News of Government Institutions

Slovenia's Status as a Participating Country in ESA is an Opportunity for Companies and Knowledge Institutions

Minister Gregor Golobic signed the Agreement of a Participating European Country concluded by the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Republic of Slovenia, on 22 January in Noordwijk in the Netherlands. The status thus acquired by Slovenia will enable Slovenian companies, researchers and students to co-operate with ESA on concrete projects.

On behalf of ESA, the Agreement was signed by Peter Hulsroj, the Director of Legal Affairs and International Relations. He expressed his enthusiasm for Slovenia's involvement and considered it a great success that only a year and a half after signing a co-operation agreement with ESA, Slovenia had made the second step and acquired the status of a participating country. ESA and its centre ESTEC are marked by engineering excellence, he said, colourfully describing ESA as a "club" offering its members and participating countries numerous opportunities.

ESA grants the status of a participating country only to those EU Member States with enough research and development potential to co-operate in space projects, said Minister Golobič after signing the agreement. An ESA delegation assessed that Slovenia met these conditions after a visit last year to Slovenia, during which it carried out an examination of the qualification of Slovenian companies and knowledge institutions for a partnership role in ESA projects.

Upon signing the agreement in Noordwijk, Mr Hulsroj expressed his delight with the signing of the agreement "with a special country, the country of origin of Herman Potočnik, whose extraordinary book The Problem of Space Travel, from 1928, foresaw space travel and research." In his opening address, Minister Golobič also mentioned Herman Potočnik Noordung and his extraordinary importance, adding that Slovenians have been present in the field of space research to this day. He recalled Dr Marcos Bavdaž, a Slovenian working for ESA, who was also present at the signing of the agreement, and Dr Dušan Petrač and Dr Anton Mavretič from NASA, as well as three astronauts of Slovenian origin: Ronald Sega, Jerry M. Linenger and Sunita Williams.

Minister Golobič stressed that the Slovenian Government was aware of the extreme importance of space research and technologies, as well as of the opportunities offered to science and the economy. "Although Slovenia is aware that it can never be a major player in this field with its two million inhabitants, the fact is that its future lies in high-level specialisation, innovation and the ability to find market niches." This opportunity is also offered to Slovenia through its status as a participating country in ESA. This is an opportunity especially for Slovenian high technology companies, as well as an excellent starting point for their further development and international co-operation, said Mr Golobič, upon signing the agreement.

He announced that the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology (MHEST) would in the following weeks enquire among Slovenian companies and knowledge institutions for expressions of interest in ESA projects. Minister Gregor Golobič invited Dr Marcos Bavdaž to the event prepared by MHEST for companies and knowledge institutions Dr Bavdaž asserted that he would be glad to attend the event and present to Slovenian businessmen and researchers the opportunities offered by ESA projects.

Minister Gregor Golobič and his delegation continued by visiting the ESTEC centre, which is considered the technological core of ESA. ESTEC is the biggest centre of space research, as well as the test centre and main development centre in the field of European space activities.