Demetris Skourides, has said.
Skourides, who officially opened the 6th COSPAR Symposium, taking place in Nicosia between 3-7 November 2025 under the theme ‘Space Exploration 2025: Humanity’s Challenges and Celestial Solutions.’, said that Cyprus’s National Space Strategy forms part of the Government’s long-term Vision 2035, a plan to build a resilient, knowledge-based, and innovation-driven economy.
The event is held under the auspices of the Office of the Chief Scientist and with the Research and Innovation Foundation (RIF) as Grand National Sponsor, bringing together leading scientists, policymakers, and industry representatives from more than 45 countries and 90 organisations, including NASA, ESA, JAXA, ISRO, and other major space agencies.
The symposium was inaugurated by George Danos, President of Cyprus Space Exploration Organisation (CSEO) in the presence of five ambassadors, more than forty senior global delegates, two astronauts, and leading figures from global space agencies and industry including Niklas Hedman, COSPAR’s new General Counsel and former Acting Director of the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA), John G. Reed, Chief Rocket Scientist at United Launch Alliance (ULA), and Jean-Yves Le Gall, former CEO of Arianespace.
According to a press release issued today by the Chief Scientist, in his address, Skourides said that hosting one of the world’s most significant gatherings for space research ‘is not a coincidence but a validation of Cyprus’s strategic vision and its determination to become a regional hub for research, innovation, and high technology.’
He referred to the establishment of the Cyprus Space Research and Innovation Centre (C-SpaRC) as a landmark in the country’s scientific development. The pound 2.5 million national infrastructure, funded by RIF, is led by the Cyprus Space Exploration Organisation (CSEO) in collaboration with NASA’s TRISH, Lockheed Martin, the Sodankylä Geophysical Observatory, and leading Cypriot research institutions.
He also highlighted Cyprus’s Associate Membership in the European Space Agency (ESA), achieved in 2023, and its signing of the Artemis Accords with NASA in 2024, as major milestones strengthening Cyprus’s participation in global exploration and cooperation.
In her opening remarks, Professor Pascale Ehrenfreund, President of COSPAR, noted that the event marks the beginning of ‘a truly exciting week of scientific exchange,’ offering a platform to advance dialogue and collaboration in space science and technology. Professor Ehrenfreund also announced that COSPAR will soon issue a formal statement on the vital role of space-based observation in advancing international climate research, ahead of the forthcoming COP13 in Brazil.
Delivering an address on behalf of the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Georgios Komodromos, Acting Permanent Secretary of the Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy, underlined Cyprus’s rapid progress in developing its national space ecosystem, including the establishment of C-SpaRC, the country’s Associate Membership in ESA, and the upcoming EU Space Days, which Cyprus will host in 2026 during its Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
Speaking on behalf of the Symposium’s Grand Sponsor, Dr. Eric Smith, Director of Optical Sensing and Exploitation at Lockheed Martin Space and Chair of the COSPAR Industry Relations Committee, reaffirmed Lockheed Martin’s long-standing partnership with COSPAR and praised the event for its role in fostering collaboration between industry and scientific research.
Dr. Costas Mavrides, Cypriot Member of the European Parliament, underlined that Cyprus can and should play a vital role in the Mediterranean, advocating for a European crisis management centre based in Cyprus to address climate change, natural disasters, and regional security challenges where space technology will have a central role to play.
Marios Tannousis, Chief Executive Officer of Invest Cyprus, underlined the country’s commitment to supporting the growth of the national space ecosystem through international partnerships and investment.