The Philippines and Japan reaffirmed their long-standing partnership in space science, technology, and industry during the Philippines-Japan space collaboration events on 17 November 2025 at Dusit Thani Manila in Makati City.
Co-organized by the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), the event– Philippines-Japan Space Economy Co-Creation and Networking Symposium –brought together more than 200 participants from government agencies, private companies, and academic institutions from both countries.
The said symposium highlighted nearly two decades of bilateral space cooperation. It also showcased how Japan and the Philippines are working together to harness space technologies for public service, innovation, and economic growth. Presentations covered a wide range of space-related fields and topics, including maritime observation, disaster risk reduction, carbon stocks, satellite manufacturing, launch services, and water resources management, among others.
In his opening remarks, Ambassador of the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines, His Excellency Kazuya Endo, emphasized how space cooperation has become an essential pillar of the bilateral relationship as well as underscored how space-derived information have become indispensable tools for disaster response, innovation, and national development
“Indeed, earth observation data are already being used across a wide range of fields—infrastructure development, disaster risk reduction, agriculture, maritime security, climate change, environmental protection, and many others, in our cooperative efforts. Information and data gathered from space has become indispensable today tools that enhance the resilience and help open new avenues for innovation,” H.E. Kazuya said.
Representing the Philippines, PhilSA Officer-in-Charge Gay Jane Perez, Ph.D. highlighted how Japanese satellite technology continues to support critical national needs and long-term development priorities, as well as emphasized the importance of joint satellite development and capacity-building efforts with Japan.
PhilSA Officer-in-Charge Perez during her welcome remarks
“Japan’s Earth observation satellites have long-provided us with invaluable data from weather monitoring and disaster management. For the Philippines, this access is a lifeline. We also recognize the significant socio-economic benefits of applying these data more broadly, particularly in agriculture, water resource management, and infrastructure monitoring,” PhilSA Officer-in-Charge Perez said in her welcome remarks.
“Today, the Philippine stands ready to defend and extend our partnership with Japan beyond research and capacity building into the vibrant realm of business and innovation. Our stance is clear—we aim to build a dynamic space ecosystem where government agencies, industries, start-ups, and investors co-create technologies, services, and enterprises that strengthen both our economies and our region,” she added.
JAXA President Hiroshi Yamakawa, Ph.D. welcomed the participants to the symposium, thanked PhilSA for making the event possible, and emphasized the strong partnership that Japan and the Philippines have built in the space sector over the years.
Keynote presentations and technical sessions throughout the morning symposium featured experts from both countries discussing carbon stocks, maritime observation, global water-related disaster risk and resource management, infrastructure and disaster management, satellite manufacturing, and launch services. Industry partners, including Japanese and Philippine companies, presented solutions aligned with space-enabled economic growth and sustainability.
(Front-row) PhilSA Officer-in-Charge Perez, Ph.D. (center), His Excellency Kazuya (3rd from left), and JAXA President Hiroshi, Ph.D. (4th from left) in a photo opportunity with the distinguished keynote presenters.
A networking lunch reception between the two countries followed, providing a venue for the participants to build partnerships and explore joint projects.
In the afternoon, PASCO Corporation led the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology–Space Transformation (MEXT–SX) Seminar in the Philippines, with the theme “Advancing SX for Societal and Economic Innovation in the Philippines.” The said session introduced demonstration projects under Japan’s MEXT-SX initiative, focusing on how satellite data, artificial intelligence, and digital technologies contribute to social and economic transformation in the Philippines.
The event, overall, was recognized as an important milestone in deepening Japan-Philippines space cooperation. It signaled both countries’ move toward a shared vision for an innovation-driven space economy and highlighted the transition to a new phase of collaboration focused on co-creating value across a broader space sector.
