BNS - Estonia will sign a European Cooperating State (ECS) agreement with the European Space Agency (ESA).
On the basis of the agreement to be signed on Tuesday by the Estonian minister of economy and communications, Juhan Parts, and the director of the ESA foreign relations directorate, Peter Hulsroj, cooperation projects will become available to Estonian companies and research and educational institutions concerning space technology and non-space applications of space technology, said the Estonian ministry.
Signing of the ECS agreement is a prerequisite for joining the ESA Plan for European Cooperating States, or PECS Charter, which is a program of basic research and development activities aimed at improving the nation's space industry capacity. At the end of the five-year PECS period the country can either begin negotiations to become a full member state or an associated state of ESA, or sign a new PECS Charter.
(
http://www.investinestonia.com... )
