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About APRSAF

About APRSAF

What's APRSAF?

The Asia-Pacific Regional Space Agency Forum (APRSAF) was established in 1993 to enhance space activities in the Asia-Pacific region.

Space agencies, governmental bodies, international organizations, private companies, universities, and research institutes from over 40 countries and regions take part in APRSAF, the largest space-related conference in the Asia-Pacific region. The increasing attendance of high-ranking officials and participants from industry at APRSAF events provides opportunities to discuss international cooperation for space activities in concrete terms.

APRSAF currently organizes five working groups - Satellite Applications, Enhancement of Space Capability, Space Education, Space Frontier, Space Policy and Law - and Space Industry Workshop to share information about the activities and future plans of each country and region in these respective areas. APRSAF also supports the establishment of international projects as solutions for common issues, such as disaster management and environmental protection, so that participating parties will benefit from mutual cooperation.

Principles of APRSAF (PDF, 30KB)

APRSAF Characteristics

Open and flexible regional cooperative framework

  • In view of the diversity of needs in the Asia-Pacific region for space utilization and related developments, APRSAF provides a flexible framework rather than legally binding agreements.
  • The open framework of APRSAF enables various entities to participate in its activities.

Voluntary and cooperative activities

  • Participating parties carry out their projects in a cooperative and voluntary manner.
  • Working groups actively organize workshops throughout the year.

Concrete cooperative activities to solve regional issues

  • APRSAF establishes international projects to deal with common issues in the Asia-Pacific region and implement concrete actions:
  • Sentinel Asia for disaster management
  • SAFE (Space Applications For Environment) for environmental issues
  • Climate R (Regional Readiness Review for Key Climate Missions) [Completed]
  • Kibo-ABC (Asian Beneficial Collaboration through “Kibo” Utilization)
  • NSLI (National Space Legislation Initiative)

APRSAF Video - APRSAF for the past 25 years

This video summarizes the APRSAF activities since its establishment. It was shown at the plenary session of the APRSAF-26.

APRSAF History

1992 APIC

In response to the declaration adopted at the Asia-Pacific International Space Year Conference (APIC) in 1992, APRSAF was established in 1993. APRSAF has been holding annual meetings, jointly organized by Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology in Japan (MEXT), Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), and organizations of host countries.
1st 9-10 Sep. 1993
Tokyo, Japan
< Co-Host: Science and Technology Agency of Japan (STA), National Space Development Agency of Japan (NASDA), Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, Japan (ISAS) >
2nd 31 Oct. -2 Nov. 1994
Tokyo, Japan
(same as above)
3rd 13-15 Mar. 1996
Tokyo, Japan
(same as above)
4th 17-19 Mar. 1997
Tokyo, Japan
(same as above)
5th 21-23 Jun. 1998
Ulanbator, Mongolia
< Co-Host: Mongolian National Remote Sensing Center, STA, NASDA, ISAS >
6th 24-27 May 1999
Tsukuba, Japan
Main Theme: "APPLICATION OF SPACE TECHNOLOGY"
< Co-Host: STA, NASDA, ISAS >
7th 19-22 Jun. 2000
Tokyo, Japan
"EASY ACCESS TO SPACE BENEFIT"
< Co-Host: STA, NASDA, ISAS >

2001
4 WORKING GROUPS

8th 23-26 Jul. 2001
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
"NEW SPACE AGE IN THE ASIA AND PACIFIC REGION"
< Co-Host: Ministry of Science, Technology and the Environment (MOSTE), Malaysian Centre for Remote Sensing (MACRES), MEXT, NASDA, ISAS >
9th 25-27 Mar. 2003
Daejeon, Korea
"BENEFICIAL SPACE APPLICATION FOR THE REGION"
< Co-Host: Ministry of Science and Technology, Korea (MOST), Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI), MEXT, NASDA, ISAS >
10th 14-16 Jan. 2004
Chiang Mai, Thailand
"TOWARD PROMOTING COOPERATION ON SPACE APPLICATION IN OUR REGION"
< Co-Host: Ministry of Science and Technology, Thailand (MOST), Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA), MEXT, JAXA >
11th 3-5 Nov. 2004
Canberra, Australia
"TOWARD EXPANSION OF THE SPACE COMMUNITY"
< Co-Host: Australian Cooperative Research Centre for Satellite Systems (CRCSS), MEXT, JAXA >

