The Economic Equilibrium Council (Tawazun) announced its cooperation with Airbus and the National Center for Space Science and Technology from the Emirates University, to create and develop a center for the assembly, integration and testing of satellites.
The Council stated that the center, due to start its operations in the beginning of 2021, will manufacture, assemble, integrate and test components of small and medium satellites, the size of which ranges between 50 and 250 kilograms, and is used for the purposes of communications, navigation and spectroscopy.
He explained that the center will be established within the National Center for Space Science and Technology in Al Ain, in cooperation with the company «Airbus», which will support the project in the design, preparation and operation stages, in addition to managing equipment procurement, installation and operational qualification.
He pointed out that cooperation between Tawazun and its partners comes from the basis of its pioneering role in empowering the national defense and security industries system, through securing and developing technologies and building national competencies and specialized skills.
“The center represents our second project after (Yahsat), as we are currently working on developing a series of projects aimed at advancing the UAE space sector in support of the continuous efforts made by the state to gain the necessary knowledge,” said Matar Ali Al-Rumaithi, Chief Executive of Economic Development at the Economic Balance Council. To consolidate its regional position as a leading center for research and development activities in the space sector.
He added, "The project will form an important part of our future plans, as we will seek to build and operate it as a sustainable resource for space technologies during a specific period, ranging between five and seven years."
Al-Rumaithi expressed his appreciation for the great contributions that Airbus will make to ensure the sustainability of the center and build and develop national competencies, stressing the National Center for Space Science and Technology's keenness to gain valuable knowledge and expertise, through its partnership with Airbus in the implementation of the distinguished project, as well as developing and strengthening Skills of national cadres working in it.
The UAE space sector provides, at present, 3000 jobs, within 50 specialized institutions, five centers for research and development, and three universities that offer degrees in space science. It is expected that the new project will create 32 new jobs, including 22 jobs for citizens, in addition to enhancing knowledge transfer and providing training opportunities within Airbus facilities in France and the UAE.
The Supreme President of the UAE University, Saeed Ahmed Ghobash, stressed the importance of scientific and research cooperation with the Economic Balance Council, in line with the vision and strategy of the Emirates University in enhancing research, academic and professional cooperation with institutions, bodies and centers, and creating a communication link between the university and local, regional and global institutions, as a research university It seeks leadership and scientific excellence in a way that achieves the government's vision, targeting the requirements of the national agenda in achieving sustainable development and harmonizing modern trends in the implementation of development projects, where the university has distinct scientific and technical capabilities that enabled it to keep pace with the global development of applied scientific research, in light of the era of the fourth industrial revolution, and the requirements Artificial intelligence and space science and technology, which contributes to building a knowledge and digital economy and employing it in achieving progress and the welfare of society, and achieving the sustainable development of the state.
The Director of the National Center for Space Science and Technology, Dr. Khaled Al-Hashemi, said: “The partnership with Tawazun and (Airbus) constitutes a step towards achieving the goals of the National Center for Space Science and Technology, represented in building and developing local capabilities in the collection, integration and testing of satellites.”
It is worth noting that the UAE Space Agency is currently financing two projects that will be completed under the management and operation of the National Center for Space Science and Technology. The first project aims to build a satellite to enhance the navigational capabilities of the UAE, and the second is the project of manufacturing the Arab satellite “813”, which was announced On his behalf, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
The two projects currently underway will be completed, with support from «Airbus» in the new center.