The President recognises the leadership of AVS for putting the Basque Country "on the map of the world and of space"

• Iñigo Urkullu visited the AVS facilities at the Araba Technology Park, where he learned about their upcoming space missions
• The company is responsible for the LUR-1 Project, the first 100% Basque satellite to be used for Earth observation, and today it has been awarded the NASA ROADS mission

Iñigo Urkullu gave his assurance that the space industry is one of the sectors that will grow the most in the coming years and highlighted the leadership of the company AVS for placing the Basque Country on the "map of the world and of space".

Accompanied by the Minister Arantxa Tapia, the President this afternoon visited the facilities that the company AVS has in the Technology Park of Araba, in Miñano, where he had the opportunity to learn about their upcoming space missions.

After the visit, the President expressed his admiration for a company, born in a small town like Elgoibar and based in Araba, developing and sharing technological capabilities "with first-division allies" such as NASA and the European Space Agency. “They are, without a doubt, big words. A source of pride for the country,” he said.

He gave his assurance that in the Basque Country “decisive steps” are being taken for innovation and development and indicated that in the last three years public investment in R&D&I has increased by 31%, which brings it closer to convergence with Europe.

He thanked AVS for the opportunity to learn first-hand about the work currently being carried out by this space company, such as the LUR-1 Project, the first 100% Basque satellite to be used for Earth observation, which will be launched in the middle of next year from California, on the SpaceX 'Transporter 11' mission.

In addition, as announced today, AVS has been awarded NASA's ROADS mission, which is of great interest to this space agency as it will demonstrate key technologies for orbiting, life extension and maintenance satellites in orbit.

“AVS works by looking into space, something that has always attracted human attention. Thanks to your work, you shed a little more light on the great black cloak that surrounds us. To better understand the universe of which we are a part,” he concluded.