Canadian Space Agency Prepares for Busy Six Months of Industry Events

Credit: CSA/SpaceQ.

The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) is seemingly doing more industry events these past few years than in the past, and the next six months will see up six events scheduled.

The upcoming events are:

  • September 16 – 20: CSA 2019 Fall Industry days – Canadian industry stakeholders will have the opportunity to explore the Lunar Gateway Program and meet with international primes to discuss potential partnerships at CSA Headquarters in Saint-Hubert. QC. More information released coming soon.
  • October 17 – 18: CSA International Industry Days – Canadian industry will have the opportunity to meet with representatives of German and Brazilian space industries, governments and military at CSA Headquarters in Saint-Hubert, QC. More information released coming soon.
  • October 21 – 25: International Astronautical Congress (IAC) 2019Satellite Canada Innovation Network Inc. (SatCan) is leading the Canada Pavilion at the 70th International Astronautical Congress 2019 being held in Washington, DC. Over 4,000 people are expected as the Americans put on a show for the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon mission.
  • February 2020: Investment Space 2020 – The inaugural InvestmentSpace event last February was very successful so the CSA is planning the next edition for February 2020. Exact dates and location TBC.

The CSA is also planning possible delegations to Australia and Japan depending on industry interest.

Australia: GEO Ministerial, 4-9 November 2019, Canberra

Last year, the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Australian Space Agency (ASA) that establishes a cooperative framework for joint activities, exchange of expertise, greater cooperation in the areas of research and development, academic exchange and industry collaboration. In line with the agreement, the CSA is considering a mission to Australia on the margins of the Group on Earth Observation (GEO) Ministerial Summit and Industry Track (detailed information attached) in Canberra. This could take various forms, including 1) Outreach Program and 2) Booth where you can exhibit your products. In addition, GEO events may provide opportunities to network with potential Asian partners and with the Digital Africa Initiative. If there is enough interest, the CSA could work with Trade Commissioner Service in Australia to develop an outreach program, including meetings with Australia Space Agency senior officials and B2Bs with Australian companies. Expo space (Canada Booth) during GEO week could be arranged if there is enough interest from the Canadian space industry.

For 2019 the GEO Secretariat is introducing a new Associate Member category designed to encourage industry’s participation in GEO. Associate Members would be invited to participate in GEO Plenaries, thus providing insights into the data and information needs of the GEO community to potentially inform investments and gain access to market opportunities in the GEO member states. Canada’s lead for GEO, Environment and Climate Change Canada, would have to provide Canadian companies with a Letter of Support to become an Associate Member (the CSA could facilitate this process).

  • Would you be interested in participating in this mission? YES/NO
  • Would you be interested in participating in a Canadian booth at the Expo? YES/NO
  • Would you be interested in becoming a GEO Associate Member? YES/NO

Japan: Option 1 – CSA-led Mission and attendance to DSEI, 18-19 November 2019, Chiba and Tokyo

This potential mission could be co-organized between CSA and Canadian Association of Defence and Security Industries (CADSI), and would include participation to the DSEI and access to Canadian Pavilion organized by CADSI . DSEI Japan would be an important defence event and will bring together participants from the global defence and security sector, as well as the Japanese defence community to explore partnerships, innovative projects and share knowledge. The CSA could work with Trade Commissioner Service Tokyo to develop an additional space-focused outreach program to include site visits and meetings with senior JAXA officials and Japanese industry sector organisations, on the margins of DSEI event.

  • Would you be interested to participate in this mission? YES/NO
  • Would you be interested to be part of CADSI Canadian Pavilion during DSEI event: YES/NO

Japan: Option 2 – CSA-led Stand Alone Mission (end of January – early February 2020), Tokyo

The CSA could develop a space-focused outreach program with the Trade Commissioner Service to include site visits and meetings with senior JAXA officials and Japanese industry sector organisations; the approximate duration of this mission would be 1 week.

  • Would you be interested to participate in this mission? YES/NO

If interested in the Australia or Japan opportunities, the CSA was looking for responses to these questions by last Friday emailed to [email protected]. As well they were asking you to include specific areas of interest (your interested in) to ensure that outreach programs and meetings with foreign government officials are relevant to your needs.

About Marc Boucher

Boucher is an entrepreneur, writer, editor & publisher. He is the founder of SpaceQ Media Inc. and CEO and co-founder of SpaceRef Interactive LLC. Boucher has 20+ years working in various roles in the space industry and a total of 30 years as a technology entrepreneur including creating Maple Square, Canada's first internet directory and search engine.

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