GGPEN and Portugal’s GEOSAT Sign Letter of Intent on EO and Geospatial Applications
The National Space Program Management Office (GGPEN), the agency overseen by Angola’s Ministry of Telecommunications, Information Technologies and Social Communication (MINTTICS), has signed a Letter of Intent with Portuguese company GEO SAT, Lda. (GEOSAT) to establish the basis for cooperation in Earth observation and the development of geospatial applications in Angola.
The agreement, signed on Tuesday, 13 October 2026, provides for developing geospatial solutions for strategic sectors, training Angolan technicians, students and startups, and transferring knowledge within the scope of the ANGEO-1 programme, Angola’s Earth observation project.
According to GGPEN, the partnership aims to strengthen national capabilities, promote the development of products and services based on satellite data, and boost the downstream segment of Angola’s space sector, which covers transforming space data and technologies into practical solutions for the economy and society.
Areas of Cooperation
The two parties will work to identify and develop solutions for managing state assets, land use planning, urban expansion, agriculture, forestry, mining, natural resource management, infrastructure, coastal zones, water resources, security, and emergency response.
They will also identify short- and medium-term pilot projects, including initiatives of social interest under the “Sat for Good” concept, which promotes the use of space technologies and data to address social challenges and contribute to sustainable development.
Training and Knowledge Transfer
On training and skills development, the Letter of Intent covers capacity building for Angolan technicians, students, and startups; controlled access to geospatial imagery and tools; support for data processing and interpretation; and the development of applications tailored to the Angolan market.
GGPEN notes that the training component is already underway. Miguel Dunge, GGPEN’s Ambassador for Space Education and a graduate in Electrical and Telecommunications Engineering, is currently part of the GEOSAT internship programme in Portugal, admitted after a rigorous selection process.
The agreement also promotes knowledge transfer and national technological autonomy, linking capacity-building initiatives with programmes associated with ANGEO-1. The cooperation aims to prepare Angolan professionals and companies to take advantage of opportunities generated by the national space programme.
Signatories and the Angola Space Hub
Dr Zolana Rui João, Director-General of GGPEN, and Francisco Vilhena da Cunha, Executive Director of GEOSAT, signed the Letter of Intent. The agreement falls within the context of creating the Angola Space Hub, an initiative aimed at boosting the national space ecosystem and strengthening the participation of companies and institutions in developing space solutions and services.
According to GGPEN, the agreement reinforces its commitment to developing Angola’s downstream space segment, promoting the use of Earth observation data, training human capital, and creating geospatial solutions to support decision-making, sustainable resource management, and the country’s socioeconomic development.