Deadline: 02-Sep-2025
The U.S. Mission to South Korea has launched the U.S. Space Leadership and International Cooperation program, an initiative aimed at strengthening understanding of and support for U.S. national space policies and programs.
This initiative is designed to deepen understanding and support for U.S. national space policies, while encouraging the Republic of Korea (ROK) to make greater use of U.S. space capabilities, systems, and services. By creating a platform for joint analysis, collaboration, and dialogue, the program aims to address shared challenges in the increasingly critical space domain.
At the heart of this initiative are 1-2 day tabletop exercises that will be jointly developed and conducted by Korean and American experts. These exercises will simulate realistic space-related scenarios that could emerge in the near future, such as legal conflicts, technological threats, and geopolitical tensions involving space assets. Approximately 30 Korean professionals from various sectors—including academia, law, engineering, policy, business, and media—will participate, alongside a smaller team of 3-4 American counterparts. These exercises will be held off-the-record to promote open, candid dialogue, but a concluding public session will be hosted to share findings and recommendations.
The program emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration, drawing from the legal, administrative, technological, and policy spheres. Participants may include think tank researchers, foreign policy scholars, engineers, legal professionals, policymakers, journalists, and business leaders. Their task is to analyze complex, forward-looking scenarios in space governance and propose actionable recommendations that could shape future U.S. and ROK policy responses. Through this process, the program also seeks to strengthen bilateral ties, promote responsible space behavior, and modernize the international legal frameworks that govern space activity.
Beyond the technical aspects, the program aims to raise public awareness and build a more nuanced understanding of U.S. space policy in Korea. By supporting Korean voices advocating for strong international norms and collaboration, the initiative seeks to counter outdated narratives and establish a more accurate, forward-thinking discourse around U.S.-Korea space cooperation. It promotes a U.S.-friendly perspective in Korea’s space policy community and broader society, especially in contrast to past perceptions tied to Russia-Korea cooperation in rocket engineering.
With a performance period of 12 months and a total available funding of $100,000, the program presents an opportunity for Korean organizations to lead the charge in developing the next chapter of space policy and diplomacy. Eligible applicants include not-for-profit organizations, public and private educational institutions, civil society groups, and governmental bodies based in Korea. This initiative marks a significant step in ensuring that the United States and the Republic of Korea are jointly prepared to address the evolving challenges of the space domain—safeguarding mutual interests and advancing a shared vision for responsible space exploration and use.
For more information, visit Grants.gov.
