Illustration of a space research and development hub planned for Dobroslavtsi Air Base in Bulgaria. Credit: EnduroSat
WARSAW, Poland — Bulgaria’s government has approved a draft memorandum of understanding with local company Starbase Europe to collaborate on the development of a new space and defense innovation hub near the country’s capital Sofia, at Dobroslavtsi Air Base.
The development comes as the small country’s other space companies such as Sfera Technologies are expanding their capabilities, and the Bulgarian government is taking new steps to establish itself as a preeminent European space hub separate from the European Space Agency.
Bulgaria , which does not have a national space agency, is readying to build a National Center for Observation, Coordination and Management through Space Data, Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev said in an August 6 statement released by his office.
“What is happening here is a reflection of the government’s economic policy — investing in the knowledge economy, high-tech manufacturing, research and development,” Radev said. “I hope that this way we will transform Bulgaria from a country that consumes technologies into a country that creates them.”
