ESA has provided Iceland with a roadmap on PECS-talks. (Plan for the European Cooperating States) The ESA Convention provides different types of cooperation on the road to membership. The next step for Iceland is to request talks formally. This means a decision has to be made on which ministry will handle the application. We have had discussions with some ministries and continue to push action. This, however, is not our decision. 

Space Iceland has actively engaged with policymakers, agencies, industry and Space offices in Europe to gather knowledge and learn from those that are further along. “Start an Icelandic CubeSat Project” is consistent advice. In Iceland, the possibility of a CubeSat Project has been discussed and pops up as an idea every now and then. We have taken this to heart and are now looking into how to make this happen.

Even without membership funding for Space-related activities and startups is available. As members, Iceland will have ESA BIC available to us. Until then, however, we should be proactive in nurturing business development and startups. Space Iceland has reached out to partners on this in the hope to create an incubator, assistance in funding and networking.