ICT Minster urges integration of space services platforms

“The country’s space service platforms should be integrated,” he stated stressing accelerating the space economy, commercializing space achievements, strengthening space diplomacy, and creating greater opportunities for private-sector participation.

Hashemi made the remarks on Thursday at the joint meeting of the Iranian Space Agency and the Iranian Space Research Center under the ICT Ministry’s Oversight Thursdays program.

Space Economy

The ICT Minister expressed his appreciation for the efforts undertaken to revive and rebuild the Iranian Space Research Center, describing the initiative as an important step toward restoring the organization’s research and practical capabilities and emphasizing the need to continue along this path.

“Moving toward a space economy is an unavoidable necessity. Activating the economic potential of the space sector is among the priorities of President Masoud Pezeshkian’s administration. Through an operational approach, the necessary conditions should be created to provide sustainable, high-quality services to the public.”

He welcomed the measures taken to generate dedicated revenues, establish spin-off companies, and engage with the private sector, saying “This approach should be pursued more rapidly and the pace of movement toward a space economy shall increase.”

Integration of Space Services

Hashemi noted the interactions with various government bodies and organizations to provide space services and emphasized the integration of space-service platform.

“This would help prevent duplication and reduce costs for both the government and the public.”

He said that the President’s approach is also focused on integrating services and preventing the imposition of additional costs, adding that the Plan and Budget Organization supports this approach.

The ICT Minister also emphasized launching programs to attract talented individuals, supporting innovative ideas, and establishing space-based knowledge-intensive companies.

“Strengthening space diplomacy, maintaining effective relations with the media, and hosting international researchers and media organizations are the requirements for developing this sector.”

Sustainable Project Financing

Referring to strategic memoranda of understanding signed with major users of space services, he also called for creating the necessary conditions for commercializing space technologies and establishing space research and technology funds to ensure the financial sustainability of projects.

He emphasized making use of the existing potential in space-sector projects and research to strengthen the country’s space capabilities.

Separating Policymaking from Implementation

Hashemi noted the need for a separation between the Iranian Space Agency’s policymaking and oversight responsibilities and the implementation function, calling for a six-month and one-year timetable to achieve this separation.

Referring to Iran-Boum as a flagship project of the ICT, he stressed the need to define how the missions and projects of the space sector relate to the smart-government ecosystem, saying “The relationship between the space sector and these ecosystems should be clearly defined.”

The ICT Minister concluded calling for the presentation of quantitative, precise, and data-driven reports at the Oversight Thursdays meetings, and noted “Simultaneously employing quantitative and participatory approaches is essential to making maximum use of the available capabilities.”