Day: 16 October 2019

Monaco’s contribution to the future of space travel and a new space economy will be explored at the next ‘Pioneers and innovators of our time’ event, organised by the Embassy of Monaco in Washington. The embassy has now teamed up with Day One Events to deliver the innovative conference in Monaco, which focusses on humanity and space exploration.

The organisers of Day One Events, a summit for the digital age designed for global decision makers and “doers”, and the Embassy of Monaco in Washington, D.C., have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to incorporate the embassy’s highly successful space initiative ‘Pioneers and innovators of our time’ (PIOT), into the framework of future Day One Events.

Eric Stallmer, the president of the Commercial Spaceflight Federation, the world’s largest trade organisation dedicated to promoting the development of commercial spaceflight, made the announcement during the 2019 Day One Events program on behalf of Monaco’s ambassador to the United States and Canada, Her Excellency Maguy Maccario Doyle, and Denis Jacquet, founder of Day One Events.

In announcing the partnership, Mr. Stallmer outlined topics to be covered in future sessions including the new space economy, the role of public-private partnerships in low-Earth orbit space stations, space tourism and related industries, the future of healthcare in space, and how satellite technology and space exploration could be the key to addressing climate change.

Dr. Ilhami Aygun, president of Space Systems International Monaco and a panelist in the 2016 and 2018 PIOT events, also addressed the gathering to speak about MonacoSAT2, the second Monaco satellite to be launched in 2022-2023, in follow up to the successful launch in April 2015 of Monaco’s first telecommunications satellite.

“This new partnership, along with the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation-USA and Monaco’s “space agency” SSI-MonacoSat, will focus on the relationship between humanity and space, the economics and commercial opportunities of space travel, as well as its challenges, for the protection of our planet,” said Maccario Doyle. “We hope to elaborate on, and answer, the age-old question, does the future of our planet depend on space? Our goal is also to inspire young people to follow careers in science and technology and will feature an informative educational component for our youth.”

In recognition of HSH Prince Albert II’s tireless dedication to environmental causes, Comenius University in Bratislava awarded him with an honorary doctorate degree.

The degree was given for the Sovereign’s actions in the fields of protecting natural and cultural heritages and for his efforts with regard to climate change in conjunction with his foundation, the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, whose goals are to support environmental protection using science and education.

Upwards of €55 million has been donated to the causes he has championed thus far and include deforestation, climate change, endangered species defence, managing the loss of biodiversity, ocean protection and identifying and using alternative energy sources.

The university’s Natural Sciences Department signed an accord with the Principality this year, agreeing to work together on activities promoting the protection of the environment.

Comenius, a Slovakia-based university, was founded in 1919, back when the region was part of communist held Czechoslovakia. Today, it is the largest university in the country and is currently celebrating its 100^th year.

The Prince also took the opportunity to support the first edition of ‘No Finish Line’ in Bratislava, organised by Philippe Verdier, creator of the solidarity race. He was surrounded by sporting celebrities including Peter Sagan (cycling), Dominik Hrbaty (tennis), and Matej Toth (athletic walking) in completing the last kilometres of the event and later presented the winners with trophies.

The Principality’s public works has two major projects occurring simultaneously on Larvotto Boulevard and at the entry to the city at Jardin Exotique, with traffic diversions in place.

With the overhaul of Larvotto underway, and the future construction of 336 public housing units, the Principality has deemed it necessary to make some alterations to the traffic patterns of Larvotto Boulevard. In order to create the least amount of disruption, the following traffic patterns will be in effect until works are completed.

From 07:30 to 11:30 traffic will be allowed in the direction Menton to Monaco, to facilitate the flow into the Principality.

From 11:30 to the following day at 07:30, traffic will be allowed in the direction Monaco to Menton, to facilitate the flow out of the Principality.

Saturdays and Sundays, as well as public holidays, traffic will be allowed permanently in the direction Monaco to Menton. Exceptionally, work will be suspended from the evening of 20^th December until the morning of 2^nd January 2020. The holiday routing will remain in effect for the duration of this period.

Residents living on Larvotto Boulevard will still have access to their homes, though it must be noted that cars entering and leaving both public and private car parks must respect the ordained traffic directives.

In addition to the Larvotto plans, there will be new gas, water, electricity and telecommunication lines laid near the entry of the city at the Jardin Exotique.

The layout of the lines have been changed to divert the current lines that run under the road and will support future coverage in the area. To minimise traffic disturbances, the ground marking was carried out at night, so that no traffic alterations are currently previewed.

The new lines will support the construction of a new public parking structure housing more than 1,800 cars and 12 coaches, a postal logistics centre that will intake up to 5,000 parcels per day, 5,000m2 of office space and a 50 unit residential housing block.