Côte d’Ivoire Space Agency partners University of Montpellier

By:  Nana Appiah Acquaye

The Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Adama Diawara, has met a delegation from the Space Center of the University of Montpellier, France, to advance cooperation aimed at strengthening Côte d’Ivoire’s emerging space capabilities, including the training of national specialists and the development of the country’s first nanosatellite.

The meeting, held in Abidjan-Plateau, forms part of the operational launch phase of the Côte d’Ivoire Space Agency (ASCI), established by decree in 2025 and headquartered at the Institut National Polytechnique Félix Houphouët-Boigny (INP-HB) in Yamoussoukro. According to the Minister, initial activities of the agency have already begun, with a focus on building technical capacity that will support the country’s planned satellite development programme.

Diawara said the partnership with the University of Montpellier Space Center is intended to provide structured training for the first cohort of Ivorian space specialists, alongside technical collaboration on the design and construction of nanosatellites. He noted that the initiative aligns with national efforts to build a domestic pool of highly skilled engineers capable of supporting the country’s long-term space ambitions.

The delegation from the University of Montpellier, led by its director Laurent Dusseau, highlighted the institution’s capacity to deliver intensive postgraduate training in space engineering disciplines. He explained that the programme is designed to equip already-qualified engineers with specialised skills in areas such as systems engineering and space technology applications within a condensed training period.

Dusseau added that the initiative is intended to contribute directly to strengthening institutional capacity within Côte d’Ivoire’s space sector, positioning trained engineers to support the operational growth of the national space agency and broader scientific development goals.

The collaboration is expected to play a central role in Côte d’Ivoire’s efforts to establish a functional space programme, including the planned development and launch of its first nanosatellites.