MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN PHILIPPINE SPACE AGENCY AND UAE SPACE AGENCY

BETWEEN

The PHILIPPINE SPACE AGENCY, a government agency existing under the laws of the Republic of the Philippines, with principal office at 29F CyberOne Building, 11 Eastwood Avenue, Bagumbayan, Quezon City, 1109 Philippines (hereinafter referred to as “PhilSA”), represented by its DIRECTOR GENERAL, H.E DR. JOEL JOSEPHS. MARCIANO, JR.;

and

The UAE SPACE AGENCY, a federal agency existing under the laws of UAE, with principal office at Masdar City, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (hereinafter referred to as “UAESA”), represented by Chairperson of the Board of Directors.

Hereinafter referred to individually as “Participant” or collectively referred to as the “Participants;”

WHEREAS, PhilSA is the central government agency addressing all national issues and activities related to space science and technology applications in the Philippines;

WHEREAS, the UAESA is a federal agency that is organizing, regulating and advancing the UAE space industry, focused on raising national capabilities and the use of space technology in the UAE;

WHEREAS, both Participants are aware of the mutual advantages in promoting and pursuing space development and application between the Participants;

WHEREAS, the implementation of such cooperation will contribute to the development of mutual understanding between PhilSA and the UAESA and to the growing friendly relations between the two institutions;

NOW THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the foregoing premises, the Participants hereby agree to carry out the following terms and conditions of this MOU:

PARAGRAPH I
PURPOSE
The purpose of this MOU is to promote and develop the stated areas of cooperation, in accordance with the respective laws, rules, regulations and national policies of the Participants, on the basis of the principles of equal rights and mutual advantage.

PARAGRAPH II
AREAS OF COOPERATION
A. Each Participants endeavors to carry out cooperation on the following areas:

1. Conduct of joint space research and development and access to data;
2. Exchange of space data to be used for various applications such as climate change, disaster management and emergency response, food security, and agriculture;
3. Conduct of joint scientific missions on space exploration and access to relevant data;
4. Conduct of capacity-building activities such as joint conferences, workshop and knowledge sharing activities on space science and technology applications and advancement of space education through student exchange programs and graduate studies;
5. Joint utilization of ground stations; and infrastructures
6. Promoting space industry and industrial cooperation.

Other areas of cooperation may be identified by mutual consent of the Participants, within the Participants’ respective mandates. 

PARAGRAPH III
IMPLEMENTATION
A. In accordance with the applicable laws, rules, regulations and national policies in each country, the Participants will work together to assist each other to facilitate the implementation of this MOU. The participants may hold meetings at appropriate times during the effectivity of this MOU in order to review the cooperative activities and discuss possible plans for cooperation.

B. Pursuant to the provisions of this MOU, the Participants may enter into specific programs to define and implement space cooperative activities, subject to the execution of separate agreements that will provide for the rights and obligations of both Participants.

PARAGRAPH IV
POINTS OF CONTACT
In order to facilitate the cooperation under this MOU, the Participants appoint the following personnel as the Points of Contact:

PHILSA: Director of Space Policy and International Cooperation Bureau

UAESA:
Name: Naser AlHammadi
Position: Head of Partnerships and International Relations
Address: UAE Space Agency, Masdar City, Abu Dhabi
Number: 0097122022998
Email: N.AlHammadi@space.gov.ae

PHILSA: Director of Space Policy and International Cooperation Bureau

PARAGRAPH V
CONFIDENTIALITY
The Participants shall not allow the use of any information and/or documents obtained under this MOU identified as confidential for purposes other than those specified in this MOU, and will not disseminate such information and/or documents to third parties without the prior written consent of the Participant that provided such information.

PARAGRAPH VI
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
The Participants may define, in additional arrangements, the matters regarding the protection and allocation of rights to the intellectual property created or provided in the course of joint activities pursuant to this MOU. Such additional arrangements shall be in accordance with the respective domestic legislations of the Countries of the Participants.

PARAGRAPH VII
SETTLEMENT OF DISPUTES
Any disputes between the Participants arising from the interpretation or implementation of this MOU shall be resolved amicably through consultation or negotiation, through diplomatic channels between the Participants.

PARAGRAPH VIII
EFFECTIVITY AND DURATION
This MOU shall come into effect on the date of signature by the Participants, and will continue unless terminated in accordance with Paragraph IX.2.

PARAGRAPH IX
AMENDMENTS AND TERMINATION
The Participants may modify this MOU at any time upon their mutual written consent. Such amendment or revision shall come into effect in accordance with Paragraph VIII on Effectivity and Duration. Any modification shall not prejudice the rights and obligations arising from this MOU before or up to the date of modification unless both Participants mutually decide otherwise.

Each Participant may terminate this MOU at any time by giving a written notice at least six (6) months in advance, to the other Participant. In case of the termination of the MOU, the implementation of any ongoing activities carried out under this MOU which has not been completed by the date of its termination will not be affected, unless both Participants mutually decide otherwise.

SIGNED in this day of December 5^th 2022, in the English and Arabic languages, both texts being equally valid. In case of divergence of interpretation, the English text will prevail.   
 

Entry into Force: December 5, 2022