United NationsOffice for Outer Space Affairs

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• Registration: Will open soon

#WSF2024 | Background

As the planet faces increasing environmental and societal challenges, it requires effective legal frameworks, strong partnerships and global cooperation in order to achieve the goal of sustainable development.

Space science and technology bring an abundance of unique and fundamental benefits to humanity. With growing technological innovation, space exploration serves as a key provider of applications for life on Earth. Space tools enable and drive sustainable development by providing essential data for climate action, disaster management and monitoring progress on global commitments in sustainable development goals.

In an increasingly complex world with a growing participation of different stakeholders, this forum offers a unique opportunity for exchange and knowledge transfer to actors from politics, industry, science and society.

The "Space2030" Agenda provides a road map for achieving sustainable development through the use of innovation and technology derived from space exploration. Another central goal is to deliver insights on how to improve global space governance, focusing on economic, societal, accessibility and diplomatic issues.

With the upcoming midterm-review of the implementation process of the "Space2030" Agenda, the Forum will play a pivotal role in providing a platform for inclusive stakeholder discussions and contributions.

#WSF2024 | Setting the Stage

The World Space Forum event series aims to strengthen partnerships and advance the ongoing dialogue among the global community on a wide range of space issues to facilitate socio-economic sustainable development. The Forum promotes the implementation of the " Space2030" Agenda: space as a driver of sustainable development and its implementation plan " adopted by the General Assembly in its resolution 76/3 through the broad involvement of all relevant space actors.

This year's event in Bonn, Germany, will have a special focus on the UN Summit of the Future held in September 2024 in New York. The Summit of the Future seeks to enhance cooperation on critical challenges and to address gaps in global governance. The Pact for the Future, to be adopted during the Summit, aims to reaffirm existing commitments and move towards a reinvigorated multilateral system that can effectively tackle future challenges, including the peaceful use of outer space. The World Space Forum 2024 provides an opportunity to draw attention to space solutions that effectively support the areas identified in the Pact, offering an opportunity for participants to discuss its implementation regarding space just three months after its adoption.

Furthermore, the outcomes of the Forum will be reported to the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space in the context of the upcoming mid-term review of the Space2030 Agenda, adopted by the UN General Assembly.

After successfully hosting the High-Level Forum in 2018, we are pleased to continue the space dialogue with the World Space Forum 2024 in Bonn, Germany.

#WSF2024 | Objectives

#WSF2024 | Who is it for?

The  WORLD SPACE FORUM brings together experts and policy makers from international, regional, national and local institutions, private organizations, academia, and non-governmental organizations. This multi-stakeholder composition allows for a truly inclusive, diverse and multilateral dialogue around the four pillars of space economy, space society, space accessibility and space diplomacy.

The organizers strive to support gender mainstreaming in their program and are working towards a broad representation in terms of geography, age and gender, both among the visitors and among the active participants in order to achieve a truly inclusive and multilateral exchange.

#WSF2024 | Exhibit?

An exhibition will be organized in addition to the WORLD SPACE FORUM to provide a platform for space agencies, international organizations, industry and other actors to promote their work. Registration with further information will be opened in June. 

Submission and deadline for application

REGISTRATION AND APPLICATION WILL OPEN SOON!

PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY.

All applicants interested in participating in the World Space Forum must complete the following:

1. Registration form

2. Send the signature form in PDF

3. Accompanying documents/process for funded participants - TBC

Why is this form necessary? To confirm that you have adequate health insurance; to confirm if you need funding; and to confirm that the organization that you represent (which can also be your own company) has approved your potential participation. If you are applying in your individual capacity, the latter element will not apply. Instructions are detailed in the signature form.

Only completed applications with all the requested information and documents will be considered. 

Besides this, applicants who wish to be considered to contribute to the event as a speaker or to present a poster will be asked to include an abstract of maximum 250 words in the online application form. Please note that this is not mandatory, but it is recommended in case you want to apply as a fully/partially funded participant. Please also note that if you submit an abstract and are selected as a participant, this does not automatically imply that you will be selected as a speaker.

Please note that only applications submitted through the online form will be accepted.

The United Nations encourages all qualified applicants, regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities to apply.

Successful candidates will be contacted by email in October. Organizers will announce when the selection is completed on the event webpage. Due to the high number of applicants, unsuccessful candidates will not be notified individually, and organizers will not able to provide individual feedback.

Selection Criteria

Criteria to select participants include motivation and experience in the space sector.  Presentation and poster abstracts will be evaluated based on relevance of topic, alignment to World Space Forum objectives, concrete application on the proposed subject, and sound structure.

To encourage equitable access to opportunity, the selection process will consider additional criteria, including regional representativeness and gender balance.

Life and health insurance

Life/major health insurance for each of the selected participants is necessary and is the responsibility of the candidate or their institution or Government. The co-sponsors will not assume any responsibility for life and major health insurance, nor for expenses related to medical treatment or accidents.

Contact Information

World Space Forum Organizing Team
E-Mail: worldspaceforum[@]un.org and  wsf2024[@]dlr.de