The Swedish National Space Agency, SNSA is responsible for national and international activities relating to space and remote sensing, primarily research and development.
The SNSA is a central governmental agency under the Ministry of Education and Research.
SNSA has three main tasks:
- to distribute government grants for space research, technology development and remote sensing activities
- to initiate research and development in Space and Remote Sensing areas
- to act as Swedish contact for international co-operation
Basic research is financed via the Ministry of Education and Research. SNSA functions as a research council for Swedish research using equipment in space or at high altitudes in the atmosphere.
The Swedish space programme is carried out by means of extensive international cooperation, in particular through Sweden´s membership of the European Space Agency, ESA. SNSA’s responsability for international activities includes the Swedish involvement in ESA as well as bilateral cooperation within space. Most of the activities funded by the Swedish National Space Board are carried out in cooperation with other countries.
