Vancouver, B.-C., October 5, 2004 B Before global space industry leaders assembled today at the world’s premier space conference, Dr. Marc Garneau, President of the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), and Mr. Jean-Jacques Dordain, Director General of the European Space Agency (ESA), highlighted technological, scientific and industrial discovery, exploration and applications, the result of cooperation that has over the past 25 years delivered far reaching social and economic benefits.
Speaking to delegates of the International Astronautics Congress in Vancouver, Dr. Garneau and Mr. Dordain recognized the long-standing history of cooperation between Canada and ESA and the socio-economic benefits that come from the mutual promotion of the peaceful development of space science and technology.
“Building on a proud tradition of partnership between Canada and Europe in space-based research and development”, said Dr. Garneau, “our collaboration is a model of international co-operation C one that will continue to drive innovation, the sharing of knowledge and expertise, and the creation of partnership between countries, agencies and space-based industries to meet the needs of future generations all over the world.”
“Cooperation with Canada”, said Mr. Dordain, “has spanned the Atlantic with a bridge enhancing our ability to leverage collective strengths, knowledge and expertise to drive leading-edge research, technology and space-based initiatives that have the potential to make a positive impact on the lives of all our citizens.”
Working with European firms, Canadian companies and scientists are expanding their partnership in Earth Observation, telecommunications, satellite navigation, scientific research, planetary exploration and the application of space-based services for telemedecine and disaster management. Over the past twenty-five years, through the Co-operation Agreement, the European Space Agency has awarded contracts worth in excess of $420 million dollars to space companies in all regions of Canada. This long-standing partnership has spurred the creation of jobs, the acquisition of knowledge and expertise and led to the development of industrial alliances with European contractors.