Japan and the Czech republic to cooperate in aerospace

26 May. 2010 | CzechInvest, JASPA, Czech Space Alliance | Cooperation in technology development or joint participation in national and international R&D programs – those are some of the areas in which Japanese Aerospace Parts Organization (JASPA) and the Czech Space Alliance (CSA) agreed to cooperate in a Memorandum of Understanding.

Today´s signing of the document was a part of Czech-Japan Technology days taking place in Tokyo.

“There is a great potential for joint projects on the development of parts or products of satellite or aircrafts that this agreement could help leverage,” states Y. Senda, president of the Japanese Aerospace Parts Organization. “The memorandum also envisages exchange of the know-how as well as key personnel between our organisation.”

“Since 1990s Czech aerospace industry is focused on the European Space Agency and Airbus. The success of the Czech Republic in ESA depends above all on good industry results and participation. To achieve this, our industry needs to add to its world class technology skills a network of international technology partners - not only European, but also from other world aerospace powers, such as Japan evidently is. Ample confirmation of that is the successful launch last week, of the Japanese spacecraft Akatsuki, by the Japanese H-IIA launcher, to explore Venus. The Memorandum we are signing today opens up new opportunities for our companies to complement their technologies and knowhow in this high-tech field, for mutual benefit. ” says Petr Bareš, president of the Czech Space Alliance. “Areas where our knowledge could be shared include satellite navigation, earth observation, X-ray technologies, precise manufacturing etc. The interest of Japan in Czech companies is shown by the fact that two of our members belong to Japanese parents.”

The Memorandum bears new perspective to a mutual cooperation of both organizations, which started during the first meeting at Japan Aerospace Exhibition in Yokohama two years ago and was crucially boosted during the next meeting in CzechInvest Tokyo office in December 2009. “There are many areas that JASPA and the Czech Space Alliance have in common. The companies they represent have great experience in unique aerospace projects and most of them continuously work on innovation that accelerates their further development. I am glad that CzechInvest could have arranged the very first two meetings of both organizations’ representatives in 2008 and 2009,” says Alexandra Rudysarova, CEO of Investment and Business Development Agency CzechInvest.

The Memorandum links two countries with long aerospace tradition. The Czech space technology dates back to 1969 when first Czech instruments were launched into space. Nowadays, Czechs specialize in satellite navigation, micro-accelerometers, X ray optics, earth observation or advanced materials. Japan first launched its own satellite using genuine Japanese technology in 1970. Since then it has been regularly sending commercial and science instruments into space.

About JASPA

Japan Aerospace Parts Association Co., Ltd. represents and manage The Manten-Project, the largest and oldest aerospace consortium in Japan, with more than 160 small and medium size enterprises engaged in manufacturing, R&D or software development. Companies collaborate with many Japanese government agencies, universities and industrial organizations including Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). They provide the most advanced technologies and skills in all aspects of the aerospace manufacturing such as precision metal work, machinery work, surface treatment processing, structures and thermal analysis as well as technical consultancy and supply services.

About the Czech Space Alliance

The Czech Space Alliance (CSA) groups 15 SME’s focused on aerospace technology. It is achieving excellent results. Since the Czech Republic acceded in 2008 to the European Space Agency (ESA) convention, as well as during the preparatory phase 2005-2008, members of CSA are winning the lion’s share of all Czech industrial projects in ESA, some in competitive tenders in consortia with renowned European space partners. Some members are important suppliers of Airbus. The Alliance is one of the founding members of the pan-European association of national space alliances, SME4space.