H2020 space info session to take place in South Africa

An event on space research in the EU’s research and innovation framework programme will take place tomorrow in South Africa.

The Horizon 2020 workshop will be held on Thursday 26 February 2015 in Cape Town and details will be provided on earth observation and satellite navigation, in addition to joint policies and funding mechanisms encouraging collaboration between the EU-South Africa co-operation. The event is organised by the European South African Science and Technology Advancement Programme (ESASTAP Plus), and will provide an opportunity to share information on South Africa and EU policies, strategies and experience, in addition to supporting space science, engineering and technology collaboration.

Representatives from the European Commission, the South African Government and the European Space Agency (ESA) will address the event. Confirmed speakers include Daan du Toit, deputy director-general for international co-operation and resources in the department of science and technology (DST), Peter Breger, deputy head of the Copernicus unit in DG GROW, and Philippe Brunet, director for aerospace, maritime and defence industries, in the Commission.

The session takes place as a side event to the annual South Africa-EU Space Policy Dialogue, “where the DST and the European Commission will be discussing strategic direction, priorities and the framework for strengthening SA-EU space research co-operation” and more details can be found here.

The next edition of Portal includes a special feature on research collaboration between the EU and South Africa.