The agreement was signed at the 2018 international shipping event in Posidonia by Inmarsat’s maritime president Ronald Spithout and Christodoulos Protopapas, chairman of the Hellenic Space Agency.
“This agreement underlines an already, strong and collaborative partnership between Inmarsat and the Hellenic Space Agency. We look forward to this further developing in the years to come and seeing the benefits of projects which will help shape our industry,” said Ronald Spithout, Inmarsat’s maritime president.
Under the scope of the agreement the two parties will collaborate on research and development opportunities in space and ground segment technologies, as well as a mutual exchange of data. In addition the two companies will look at the role of satellite within the internet of things and strategic research studies on future maritime software technologies and broader space policy.
“Inmarsat is one of the most respected global space businesses and it is hugely exciting that this memorandum will pave the way for greater cooperation with us on a number of levels. Whether it is an exchange of skills, data or people, we will work on initiatives which will increase knowledge and understanding of the impact of satellite technology” added Protopapas.
Both parties have indicated that there’s opportunity for secondments, the temporary transfer of staff, between the two companies.
The Hellenic Space Agency is mandated by the Hellenic Republic to promote space and technology and foster research activities related to advance scientific engineering within the framework of Greek government policy.
Earlier this year Inmarsat lost its foothold as the sole provider of the maritime distress signal industry broken after the UN opened up the contract to rivals Iridium and BeiDou Navigation Satellite System.
