The International Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) Symposium in Nicosia has consolidated COSPAR’s role as an international platform for dialogue in space science as well as Cyprus’s growing influence in the global space sector, a COSPAR press release says.
Referring to the 6th COSPAR Symposium that concluded this month in Nicosia, bringing together over 300 scientists, agency leaders, and industry pioneers from more than 50 countries, it says that “hosted by the Cyprus Space Exploration Organisation (CSEO) under the auspices of the Chief Scientist Demetris Skourides, the event consolidated COSPAR’s role as an international platform for dialogue in space science as well as Cyprus’s growing influence in the global space sector.”
Key highlights included the Space Agency Leaders Roundtable, the release of the Heliophysics Guidelines, the introduction of COSPAR’s Space Exploration Roadmap, and ground-breaking scientific announcements such as that from George Spyrou, unveiling AI-driven bioinformatics discoveries for astronaut health, and from Eija Tanskanen presenting new insights on space weather risks, it adds.
The symposium, COSPAR says, saw the official release of the COSPAR Heliophysics Guidelines, a set of unified global principles for the scientific study of the Sun and its effects.
“Heliophysics is the science that studies solar and magnetospheric physics, space physics and aeronomy, and space weather, the latter posing a significant threat to modern life. A severe solar storm, on the scale of the 1859 “Carrington Event,” could today cripple power grids, knock out satellite communications and GPS, and effectively shut down the internet, causing trillions of dollars in damage and bringing global society to a standstill” it explains.
Moreover, it notes that to prevent such a “digital Carrington event,” coordinated global action is essential.
“The new guidelines, announced in Nicosia, create a “common language” for scientists and space agencies worldwide to share data, coordinate observations, and improve forecasting of these dangerous solar events” it stresses.
Jean-Claude Worms, COSPAR Executive Director, stated, that “in an era where our reliance on technology is absolute, understanding space weather is not just an academic pursuit-it is a global necessity. These guidelines, supported by the world’s leading space science institutions, represent a critical step in building a united front to protect our planet.”
The initiative was supported by a powerful consortium including China’s National Space Science Center, the Space Studies Board of the US’ National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine, the Solar Physics Division of the American Astronomical Society (SPD-AAS), the Space Physics and Aeronomy Section of the American Geophysical Union (SPA-AGU), the Cyprus Space Exploration Organisation (CSEO), and Italy’s INAF, with NASA and the Canadian Space Agency also evaluating adoption.
Furthermore, the Bioinformatics Workshop and Press Conference was a media spotlight for C-SpaRC, COSPAR’s International Space Innovation Centre in Cyprus. Eija Tanskanen, Director of the Sodankylä Geophysical Observatory at the University of Oulu, one of the C-SpaRC consortium partners, presented a discovery that challenges conventional wisdom on space weather. Her research demonstrated that the most severe space hazard effects occur not during the peak of the 11-year solar cycle (sunspot maxima), but during its declining phase, with impacts that are more regional and stronger than previously understood. This discovery has profound implications for the safety of satellites, power grids, and the planning of future human exploration missions, COSPAR stresses.
Moreover, it refers to George Spyrou, the Bioinformatics ERA Chair at the Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics, also a C-SpaRC consortium partner, who revealed how his team is pioneering “computational drug repurposing.”
“He explained how they use AI to analyze genetic changes caused by microgravity in human heart and muscle cells, successfully identifying existing medicines that can be repurposed to protect astronauts from health risks like cardiovascular damage and muscle atrophy, with direct applications for patients on Earth. He also unveiled the H-SPAR DB, a powerful human spaceflight database and analysis platform developed entirely in Cyprus to accelerate global research in space health” it says.
In addition, COSPAR notes that the week showed COSPAR fulfilling its role as a dynamic platform for space scientists worldwide to exchange knowledge and collaborate without barriers.
The Symposium fostered global partnerships, with landmark MoUs signed between CSEO and Japan’s IHI Corporation, focusing on satellite-enabled technology-VHF Data Exchange System for sustainable shipping, and between CSEO and India’s Pixxel, for jointly developing advanced Earth Observation solutions for the European Union market. This transformed the discussions of the Symposium into concrete, high-value collaborations, underscoring the event’s role as a true nexus for global space innovation and business.
Public engagement was a cornerstone, with the well-attended Nicosia Space Science Street Festival and a Public Outreach and Education Weekend of hands-on workshops, empowering educators and inspiring future scientists, it adds.
At the Closing Ceremony COSPAR medals were awarded to CSEO President George A. Danos and Chief Scientist Demetris Skourides, recognizing their leadership. COSPAR Executive Director Jean-Claude Worms highlighted the symposium’s success in advancing space science and collaboration. The Symposium served as a fertile ground for forging collaborations that will directly impact the future of the global space economy and reinforce Cyprus’s role as an international innovation hub.
The Symposium concluded with a handover to Italy for the 46th COSPAR Scientific Assembly in Florence, Italy, 1-9 August 2026, marking the continued momentum of global space innovation.
Meanwhile, according to CSEO, the symposium’s focus on actionable partnerships culminated in two landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing ceremonies, each representing a significant strategic achievement for Cyprus and its international partners, a Landmark Japan-Cyprus Partnership and a Strategic India-Cyprus “New Space” Bridge.
“These agreements, signed in the presence of high-level diplomatic and governmental representatives, transform the visionary discussions of the symposium into concrete, high-value collaborations, underscoring the event’s role as a true nexus for global space innovation and business” CSEO says.
Furthermore, it notes that the public engagement activities culminated in the “spectacular Nicosia Space Science Street Festival, organised in a landmark partnership with the symposium’s Grand National Sponsor, the Research and Innovation Foundation (RIF), and Cyprus Comic Con, taking over the city’s historic centre, for a free and open celebration”.
CNA was media sponsor of the COSPAR event.