Space BD Inc., a space start-up company based in Japan, has signed a distribution agreement with Innovative Solutions In Space n.v. (ISIS) to be the distributor of the Dutch company’s smallsat solutions and components for the Japanese market.

The agreement was signed on the occasion of the Netherlands-Japan Space Industry Event at the International Astronautical Congress (IAC) to confirm the intention of the two parties to build up long-term strategic relationship and to combine efforts to cultivate opportunities of mutual benefits.

Space BD and ISIS sign their cooperative agreement during IAC 2018.

The two parties agreed to demonstrate synergies in terms of their capabilities and geographical domains to maximize the value-proposition to their customers, and contribute to further development of commercial LEO and smallsat market.

The distribution agreement is the first step of the relationship and, in the future, it may be expanded with additional products and services towards building a more holistic, strategic partnership between the two companies. The Netherlands Space Office (NSO) and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) are cooperating in industrial promotion and have coordinated a business matching event for both industries during the 69th International Astronautical Congress (IAC).

The two agencies hope the agreement will be the first step to a more active exchange and commerce in the future between Japan and the Netherlands in the area of space and act as a model case for the greater Europe-Japan cooperation agenda.