Successful Launch for Finnish-Canadian Space Co-operation

Canada-Finland Know-how Exchange to Include Legal Expertise, says Space Law and Policy Expert Gunnar K. A. Njålsson of the University of Lapland in Finland

Helsinki, Finland (PRWEB) March 26, 2004 -- The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) and the Finnish Technology Agency (TEKES) signed an agreement on co-operation in the fields of space research and development in May 2003. The Agreement will allow Finland to better utilise the data from the Canadian RadarSat satellites. Canadians, in turn, will be free to benefit from Finnish know-how in the areas of northern environmental research as well as the best expertise in space law available in the Nordic region.

Special Researcher Gunnar K. A. Njålsson represented the legal branch of the space industry in Finland earlier this week at the first-ever seminar on Canadian-Finnish co-operation on the 23rd of March 2004. Being a representative of both the Institute of Air & Space Law at the University of Lapland, Rovaniemi, Finland and the first-ever cybernetwork for researchers in Space Law and IT Policy - SPACEPOL- , Mr. Njålsson described the event as a key development for many in the space industry.

"Following my conversations today with the Director and other representatives of the Canadian Space Agency as well as the Canadian Ambassador, I am greatly encouraged that an ever- increasing number of technical professionals in the CSA and private industry have now begun to perceive the enormous potential of Finnish know-how in the field of space law" says Njålsson.

Gunnar K. A. Njålsson adds, "The development of space-related expertise in Finland has been rapid and would probably be surprising for the uninitiated, as our country can boast both the first-ever cyber research network in Space Law and IT Policy (SPACEPOL, founded in 1998 by Njålsson) as well as the only institute of Air and Space Law in the entire Nordic region. The IASL with its seat at the University of Lapland is also one of the four most respected space-related institutions providing legal training and expertise in the world, as the Institute has during the past years provided hundreds of undergraduates and graduates with instruction in Air and Space Law". But Njålsson is just as quick to point out the expert reputation of his colleagues in Montreal at the Institute of Air and Space Law, McGill University.

"I was inspired by my Canadian mentor Dr. Michael Milde to continue research in this exiting and ever more important field after completion of my master's degree in 1997 and the key to this positive development was likely the outgoing and innovative atmosphere at the IASL at McGill which is a widely recognised leader in the field. We are definitely seeking to expand our co-operation with McGill within the context of the new Canadian-Finnish co-operation. I have no doubt that both of our institutes will play a major role in providing the international legal expertise needed as the volume and complexity of international space activities increases."

Finland became a member of the European Space Agency in 1995 after having earlier been an associate member. Canada also has an agreement with the ESA and it is this context which has brought the two countries ever closer during recent years.