Cyprus temporarily became the centre of the cosmos on 3 November as the 6th COSPAR Global Space Symposium opened at the Nicosia Municipal Theatre. Hosted jointly by the Cyprus Space Exploration Organisation (CSEO) and the Committee on Space Research, the five-day gathering has attracted more than 1,000 scientists, engineers and policy-makers from 45 countries and every major space agency—including NASA, ESA, JAXA, ISRO and the UAE Space Agency. Chief Scientist Demetris Skourides welcomed participants, branding the event ‘‘proof that an island of one million can punch above its weight in the knowledge economy.’’
Held under the theme ‘‘Space Exploration 2025: Humanity’s Challenges and Celestial Solutions,’’ the programme features 190 technical papers on topics ranging from lunar resource utilisation to satellite-enabled climate resilience across the Mediterranean. Two astronauts, ESA’s Matthias Maurer and Hungary’s Gyula Cserenyi, are headlining public outreach events, including a ‘‘Space-Science Street Festival’’ in old-town Nicosia.
![6th COSPAR Global Space Symposium kicks off in Nicosia, drawing 1,000+ delegates]()
For Cyprus’ travel and meetings industry the benefits are immediate: hotels in the capital report occupancy above 92 %, while Hermes Airports has scheduled 18 additional charter movements to accommodate delegate arrivals. Tourism officials estimate a direct economic impact of €4–€5 million, reinforcing government strategy to position Cyprus as a winter conference destination.
Beyond short-term gains, the symposium dovetails with the island’s Vision 2035 innovation roadmap. CSEO announced that Cyprus will launch its first indigenous nano-satellite in partnership with NASA’s CubeSat Launch Initiative in early 2026—a step that could expand the attractive ‘‘tech visa’’ category for foreign engineers. Universities are already in talks with aerospace firms about internship pipelines that leverage the country’s new Digital-Nomad visa scheme.
Attendees praised the government for streamlining border formalities: temporary ‘‘Event Pass’’ lanes at Larnaca Airport allowed badge-holders to clear immigration in under seven minutes. Organisers say the protocol could serve as a template for other large-scale international events, reducing friction for business travellers.
Held under the theme ‘‘Space Exploration 2025: Humanity’s Challenges and Celestial Solutions,’’ the programme features 190 technical papers on topics ranging from lunar resource utilisation to satellite-enabled climate resilience across the Mediterranean. Two astronauts, ESA’s Matthias Maurer and Hungary’s Gyula Cserenyi, are headlining public outreach events, including a ‘‘Space-Science Street Festival’’ in old-town Nicosia.
For Cyprus’ travel and meetings industry the benefits are immediate: hotels in the capital report occupancy above 92 %, while Hermes Airports has scheduled 18 additional charter movements to accommodate delegate arrivals. Tourism officials estimate a direct economic impact of €4–€5 million, reinforcing government strategy to position Cyprus as a winter conference destination.
Beyond short-term gains, the symposium dovetails with the island’s Vision 2035 innovation roadmap. CSEO announced that Cyprus will launch its first indigenous nano-satellite in partnership with NASA’s CubeSat Launch Initiative in early 2026—a step that could expand the attractive ‘‘tech visa’’ category for foreign engineers. Universities are already in talks with aerospace firms about internship pipelines that leverage the country’s new Digital-Nomad visa scheme.
Attendees praised the government for streamlining border formalities: temporary ‘‘Event Pass’’ lanes at Larnaca Airport allowed badge-holders to clear immigration in under seven minutes. Organisers say the protocol could serve as a template for other large-scale international events, reducing friction for business travellers.
