DİPLO Science, diplomacy, and the new space economy: Where do small states fit in? Nikola Božić Published on 17 July 2026 Related topics: Economic diplomacy Science diplomacy Space diplomacy

 DİPLO

Science, diplomacy, and the new space economy: Where do small states fit in?

Nikola Božić

Published on 17 July 2026

Related topics:    Economic diplomacy Science diplomacy Space diplomacy

Author:   Nikola Božić

Contents

What exactly is the Artemis Accords and why sign it?

How ‘small players’ build serious business in space

The blueprint for emergent economies

A view of the stars from Earth

See also

Blogs (34)

Events (26)

Resources (134)

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When the average person hears the word ‘space exploration,’ the immediate mental images are usually those of giant rockets tearing through the Florida sky, Hollywood blockbusters, and astronomical budgets worth hundreds of billions of dollars. Historically, this perspective made sense. For decades, the space race was an exclusive sandbox for global superpowers, namely the United States, China, Russia, and ESA, leaving the rest of the world as mere spectators.

We are entering an era where geopolitics is no longer conducted solely within terrestrial borders, inside military trenches, or at traditional diplomatic tables. Today, it is also being contested in the upper atmosphere. Through science and space diplomacy, small and medium-sized nations around the world are increasingly using technology, niche research, and strategic partnerships as powerful leverage to strengthen their domestic security, boost their knowledge economies, and elevate their global reputation.

A clear, contemporary example of this shift occurred recently in Washington, where Serbia formally signed the Artemis Accords, becoming the 69th nation to join this rapidly expanding global coalition. This milestone serves as an ideal case study for a much broader question: how exactly do alliances with space superpowers allow smaller countries to carve out a position on the global high-tech map, and what does the new space economy actually mean for nations without their own launchpads?

What exactly is the Artemis Accords and why sign it?

To understand why small nations are willing to join this framework, it is essential to look at what the Artemis Accords actually represents. It is not a military alliance, nor is it a treaty aimed at dividing territory on celestial bodies, because international law explicitly dictates that space belongs to no one. Instead, the Artemis Accords is essentially a ‘highway code’ for the modern era of civil deep-space exploration.

Led by NASA and the U.S. Department of State, this agreement unites a diverse group of nations around several fundamental, civilizational principles detailed on the official NASA Artemis Accords page:

Peaceful exploration: An absolute commitment to utilise space strictly for peaceful purposes

Transparency: An obligation to openly and publicly share scientific data

Interoperability: Designing systems, hardware, and software that can work together across international lines

Emergency assistance: A mutual agreement to render aid to astronauts in distress, regardless of their nationality

Deconfliction: Establishing temporary safety zones to prevent operational interference during resource extraction on the Moon or asteroids.

As humanity fast-tracks its return to the Moon through NASA’s Artemis program (this time to establish permanent infrastructure before eventually leapfrogging to Mars), it has become vital to establish the rules of the game before the lunar surface gets crowded. By signing, smaller states formally gain a voice in how these international norms are shaped.

How ‘small players’ build serious business in space

The biggest misconception of the 21st-century space race is that you must possess your own spaceport and a multi-billion-dollar treasury to participate. Modern aerospace is highly software-driven, modular, and decentralised. Major aerospace contracts are no longer just about welding massive steel boosters; they are about designing hyper-precise algorithms, micro-sensors, and automated systems.

Several small and medium-sized nations (economies) have already demonstrated how a diplomatic signature on the Accords translates into commercial revenue and a massive domestic technological leap:

Luxembourg (The pioneer of space mining)

This European nation, smaller in landmass than many global capitals, was among the first to recognise the shift. They established the Luxembourg Space Agency (LSA), which intentionally avoids building rockets. Instead, it creates regulatory frameworks and funding mechanisms to attract startups focused on space resources. Today, working within the Artemis framework, Luxembourgish firms are actively developing systems for water purification and extracting oxygen from lunar soil (regolith).

New Zealand (An orbital highway for visionaries)

With a population of just five million, New Zealand leveraged its unique geographic positioning and a highly flexible, modern regulatory environment to attract the American aerospace disruptor Rocket Lab. The result? NASA frequently hires New Zealand-based launch infrastructure, including the historic launch of the CAPSTONE mission to the Moon, which mapped the orbital path for the future Lunar Gateway station.

Poland and the Czech Republic (Supply chain integration)

These Central European nations have swiftly capitalised on their signatory status. The Polish Space Agency (POLSA) currently collaborates with NASA to integrate Polish-designed infrared detectors into robotic missions heading to the lunar surface. Meanwhile, through its national ‘Journey to Space’ initiative, the Czech Republic has systematically integrated its existing automotive and aviation engineering sectors into the supply chains of American aerospace giants like Lockheed Martin.

The blueprint for emergent economies

For a country like Serbia, or any nation with a comparable economic footprint, signing the Artemis Accords is not about sending an astronaut into space next week. It is about signalling that domestic intellectual capital is capable of building the systems that will operate there. The true opportunity for emerging markets lies in three distinct sectors:

Software and Data Science: Deep-space exploration generates petabytes of telemetry and imaging data. Developing algorithms for autonomous rover navigation, processing satellite data to monitor terrestrial climate change, or creating secure communication protocols are high-value tech jobs that software engineers can perform from anywhere in the world.

Agrotech and Biotechnology: Solving how to grow food in resource-starved, enclosed, extreme environments is a core pillar of long-term space colonisation. Nations with deep historical expertise in agricultural sciences and crop hybridisation can apply their research directly to lunar life-support systems, technologies that can simultaneously be spun off to fight food insecurity and climate crises back on Earth.

Advanced Electronics and Micro-Sensors: Modern university labs and engineering faculties have the capacity to design and manufacture specialised micro-components that operate under extreme pressures and temperatures, feeding directly into international aerospace supply chains.

Ultimately, these agreements provide a structured, systemic mechanism to combat the ‘brain drain’. By allowing young, highly skilled researchers and private tech companies to contribute to historic, international orbital missions without leaving their home countries, governments can retain top-tier talent while participating in global innovation.

A view of the stars from Earth

The era when small nations were relegated to being silent observers of technological history is officially over. Space is no longer conquered solely by the sheer volume of rocket fuel a nation can burn. It is conquered by code, advanced materials, optimisation algorithms, and strategic diplomacy.

Participating in frameworks like the Artemis Accords is a pragmatic, forward-looking strategy for any nation seeking to transition toward a high-tech, knowledge-based economy. It ensures a seat at the table where the next century’s commercial, legal, and technological rules are being drafted. When humanity establishes its next permanent footprint on the lunar surface, the underlying operating systems, line of code, or mechanical component will undoubtedly feature contributions from engineers across the globe. Through smart diplomacy, smaller states are ensuring they are not left behind on the launchpad.