Côte d’Ivoire Space Agency partners University of Montpellier
Date: 2026-04-16
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.
