The Ethiopian Space Science Society (ESSS) and Japanese space business platform Cross U have officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), marking a significant milestone in commercial space collaboration between Ethiopia and Japan.
The agreement establishes a shared commitment between the two institutions to develop the space technology ecosystem and accelerate space business initiatives across the region.
The MoU was formally signed by Mr Kirubel Menberu, Managing Director of ESSS, and Prof Shinichi Nakasuka, President of Cross U, and presented by Mr Masafumi Yonazu, Secretary General of Cross U.
At the signing ceremony, Mr Kirubel highlighted the strategic importance of the partnership, noting that the collaboration will be crucial in sharing international expertise and co-creating a sustainable, commercial space business ecosystem in Ethiopia.
On-the-ground activities have since followed, with joint public-private workshops held in Ghana and Ethiopia in January 2026, and most recently, a Space Data Utilisation Workshop held in Ethiopia on 17 April 2026.
The workshop brought together start-ups, private companies, and civil society organisations and explored how they can harness space data to address national challenges, emphasising a clear message at its core: space data is not an end in itself, but a tool for solving real local problems.
Building a business around it requires first identifying the issue, understanding who the stakeholders are, and determining how value flows and who pays.
The Ethiopia MoU is the latest fruit of this steadily expanding partnership, and a clear signal that Japan-Africa space collaboration is moving firmly from dialogue into action.
Source: https://spaceinafrica.com/2026/04/28/esss-and-cross-u-sign-an-mou-to-advance-ethiopias-space-business-ecosystem/