IIAS Announces New International Collaboration

BOULDER, Colo. (March 28 2022): The International Institute for Astronautical Sciences (IIAS) has signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Portugal Space Agency (Portugal Space|PTSpace), Institute for Systems and Computer Engineering, Technology, and Science (INESCTEC), School of Engineering of Porto (ISEP), and the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto (FCUP) focused on a science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and space education and research partnership.

“We are proud to announce this historic MoU with Portugal. Our partnership will build upon our work helping countries gain access to and leverage space to improve life on Earth”, IIAS Founder Dr. Jason Reimuller said, “From planetary geology to microgravity flight campaigns, our scientific and exploration activities represent an opportunity for the advancement of human knowledge and together we will be able to open more doors so that everyone can take part in space exploration and a sustainable future.”

All teams will pursue joint, international activities that advance geoscience, robotics, bioastronautics, and suborbital science. Developing joint research projects will facilitate access to high-fidelity facilities, experts, and hands-on training to demonstrate progress and critical discoveries.

João Claro, CEO of INESCTEC said, “Acting on INESCTEC’s motto – from knowledge generation to science-based innovation – we have been crossing new frontiers in science and technology as part of the Portuguese space ecosystem, in our region, Portugal and Europe. This recently established MoU will be a key driving force for our involvement in advancing Space innovation, education, and culture, in the fields of robotics, geo-technologies, telecommunications, sensing, STEAM, outreach, and so many others, in close cooperation with our strategic partners. INESCTEC has high expectations and is strongly committed to this MoU, and to the new era of space exploration. Strong partnerships, underlying strong space capabilities, will be foundational enablers to the “lift-off” of new challenges and opportunities for our institution and for Portugal.”

This MoU is the first partnership agreement signed under the scope of Space For All Nations, an IIAS outreach initiative. Space For All Nations enables emerging space nations and marginalized communities to participate in and contribute meaningfully to novel solutions for space and, ultimately, a better planet.

This newly formed partnership will foster equitable and inclusive access to innovative and novel research collaborations. We look forward to working with the IIAS and all partners as we expand our capabilities and missions.

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About the International Institute for Astronautical Sciences (IIAS)

The International Institute for Astronautical Sciences (IIAS) is a citizen-science, research, and education institute specializing in operational space science, human factors, flight test engineering, aeronomy, and bioastronautics. With students from over 50 different countries, IIAS offers professional certifications and sponsors educational outreach programs. IIAS science and research campaigns produce peer-reviewed scientific publications, deployable space technologies, and inspire the next generation of international space professionals. More information on IIAS may be found at astronauticsinstitute.org

About the Instituto de Engenharia de Sistemas e Computadores, Tecnologia e Ciência (INESCTEC)

INESCTEC is a private non-profit research institution, dedicated to scientific research and technological development, technology transfer, advanced consulting and training, and pre-incubation of new technology-based companies. As part of its mission to develop science-based knowledge with societal impact, INESCTEC relies on interdisciplinary research teams organized to address societal challenges or application markets with transnational relevance. This internal arrangement with market orientation is designated as TEC4. INESCTEC’s TEC4SEA develops technological solutions to overcome the deep-sea challenges and empower the Sea Economy through sustainable approaches to explore and exploit living and non-living ocean resources. By ensuring an advanced platform for tests, research development, and interdisciplinary collaboration around sea-related topics through its TEC4Sea, INESCTEC has turned into a key stakeholder in designing and implementing national strategic infrastructures roadmaps for the Sea Economy.

About the Faculdade de Ciencias da Universidade do Porto (FCUP)

FCUP is a Higher Education Institution of excellence in Exact, Natural, and Computer Sciences and in technological applications. FCUP provides a multidisciplinary background that allies passion for discovery with academic rigor and technological pragmatism. It pursues Research, Design, & Innovation (RD&I) activities to provide excellence in teaching and in science & technology development, boosted by the diversity of its scientific community and international collaborations. FCUP is committed to continuing education, dissemination of science & technology, and knowledge exchange as well as applying science & technology towards the 2030 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. FCUP hosts six departments with teaching and research staff, providing more than 70 teaching programs at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.  Staff are committed to RD&I within 16 high-performing associated Research Units. FCUP intends to reinforce its contribution to Portuguese excellence in High Education, and together with its associated Research Units, to further affirm its position as a leading RD&I institution.

About the Agência Espacial Portuguesa – Portugal Space (PT Space)

PT Space was created by the Portuguese Government, in March 2019. The Agency’s primary purpose is to promote and strengthen Space in Portugal, its ecosystem and value chain, for the benefit of society and economy in the country and worldwide. Portugal Space acts as a business and development unit for universities, research entities and companies, as stated in the Portugal Space 2030 Strategy, approved in 2018. PT Space also coordinates the Portuguese participation in the international space sector and represents the country in institutions such as the European Space Agency (ESA), the European Southern Observatory (ESO), the European Solar Telescope (EST), Square Kilometre Array Observatory (SKA), participating in the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) amongst other. PT Space is also the national representative for Portugal to the European Commission for matters related to space, such as European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA), the European Union Space Program (Copernicus, Galileo, GOVSATCOM, SSA), and financial instruments related to space.

About the Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto (ISEP)

ISEP is one of the leading schools of engineering in Portugal contributing to the achievement of sustainable development, by creating and transmitting applied knowledge. ISEP offers a wide range of engineering programs with several A3ES and EUR-ACE accreditation. ISEP a member of the international consortium Conceive – Design – Implement – Operate (CDIO) and has more than a hundred partnerships within the European Space of Higher Education. ISEP strongly invests in its R&D units in order to create, develop and share applied scientific knowledge. ISEP houses ten research units, four of which are recognized as National Research Centres by the Portuguese Science and Technology Foundation (FCT). ISEP contributes to international networks with major R&D consortium and participation in large scale international projects, promoting a continual thrive for answers to society’s needs, turning its campus into a home for innovation and technology.

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Image: Dr. Ana Pires, IIAS Space For All Nations Co-Chair and Researcher at INESC TEC, before her 2019 IIAS microgravity research flight in Ottawa, Canada.