Israel Space Agency

The Israel Space Agency is the national government agency that runs civilian space activity in Israel. It was set up by a government decision in 1983 and works under the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology.

The agency starts, leads and coordinates the civilian space program. It backs scientific research and development that has real economic promise, such as new technology. It sees space work as a help to the Israeli economy, farming, communications, tracking of pollution and research.

Israel has more than sixty space companies, including startups. They work on satellites, ground stations and terminals, materials, propulsion and launch, systems and integration, communications and satellite positioning, and data processing. The agency helps these firms with research and development funding. It runs an investment track with the Israel Innovation Authority and a space incubator called Earth and Beyond. It also plans a research and development center for small satellites. It helps firms reach global markets and build business ties abroad.

The agency works with many space agencies around the world. These include NASA, the European Space Agency, the German, Italian, French, Canadian, Indian, Emirati, British and Australian agencies, and the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs. It organizes events that bring together investors, companies and government representatives. Israel welcomes joint projects on space systems, ground stations, space exploration and space science.

Each year the ministry, at the agency's request, publishes calls for research proposals. Topics include observation of Earth from space, observation of deep space and equipment built for use in space. The agency also helps set up knowledge centers inside recognized research institutions. It has supported studies on gamma-ray bursts, comets, exoplanets, atomic clocks and nanosatellites.

Education is a major goal. Its public activities reach over two million people a year. Israel Space Week takes place in the last week of January. The Ilan Ramon Space Olympiad draws 500 school classes each year, and a program called TEVEL lets students build, launch and talk to nanosatellites. The agency also supports public observatories and a community of educators.

Services

• Civilian space program coordination
• Space industry support
• Space incubator
• Research grants and calls for proposals
• International space cooperation
• Space education programs
• Public space events
• Company database of the Israeli space industry