On November 11-15 SWF partnered with the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs and the Belarusian State University to organize a Workshop on Space technology Applications for Socio-Economic Benefits in Minsk, Belarus. The overall objective of the workshop was to increase awareness among policy makers and planners on the socio-economic benefits of utilizing space technology. The workshop contributed to international cooperation by providing opportunities to exchange in-depth information on Space Technology Applications for Socio-Economic Benefits.

Specific objectives for this workshop were to:

• share information on research and applications studies that have demonstrated the use of space technology for societal benefit;
• address principles and mechanisms for enhancing national, regional, and international cooperation in space technology development and applications;
• demonstrate the benefits of various space technology applications for priorities hihghlighted by the RIO+20 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development: energy, cities, food, water, oceans, and disasters (http://www.uncsd2012.org/rio20/7issues.html); and
• Promote integration of space solutions into national development agenda, including building institutional and governance frameworks.

The workshop lead to:

• the development of collaborative projects ideas that while addressing specific societal issues confronting individual member states or regions, are applicable globally;
• the identification of research activities in the context of decision-making that would benefit from space solutions; and
• the development of a strategy for building institutional capacity to integrate space solutions into the national development agenda.

Brussels Office Director Agnieszka Lukaszczyk gave opening and closing remarks during the workshop and chaired a session on International and Regional Cooperation. Project Manager Natassa Antoniou presented onSocial Media in Disasters and the Role of Space Technologies.  For more information click here.