Near-Space Industrialization and Sustainable Development: UNIDO Centre Strengthens International Cooperation
September 23, 2025
On September 12–13, 2025, the VIII Global Conference on Near-Space Industrialization was held in Maryina Gorka, Belarus, bringing together over 500 participants in person and online. Among them were leading scientists, engineers, representatives of the business community, government agencies, and international organizations. The UNIDO Centre for International Industrial Cooperation in the Russian Federation, traditionally a key participant in the forum, confirmed its active participation in shaping the global agenda for technological and sustainable development.
The conference provided a unique platform for knowledge sharing, discussing promising engineering solutions, and developing innovative approaches to global challenges. The main program included sections and scientific papers, featuring over 50 presentations in four areas: technology, energy, biology, and social and legal aspects. Participants discussed the development of geospace technologies, the creation of new materials, and the implementation of innovations aimed at sustainable development.
This year one of the key topic of the conference was the development of the General Planetary Vehicle (GPV) project. This technology will enable up to 10 million passengers and 10 million tons of cargo to be transported to near space in a single flight, while also enabling the relocation of hazardous industries beyond our planet.
Igor Kozhin, Head of the UNIDO Centre in the Russian Federation, addressed the delegates with a welcoming address, emphasizing the strategic significance of the forum:
„It is a great honor for me to personally participate in this Conference for the third time. Over the past years, this event has become an important platform for discussing promising engineering ideas and finding innovative solutions to global problems.“
He noted that the industrialization of near space is viewed as an integral part of the broader sustainable development agenda, capable of helping address key challenges of our time:
„Technological innovations are capable of helping humanity cope with climate change, the depletion of natural resources, and threats to food security.“
Particular attention at the conference was given to the exhibition and project area, where innovative engineering solutions, prototypes, and concepts related to the industrialization of near space were demonstrated. The Aquarelle Ecopark, where the conference was held, became a vibrant venue for open communication, discussion, and experience exchange, bringing together participants in an atmosphere of collaboration and inspiration.
Following the conference, participants agreed on developing international partnerships between scientists, technology companies, and institutes, as well as expanding the practical implementation of projects in the fields of ecology, biotechnology, and transport and logistics solutions.
Once again, the conference confirmed its status as a key global platform for discussing the technological and social aspects of near-space industrialization, combining scientific knowledge, innovative approaches, and global cooperation for a sustainable future for humanity.
