Malé, Maldives – October 28, 2025 – The Maldives Space Research Organisation (MSRO) has launched the Maldives Space Capital for High-Impact Fund (MSCHIF) – a $50 million initiative to accelerate the Maldives’ space sector and ensure its benefits extend to other Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
As the first space fund created specifically for island nations, MSCHIF marks a historic milestone in advancing sovereign space capabilities, maritime security, climate resilience, and technological equity for the Maldives and beyond.
From Leading the Conversation to Leading the Capital
In 2024, MSRO was officially mandated by the Ministry of Defence to lead the Maldives’ space affairs. Over the past three years, MSRO has emerged as a global voice for island nations, having organised the Space for Island Nations Conference (SINC) in 2023 and 2024, co-founded the Space4Ocean Alliance during UNOC 2025, and co-organised the 32nd UN/IAF Workshop at IAC 2025.
Since its inception, MSRO has achieved extraordinary progress without relying on government funding, driven by deep partnerships and creative experimentation. It has shown that innovation and impact don’t require scale.
MSRO has led multiple technology demonstrations advancing maritime monitoring and climate resilience. It is commited to enhancing satellite-derived intelligence through innovative algorithms, ground-truthing, and platform design. Recent initiatives—including the Digital Earth Maldives Initiative (DEMI), the Coastal Observation Advances leveraging Space Technology Services (COASTS) project, and space-enabled IoT pilots with the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) and Sony Group—underscore this commitment.
In August 2025, MSRO conducted its first microgravity experiment aboard the International Space Station (ISS), sending the first Maldivian mangrove seeds to space as part of a global seed resilience mission led by Jaguar Space.
“We’ve shown that with heart, clarity of purpose, and collaboration, even small nations can reach to the stars,” said Madin Maseeh, President of MSRO. “This fund is the natural next step – not a beginning, but a scaling of what’s already working.”
Unveiled at the International Astronautical Congress
Launched at the International Astronautical Congress (IAC) in Sydney, the fund is headquartered in the United Arab Emirates, ensuring strong regulatory governance and broad access for global investors.
“With nearly $5 million in early commitments from Middle Eastern family offices, the fund has already demonstrated significant investor confidence in MSRO’s mission,” said Rajeeshwaran Moorthy, Strategic Advisor to MSRO, who played a pivotal role in bringing the fund to life.
The fund’s mission is to develop sovereign space capabilities for the Maldives and other island nations. Capital deployment will be overseen by an independent advisory committee comprising representatives from MSRO, the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA), and an independent fiduciary, ensuring transparency and technical integrity.
The Maldives’ equatorial location and proximity to key trade routes offer strategic advantages for hosting ground stations, SSA infrastructure, and future launch capabilities. MSRO’s current projects already support island nations with data-sharing frameworks for illegal fishing detection, coral reef monitoring, and coastal erosion tracking.
Funding Framework
MSCHIF will deploy capital across three strategic pillars:
- Infrastructure – Building the foundational architecture of space sovereignty, including ground stations, deep-space communication, and astronomy infrastructure leveraging the Maldives’ equatorial advantage.
- Applications – Scaling Earth observation and maritime-monitoring platforms that deliver actionable insights for environmental management, early warning, and national resilience.
- Innovation – Supporting frontier R&D, spaceport feasibility studies, and interplanetary research partnerships, ensuring that island nations are participants – not passengers – in the next era of space exploration.
“We’ve proven what’s possible with almost nothing. Imagine what we can achieve together with access to capital, technology, and each other,” added Maseeh.
Toward a New Era of Island Innovation
MSRO envisions the Maldives as a living laboratory for space-enabled solutions, where innovation serves both local communities and the broader island world. The fund stands as a symbol of sovereignty and a platform for shared progress, ensuring that those most affected by climate change are also shaping the tools to overcome it.
About the Maldives Space Research Organisation (MSRO)
MSRO was founded in the Maldives in 2022, with a vision to help Maldives become a spacefaring nation making significant contributions to the exploration and use of space. Its is now the official space organisation of Maldives through authorisation from the Ministry of Defence.
MSRO Links:
Web: www.msro.mv
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