33rd UN/IAF Workshop on Space Economy Opportunities for Emerging Nations: Advancing Socio-Economic Resilience through Space Technologies and Applications

(Update on 7 May) The call for abstracts is now open until 30 June 2026.

INTRODUCTION

The United Nations, through its Programme on Space Applications implemented by the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA), and the International Astronautical Federation (IAF) are co-organizing their 33rd Workshop on the theme "Space Economy Opportunities for Emerging Nations: Advancing Socio-Economic Resilience through Space Technologies and Applications". The workshop takes place at the venue of the 77th International Astronautical Congress (IAC) and the theme of the Workshop is aligned with the theme of the Congress: “The World Needs More Space”, to ensure that space remains an open frontier for all while more countries and diverse stakeholders join the global space economy.

The purpose of the Workshop is to bring together people from either government, space agencies, research institutes, academia, or non-governmental organizations who prepare and carry out space activities and are specifically interested in building partnerships. The theme of the UN/IAF Workshop will be the space economy, with a particular focus on how space technologies and applications provide socio-economic benefits and resilience in developing countries, and how international cooperation can enable such benefits.

The UN/IAF Workshop will be hosted by the Turkish Space Agency (TUA), and held in Antalya, Türkiye, on 3 and 4 October 2026.

WORKSHOP OBJECTIVES

Space applications are a game-changer in many sectors of the economy, and they have revolutionised the way services essential for socio-economic development are provided in many areas, from agriculture to transport, energy or telecommunications. According to the OECD, the space economy encompasses all activities and resources that contribute to human progress through the exploration, research, understanding, management, and utilisation of space. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) defines socio-economic resilience as the capacity of communities and systems to withstand, adapt to, and recover from shocks (such as disasters, economic crises, or conflict) while maintaining development progress. To face today’s challenges and to develop the resilience of key socio-economic sectors, space applications and technologies provide unique tools either integrated into decision-making processes or part of complex solutions where space is an essential component. In this context, developing socio-economic resilience would need discussions about how to increase capabilities in space technologies and space applications within developing countries.

The Workshop aims to bring together stakeholders from various governments – especially governments of developing countries - with space agencies, academia, and representatives of the space industry to network and discuss how to increase capabilities in space technologies and space applications within developing countries. With the wide-ranging topic of socio-economic resilience, the event will consider initiatives at the intersection of business, economics, and development strategy.

The Workshop will provide a platform to discuss trends in the space economy, increase awareness of successful socio-economic and regulatory approaches, and to explore innovative initiatives taking place within developing countries, highlighting the benefits that space activities offer with their wide range of applications.

Presentations made during the UN/IAF Workshop will be published on the website of the Office for Outer Space Affairs and on the website of the International Astronautical Federation (IAF), while the report of the Workshop and its recommendations will be distributed to the participants and to the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UN COPUOS).

Programme

Speakers are selected via a call for abstracts.

Speakers and attendees will be selected up to the maximum capacity of the room, based on relevant professional or academic experience.

The workshop programme includes five types of formats:

• Keynote presentations given by invited speakers.
• Sessions during which presenters will make presentations followed by questions from the audience.
• Panels: roundtables during which speakers will have the opportunity to make short introductory statements, followed by a moderated panel discussion and questions from the audience.
• Pitch: short presentations introducing specific projects or initiatives in less than 5 minutes.
• Structured networking opportunities, with one interactive activity for participants to network on each day, in addition to the usual networking opportunities during breaks and the evening reception.

The exact topics of sessions and panels will be defined based on the result of the call for abstracts.

The first draft programme will be published in September 2026.

CALL FOR ABSTRACTS

The call for abstracts is part of the registration process now available HERE.

Abstracts should cover one or more of the following themes:

1. Status of the space economy, especially in specific developing countries, with analyses of expected evolution factors or foreseen threats to a sustainable growth;
2. Successful use cases of space applications to develop the resilience of key socio-economic sectors especially in developing countries;
3. How key themes such as resilience, sustainability and government-related applications have been driving recent growth in the space economy, and what promising opportunities they offer for newcomers to the space technologies sector;
4. Challenges and success stories of efforts to build and sustain a space economy within non-space faring nations, especially in developing countries. Besides new academic programmes and technical capacity-building activities on space applications and technologies, a wider context could be analysed, encompassing space policy, space law and regulatory initiatives, as well as space-related markets;
5. The role of governments and of private financial sector to support innovation, investment, and long-term growth, to develop capabilities of new entrants, and to establish conditions for a greater involvement and adequate resources from the investment community;
6. How models of international cooperation between different stakeholders of the global space economy, in a context of evolving macroeconomic and geopolitical forces, enable enhanced resilience and sustainable growth.

Abstract submission deadline: 30 June 2026
Deadline for registration as self-funded attendee: 10 July 2026

WORKING LANGUAGE

The working language of the Workshop will be English.
All participants are required to have good English language skills.

SPONSORSHIP

UNOOSA and the IAF are responsible for organizing the Workshop. Sponsorship of the workshop is still open to interested entities who may contact UNOOSA at unoosa-events@un.org and IAF at workshop@iafastro.org

EXPECTED PARTICIPANTS

The Workshop is being planned for a total of 150 participants. They include technical experts, innovators, educators, policy- and decision-makers from international, regional, national and local institutions, United Nations agencies, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, research and development institutions, and from industry.

Participants will be selected up to the maximum capacity of the room, based on relevant professional and/or academic experience.

FINANCIAL SUPPORT

Within the limited financial resources available, UNOOSA and the IAF may provide funding for individuals selected as a speaker and whose nationality is classified as a developing country. They will be selected on a competitive basis, depending on their place of origin and relevant professional or educational background. For the list of developing countries, please refer to the annex of the "World Economic Situation and Prospects 2026" report, available at https://www.un.org/development/desa/dpad/publication/world-economic-situation-and-prospects-2026/. Please note that financial support will only be considered for applicants who submit an abstract that is retained in the programme for an oral presentation at the workshop.

LIFE AND HEALTH INSURANCE

Health insurance for each of the selected participants is necessary and is the responsibility of the person or his/her institution or Government. UNOOSA and the IAF will not assume any responsibility for life and health insurance, nor for expenses related to medical treatment or accidents.

CONTACT INFORMATION

For additional information on the Workshop programme, please contact UNOOSA at unoosa-events@un.org and IAF at workshop@iafastro.org.