30 June
2 years
Involvement in space activities also enables participation in international projects and research, which means that countries at the level of development, such as Serbia, have the opportunity to overcome their (semi) peripheral global position.
Anja Nakarada Pečujlić
Why should Serbia establish space agency?
In a country where the unemployment rate is 11.8%, where the public external debt is 65% of GDP, where practically a quarter of the population is at risk of poverty (with the most vulnerable group being young people aged 18 to 24) and where the average monthly income households in 2016 amounted to 59,624 dinars – in such a country it is difficult to explain why the state should invest in the development of the space industry.
It should be noted that in 2016, worldwide, the revenue from space activities amounted to 329 billion dollars. Revenues are on a steady rise, with a growth rate of 9.52% over the past 20 years.
However, investing in the space industry, an industry that, given the growing investments and technological trends, will become increasingly important in the future, can contribute to alleviating the economic crisis. encourage development. In addition to creating new jobs and preventing the outflow of young professionals, this industry directly affects the prevention of natural disasters, more efficient use of natural resources, the application of information and communication technology in rural, hard-to-reach areas, and the overall development of the domestic high-tech sector.
Countries with a similar level of development according to the United Nations Human Development Index – such as Malaysia and Iran, as well as countries with a lower level of development, such as Nigeria, have been investing in the space industry for years. In Malaysia, the space industry has brought 10,900 new jobs, and it is predicted that in the next 20 years, it will employ another 19,000 highly educated experts.
It should also be noted that in 2016, worldwide, the revenue from space activities amounted to 329 billion dollars. Revenues are on a steady rise, with a growth rate of 9.52% over the past 20 years.
If, for example, in 2014 it became a satellite that monitored the river system in our country, the damage suffered from the floods at that time would certainly have been significantly less.
In addition to the stated economic importance, the space industry contributes to the reduction of damage from natural disasters, because it enables a timely reaction when it comes to floods, droughts, hurricanes, etc. Thus, in 1999, a strong cyclone hit the east coast of India and killed over 10,000 people. A cyclone of the same strength and in the same place, crashed again in 2013, this time killing several people. The various consequences of the unfortunate events came about because, in 2013, India had a meteorological satellite that enabled precise prediction of when and where the cyclone would form and where it would move.
Serbia is not in danger of a cyclone, but that is why it has serious problems with floods, droughts and strong snowstorms. If, for example, in 2014 it became a satellite that monitored the river system in our country, the damage suffered from the floods at that time would certainly have been significantly less. The fact is that we can obtain satellite weather data by paying foreign countries and operators. However, with accelerated climate change and the growing danger of natural disasters, safety is more certain if you have your satellite system. In addition to a greater degree of security certainty, relying on one’s strengths would also contribute to the development of one’s technology.
Launched satellites in Earth orbit are not only used to monitor climate change. They are also main key in the areas of telecommunications and navigation. There fore, communication satellites increase the efficiency of public administration, because they enable the implementation of digitalization in the public sector (e-government), which is set as one of the state priorities in our country. Then, improving the provision of medical services, e.g. e-medicine, which can also be used in inaccessible, rural places (as health care is already applied in some remote villages in Africa via telecommunication satellites from a distance).
Involvement in space activities also enables participation in international projects and research, which means that countries at the level of development, such as Serbia, have the opportunity to overcome their (semi) peripheral global position.
The fact is that satellite technology is used ranges from the prevention of natural disasters to raising the efficiency of management and increasing safety, but it is also a fact that its potentials cannot be applied on their own. A national space agency is necessary for its adequate social application.
The interaction of government, the private sector and educational institutions are crucial for technological innovation and the development of society. Therefore, the space agency, which would necessarily be a link between these three sectors, would contribute to scientific, industrial and social progress, that is. “Capacity development”. Raising development capacities in the field of science and technology enables economic progress in countries with low GDP and high poverty rate because at the same time solving existing problems with the highest technological achievements, raising living standards, creating new jobs and encouraging the development of industry and economy.
Cooperation with other space agencies would enable Serbia to participate in regional, European and world projects, and its easier for transfer of cutting-edge technology, knowledge and experience.
Analyzing the experiences of other national space agencies, the Serbian space (or space) agency would have a role to promote scientific and technological research and to enable a fruitful exchange of information between the agency and other institutions, such as universities, the private industry, government and international partners.
Cooperation with other space agencies would enable Serbia to participate in regional, European and world projects, and it is easier for transfer of cutting-edge technology, knowledge and experience. That opens the possibility for the latest technological solutions to be immediately taken over and applied in the country, and not to be left for some uncertain future. In this context, the agency would also be in charge of developing a national space program and short-term and long-term strategies, that is, defining priorities when it comes to developing industrial capacity.
Given the multiple benefits of developing space technology and industry and the experiences that have shown that space agencies have a crucial role to play in that development, Serbia should seriously consider establishing her space agency. Currently, over 70 countries around the world use part or all of their space industrial capacity and contribute to their development. If countries like Nigeria, Algeria, Bangladesh, Malaysia and Peru already have their agencies and programs, there is no reason why Serbia should not follow the same “space path”.
