Université Paris-Saclay and the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs strengthen their cooperation in the field of space law
Université Paris-Saclay has just signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA). The agreement was signed on the sidelines of the International Space Summit, held on 9 and 10 September 2026 at the Grand Palais, under the high patronage of the President of the French Republic.
At the initiative of and under the leadership of Philippe Achilleas, Professor of Public Law at the Faculty of Law, Economics and Management (Jean Monnet Faculty) at Université Paris-Saclay, the agreement signed between Université Paris-Saclay and the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) enables the university to join UNOOSA’s network of experts for the Global Space Law Project.
As part of this initiative, the university will contribute its expertise in space law, space policy and the sustainability of space activities to United Nations-led initiatives, particularly in the areas of training, capacity building and support for States in developing their national legal and policy frameworks.
The cooperation will also involve the exchange of expertise and best practices, the participation of university experts in project activities, and mutual support for the organisation of seminars, workshops and training programmes in the fields of space law, policy and sustainability.
Finally, researchers and students at Université Paris-Saclay will have privileged access to resources and events organised by UNOOSA.
This agreement reflects the international recognition of Université Paris-Saclay’s expertise in space law. It comes in the symbolic year in which the university is celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Master’s degree in Law of Aerospace Activities and Digital Technologies (M2 DAST) and the IDRT Espace & Cyberespace research team (formerly IDEST).
The M2 DAST
Established in 2002 at Université Paris-Saclay, the Master’s degree in Law of Aerospace Activities and Digital Technologies is the world’s first programme to combine space law and digital law. It was created at the initiative of and with the support of industry professionals, in response to the needs of rapidly growing sectors seeking highly qualified legal experts.