At the end of a very successful first Space for Island Nations Conference 2023 Remco Timmermans spoke with event manager Raushan Ali Fariq and deputy event manager Leonard de Guzman. They talked about history, present and future of #SINC2023 and #SINC2024 and the role of MSRO in bringing the lessons learned into practice in a new space economy on the #Maldives.

The Space for Island Nations Conference 2023 in the Maldives earlier this week was historic in several ways. This was the first space conference ever in the Maldives and the first space conference dedicated to space for island nations. The conference served as an important milestone in the evolution of the brand new MSRO Maldives Space Research Organisation, a young Maldivian initiative, born at the International Space University #SSP22 in Portugal in the summer of 2022. The conference was also unique in the sense that all delegates worked on a final statement, referred to as the 'Crossroads Declaration', that will guide the work of MSRO in the next years. It was edited live in the room by all delegates, including international space professionals (including SpaceWatch.Global), local government representatives, and a large number of local high-school and university students. Check out some of the highlights of the #SINC2023 conference in this summary by Remco Timmermans. We are looking forward to #SINC2024!

At the end of the Space for Island Nations Conference 2023, Remco Timmermans talk to Madin Maseeh, the founder and president of @MSRO. MSRO was the driving force behind the first space conference ever on the Maldives, and the main organisation to take the conference results forward. It was conceived only in the summer of 2022 and is already the main institute for space in the Maldives. Remco asked Madin about the history, present, and of course future of the he Maldives Space Research Organisation and next year's #SINC2024 conference.

We have reached the end of day 3 of @SINC2023. Communications Manager Alexandra Sokolowski and Remco Timmermans do a thorough review of the many great learnings from today. #SINC2023

The objective of Eurisy is to bridge space and society, and even though it is primarily an EU organisation, there is a lot of space technology and data from Europe that is available to anyone in the world. Remco Timmermans spoke with Eurisy's Secretary Ggeneral Annalisa Donati about the value her organisation can bring to emerging space nations like Maldives. #SINC2023

Remco Timmermans had the unique opportunity to have an informal chat with Dr. S. Pete Worden of the Breakthrough Initiatives. Breakthrough is one of the key supporters and sponsors of the Space for Island Nations Conference 2023 I asked him about two things that are important to emerging space nations and that were key points in the conference: 1) As a space policy advisor to the Luxembourg government, Dr. Worden shared a list of five key elements of a national space policy. These elements, adjusted to the specific national situation of a country, form the basis for a new national space ecosystem, like for island nations. 2) As a director of the Breakthrough Initiatives, which is all about the future exploration of very deep space, I asked him how students and really anyone interested in emerging and small space nations can benefit from these highly inspirational projects.

In this  Space Café Radio - SpaceWatch.Global Editor-in-Chief Dr Emma Gatti spoke with Dr Walther Pelzer, Member of the Executive Board of DLR and Director General of the German Space Agency at DLR during the 38th Space Symposium in Colorado Springs from 17th-20th April 2023, about the successful launch of JUICE, the new challenges for space in Europe, New Space and the current political environment Europe is operating

Good morning from the third and last day of the @space for island nations conference 2023 in #Maldives! Today we will look at everything space policy, which is an important element of developing a space economy in a new space nation. This afternoon we will go to the #Moon, before landing at a closing networking reception on the beach with the @breakthrough initiatives, where we can bring together our learnings and start planning the future role of space for island nations! #SINC2023

A little personal reflection of the amazing second day of the @Space for Island Nations Conference 2023 conference. It is very inspiring to see how an initiative born at the @International Space University can turn a nation into a space faring nation. I am proud to see how @MSROmv is leading Maldives into the space era, bringing several national ministers and the country's former president to the first ever space conference in Maldives. I was very proud to have a good chat with Minister of Tourism Dr. Abdulla Mausoom about the specific benefits of space for tourism in the leading tourism nation of the world!

Good evening from the end of day two of the Space for Island Nations Conference 2023! Today we heard about the opportunities of space from two ministers, both emphasising the untapped chances that space offers for defence and tourism in the Maldives. We listened to two expert panels about capacity building in emerging space nations, as well as special opportunities in equatorial countries, like Maldives. After the break, we went deeper into space, with Dr. Pete Worden of the @Breakthrough Initiatives and the equally inspiring Dr. Harold White of the @Limitless Space Institute under the applicable theme 'from Sand to Stars'. Special thanks to my co-host @Alexandra Sokolowski of the event organising committee for sharing our views on the day from this amazing location!