Riyadh - Sharikat Mubasher: In a move to consolidate Saudi Arabia’s presence in the global space industry, the Saudi Space Agency (SSA) officially launched the Center for Space Futures, the first center in the network of Fourth Industrial Revolution Centers focusing exclusively on space, in partnership with the World Economic Forum (WEF).

The center held its first board meeting to discuss its program for the coming year which focuses on space sustainability, making space more inclusive for everyone globally, Jeremy Jurgens, Managing Director of WEF, stated in an interview with Asharq Business KSA.

He noted that the WEF has done a lot of researches that expect the space economy to grow to $1.8 trillion by 2035, providing different opportunities in various sectors notably supply chains, logistics, transport, and agriculture.

Jurgens further emphasized the essential role of public-private partnerships and collaborations in setting clear frameworks, regulatory environments, and government protocols.

In April, SSA signed an agreement with the WEF to launch the Center for Space Futures which aims to facilitate public-private discussions on space collaboration and generate innovative contributions to accelerate space technologies.

The center targets incorporating best practices from the WEF and its communities into the global space sector. It will work alongside the existing national center in the Kingdom (C4IR Saudi Arabia) to advance the Saudi Vision 2030.