The EU project EKR – Establishing Commercial Spaceflights” – has reached the final of the RegioStars Award. EKR, with the objective to establish commercial spaceflights at Spaceport Sweden in Kiruna has run since 2009 and will continue until December 2011. Read more about the project here.

The RegioStars Award is ordained by the EC to identify good practices in regional development and to highlight original and innovative projects which could be attractive and inspiring to other regions. The winners will be announced during the Regions for Economic Change conference foreseen for June 2011 in Brussels.

Karin Nilsdotter, Director EKR-Spaceport Sweden says:
“This is fantastic and the whole team is very proud to have reached the final. To be recognised like this is an important and clear indication of the projects potential. With the aim to establish a new industry, new jobs will be created as well as economic growth building for the future where new models for international collaboration will be developed”

“Kiruna is a space city since more than 50 years and commercial human spaceflight is a natural next step in developing the city. To create a new industry were space and tourism merge as the fundamental bas means new opportunities in space but also on Earth. The commercial exploration in space will create new technical innovations within a range of businesses; adventures, entertainment, film, music, food, design and fashion. This will contribute to an opening for new jobs and to economical growth on several levels, both regionally, nationally and internationally”.

For further information please contact Karin Nilsdotter at +46 70 226 88 01 or [email protected]