KENYA EXPLORES SPACE ECOSYSTEMS IN FRANCE AND BELGIUM

Between 7 and 14 December 2024, the Director General of the Kenya Space Agency (KSA) led a delegation comprising KSA staff and representatives from start-ups in the Kenyan space ecosystem on an exchange visit to France and Belgium. This visit, organized and facilitated by Expertise France, was part of the Data Governance in Africa initiative. Jointly financed by the European Union (EU) and five EU member states—Belgium, Estonia, Finland, France, and Germany—the initiative aims to support the African Union (AU) and its Member States in fostering development-oriented and human-centric approaches to data regulation, utilization, and infrastructure at various governance levels.
The visit was a timely opportunity to strengthen collaboration between KSA and Expertise France while fostering international knowledge exchange. The delegation focused on learning best practices for establishing a vibrant and robust space innovation ecosystem in Kenya. Over the course of seven days, the Kenyan delegation engaged in high-level knowledge exchange and learning with satellite manufacturers, Space Agencies, start-up incubators and accelerators, private companies and universities within the space sector.
Key areas of focus included understanding the roles of various stakeholders in the French and Belgian space ecosystems, particularly in nurturing start-ups and fostering innovation in the space sector. The aim was to equip Kenya with insights into developing cutting-edge space inventions and solutions and leveraging space-based data for value creation and sustainable development. Additionally, the visit sought to establish strong linkages between the Kenyan and European space sectors, paving the way for future collaborations. For both the Agency and the private sector, the trip was an invaluable learning experience, providing insights into what is required to develop a dynamic, fit-for-purpose space industry comparable to those in mature ecosystems across Europe and other developed regions.
This exchange visit reaffirms KSA’s commitment to building a globally competitive space ecosystem that is aligned with its socio-economic development goals.



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