2005
Sentinel Asia

12th 11-13 Oct. 2005
Kitakyushu, Japan
"MAXIMIZING SPACE BENEFITS FOR THE SOCIETY"
< Co-Host: MEXT, JAXA >
13th 5-7 Dec. 2006
Jakarta, Indonesia
"WORK TOGETHER, BUILDING A SECURE AND PROSPEROUS SOCIETY"
< Co-Host: Ministry of Research and Technology, Indonesia (RISTEK), National Institute of Aeronautics and Space (LAPAN), MEXT, JAXA >
14th 21-23 Nov. 2007
Bangalore, India
"SPACE FOR HUMAN EMPOWERMENT"
< Co-Host: Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), MEXT, JAXA >

2008
SAFE

15th 9-12 Dec. 2008
Hanoi & Ha Long Bay, Vietnam
"SPACE FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT"
< Co-Host: Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST), Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST), MEXT, JAXA >
16th 26-29 Jan. 2010
Bangkok, Thailand
"SPACE APPLICATIONS: CONTRIBUTIONS TOWARDS HUMAN SAFETY AND SECURITY"
< Co-Host: Ministry of Science and Technology, Thailand (MOST), Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA), MEXT, JAXA >
17th 23-26 Nov. 2010
Melbourne, Australia
"THE ROLE OF SPACE TECHNOLOGY AND INDUSTRY IN ADDRESSING CLIMATE CHANGE"
< Co-Host: Department of Innovation, Industry, Science & Research (DIISR), MEXT, JAXA >
18th 6-9 Dec. 2011
Singapore
"A REGIONAL COLLABORATION FOR TOMORROW'S ENVIRONMENT"
< Co-Host: Singapore Space and Technology Association (SSTA), Centre for Remote Imaging, Sensing and Processing, National University of Singapore (CRISP), MEXT, JAXA >
19th 11-14 Dec. 2012
Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia
"ENRICHING THE QUALITY OF LIFE THROUGH INNOVATIVE SPACE PROGRAMS "
<Co-Host: Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI), National Space Agency (ANGKASA), MEXT, JAXA>

2013
APRSAF Executive Committee(ExCom)

20th 3-6 Dec. 2013
Hanoi, Vietnam
"VALUES FROM SPACE: 20 YEARS OF ASIA-PACIFIC EXPERIENCES"
<Co-Host: Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST), MEXT, JAXA >
21st 2-5 Dec. 2014
Tokyo, Japan
"LEAP TO THE NEXT STAGE: DELIVERING INNOVATIVE IDEAS AND SOLUTIONS"
<Co-Host: MEXT, JAXA>
22nd 1-4 Dec. 2015
Bali, Indonesia
"SHARING SOLUTIONS THROUGH SYNERGY IN SPACE"
<Co-Host: Ministry of Research, Technology and Higher Education of Indonesia (RISTEK-DIKTI), National Institute of Aeronautics and Space (LAPAN), MEXT, JAXA>

2016
Group on Earth Observations (GEO) Observer Status granted

23rd 15-18 Nov. 2016
Manila, the Philippines
"BUILDING A FUTURE THROUGH SPACE SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION"
<Co-Host:Department of Science and Technology(DOST), MEXT, JAXA>
24th 14-17 Nov. 2017
Bengaluru, India
"SPACE TECHNOLOGY FOR ENHANCED GOVERNANCE AND DEVELOPMENT"
<Co-Host: Department of Space (DOS), Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), MEXT, JAXA>
25th 6-9 Nov. 2018
Singapore
"INNOVATIVE SPACE TECHNOLOGY FOR EVOLVING NEEDS"
<Co-Host: Singapore Space and Technology Association (SSTA), MEXT, JAXA>
2019
APRSAF Nagoya Vision was adopted
The National Space Legislation Initiative
26th 26-29 Nov. 2019
Nagoya, Japan
"ADVANCING DIVERSE LINKS TOWARD A NEW SPACE ERA"
<Co-Host: MEXT, JAXA>
2020
NSLI
-- 19 Nov. 2020
Online
"SHARING SPACE VISIONS BEYOND DISTANCE"
<Co-Host: SSTL, VAST, LAPAN, MEXT, JAXA>
2021
5 WORKING GROUPS /
1 WORKSHOP
27th 30 Nov. - 3 Dec. 2021
Online
"EXPAND SPACE INNOVATION THROUGH DIVERSE PARTNERSHIPS"
<Co-Host: Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST), MEXT, JAXA>
28th 15-18 Nov. 2022
Hanoi, Vietnam
"BRIDGING SPACE INNOVATIONS OPPORTUNITIES FOR SUSTAINABLE AND PROSPEROUS FUTURE"
<Co-Host: Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST), MEXT, JAXA>
29th 2023
Indonesia
TBC
<Co-Host: National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), MEXT, JAXA>
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