France-Saudi Arabia space cooperation, CNES and KACST sign Executive Programme agreement

The state visit to France of Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, CNES President Jean-Yves Le Gall and Turki Bin Saud Bin Mohammed Al Saud, President of King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), signed an Executive Programme agreement setting out new areas of cooperation between the two agencies.

The Executive Programme encompasses:
•    satellite remote sensing
•    space and atmospheric sciences
•    microsatellite and space technology development
•    space regulations
•    operation of satellites and balloons

This new framework agreement will allow CNES and KACST to exchange data, know-how and personnel. Joint research activities and projects will also be developed.

To coordinate these activities, a yearly Assembly will be held alternately in France and Saudi Arabia to promote this new partnership and identify priority areas within its remit. The term of the Executive Programme is five years.

King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) is a scientific government institution that supports and enhances scientific applied research and coordinates the activities of government institutions and scientific research centres in accordance with the development requirements of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.