The International Astronautical Federation (IAF) organized the 2nd Global Conference on Space for Emerging Countries – GLEC 2022 in Quito, Ecuador, from 16 to 20 May 2022, in partnership with the Sideralis Foundation. International Space University (ISU) chancellor and Co-chair of the GLEC 2022 International Program Management Committee, Dr. Valanathan Munsami, was instrumental in putting an interesting and comprehensive conference program together supporting the international relations that allow space faring nations and space developing nations to share practices and data about space activities and their concrete social benefits.
“The inclusion of emerging nations in the global space arena deserves, today more than ever, all our efforts and attention” said ISU President Prof. Pascale Ehrenfreund. “In particular at a time when space activities are undergoing profound changes with the emergence of new commercial actors and technological innovations it is essential to involve emerging nations.“
The conference started with the 7th South American Space Generation Workshop, a workshop on Entrepreneurship and a Masterclass on Space Policy and Law – two important key ingredients for starting up a space ecosystem. The central theme of the Conference was “Space Ecosystems that bring Government, Industry and Society together”. The conference brought together the international community with 260 participants from 42 countries, including senior representatives of the major space agencies, industry, governments, policy makers, academia, and NGOs from around the world.
“We hope that this conference will be an incentive for Ecuador, and other Central and South American countries, to harness the assets of space technologies for economic and societal benefits, to boost their space industry, support entrepreneurship and educate the future generation about space” said ISU chancellor Dr. Valanathan Munsami.
