Vision for the European Space Economy

EU Space Economy Technical Standards: Commission initiative to develop technical specifications across all dimensions of the space economy and secure their adoption as EU standards through existing European and national standardisation bodies.

EUSPA Internal Market Procedures Plan: Tasking of EUSPA and agreement with ESA on a coordinated plan to establish seamless single-market procedures for space operators, delivered through the EU Space Act.

Space Operator Compliance Support: Support measures to assist space operators in complying with EU rules and building technological capacity, delivered through the EU Space Act.

Space Traffic Management Market Development: Support for the development and commercial market uptake of new space traffic management services within the EU and in export markets, delivered through the EU Space Act.

Space Rules Mutual Recognition: Pursuit of mutual recognition and equivalence of rules and technical assessments between the EU and third countries, delivered through the EU Space Act.

Space R&I Reinforcement: Next Framework Programme — Strengthened support for space research and innovation in the next EU R&I framework programme, based on an updated Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) and a reinforced dedicated Space R&I Partnership covering development, procurement, and deployment of innovative space technologies across the value chain.

Space-Defence R&I Synergies: Updated SRIA roadmaps integrating space-defence research and innovation synergies, with the aim of strengthening the security and resilience of EU satellite and space infrastructure and reducing dependence on non-EU space capabilities.

Critical Space Technologies Multi-Source Supply Plan: Long-term Commission plan to ensure multi-source supply of 47 identified critical space technologies, building on the Commission-ESA-EDA joint task force action list and covering R&I technology maturation and deployment of multi-sourcing value chains.

EU Observatory for Critical Technologies: Space Mandate — Continued Commission support for the Observatory's monitoring of space technology trends, supply chain dependencies, and implementation of technology roadmaps.

CASSINI Seed Investment Facility: New seed-stage private investment facility under CASSINI 2.0, piloted through the existing CASSINI Investment Facility to select VC funds for early-stage space companies.

CASSINI Growth Investment Facility: New growth-stage equity investment facility under CASSINI 2.0 to address the financing gap above EUR 100 million for capital-intensive space scaleups.

CASSINI Debt/Non-Dilutive Financing Facility: New debt and non-dilutive financing instrument under CASSINI 2.0 to complement equity funding for space companies unable to access growth-size investment rounds.

Space Innovation Procurement Reform: Introduction of business-friendly, competition-neutral procurement methods ensuring a level playing field for new entrants, scaleups, SMEs, and mid-caps, combined with strategic e-procurement tools — including onboarding schemes, marketplace mechanisms, advance purchase arrangements, anchor customer contracts, Central Purchasing Body contracts, and Dynamic Purchasing Systems — to stimulate public demand for upstream and downstream space services.

Space Innovation Local Ecosystems: Commission support for local space innovation ecosystems linking the space, digital, and adjacent sectors through incubators, accelerators, and entrepreneurship and skills initiatives, with synergies to digital innovation hubs.

Space Capacity Building for Emerging Nations: Capacity building measures for emerging space nations to promote EU technical standards and system interoperability, delivered through bilateral summits and space dialogues.

Space Procurement Opportunities Platform: Commission and EU Delegation platform aggregating intelligence on upcoming procurement opportunities in non-EU countries to support EU space companies in securing international contracts and attracting investment to Europe.

Space Sector Skills Intelligence Methodology: Commission development of a space-specific methodology to support the EU's skills intelligence system, contribute to the European Skills Intelligence Observatory, and ensure adequate coverage of the space sector in the European Skills and Occupations Classification (ESCO).

Space Curricula and Partnerships: Commission programme promoting cooperation between academia, European Universities Alliances, VET providers, training bodies, and businesses for the development of space curricula, exchanges, fellowships, and industry partnerships.

Space Skills Guarantee Pilot: Pilot upskilling and reskilling scheme supporting the reconversion of workers in sectors undergoing restructuring or at risk of unemployment into careers in the space sector

STEM Tech Talent Induction: Space — Programme equipping secondary school pupils, VET students, and tertiary education learners with STEM skills essential for the space sector.

Space Researcher Mobility Support: Commission support for international mobility of space researchers via Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, Erasmus+, Europass, and Euraxess, and cross-Member State exchange programmes for space studies.

Girls Go STEM: Space Module and Back to School Campaign

Space Manufacturing and Test Facility Expansion: Commission and Member State facilitation of the expansion and modernisation of space manufacturing and test facilities across the EU, in compliance with State aid rules.

Next Generation Satellite Technology Investment: Intensified Commission, Member State, and ESA investment in next-generation satellite technology — including software-defined satellites, quantum satellites, commercial navigation satellites, and satellite cybersecurity — through a combination of R&D grants, public contracts, and private investment.

CASSINI Manufacturing Accelerator: New advisory service providing space industry with expert guidance on manufacturing process optimisation, logistics, and sourcing strategies to improve production efficiency and global competitiveness.

Long-Term Vision for European Space Transportation: Commission, Member State, and ESA joint proposal establishing a long-term strategic vision for European access to space, identifying cooperation opportunities and defining coordinated concrete actions.

EU Preference in Institutional Launch Services Procurement: Commission framework conditions, via the ongoing revision of the Public Procurement Directives, promoting EU preference for access to space while ensuring competitive and aggregated procurement of EU institutional launch services.

Ground-Based Space Infrastructure Expansion: Commission, Member State, and ESA investment in maintaining, securing, and expanding ground-based infrastructure — including test and launch facilities — to enhance EU autonomy, resilience, and competitiveness in access to space.

Future Launch Solutions Acceleration: Commission, Member State, and ESA support for the accelerated development of next-generation European launch solutions, including reusable launch vehicles and other advanced space transportation technologies.

Sovereign EU Cloud for Space Data: Commission incentives, via the forthcoming Cloud and AI Development Act and accompanying single EU-wide cloud policy for public administrations, for sovereign EU cloud solutions to reduce space data dependence on non-EU platforms for storage, processing, and distribution.

Space Ground Segment Digitalisation: Commission support, through digitisation policies and related action plans, for modernisation of space ground segments — including antennas, signal processing equipment, mission control systems, and network links — transitioning to cloud-enabled and virtualised architectures compatible with next-generation satellite constellations.

Space Data Spaces and Labs: Commission establishment of space data spaces for secure inter-institutional satellite data sharing, and space data labs providing collaborative environments for researchers, developers, and businesses to experiment with space data and train AI models.

Defence Space Capability Gap Mapping: Commission and Member State exercise mapping existing gaps in commercial space capabilities relevant to defence needs, aligned with the broader defence readiness approach.

Dual-Use Space Services Demand Aggregation: Commission and Member State fostering of public demand for dual-use space services and technologies through aggregation, joint procurement, and anchor tenancy arrangements.

Augmented Dual-Use Space Systems: Commission, Member State, and ESA exploration of options to augment dual-use space systems, specifically the Earth Observation Governmental Service, the Low Earth Orbit Positioning/Navigation/Timing component, IRIS², Radio Frequency Interference monitoring, and Space Situational Awareness.

Space Innovation Procurement: Dynamic Purchasing System — Commission application of innovation procurement for downstream space services, using a centralised Dynamic Purchasing System to aggregate public authority demand and reduce procurement complexity at local and regional level.

'Make it with Space' Programme: New Commission funding scheme stimulating demand for space data and downstream services in non-space sectors by enabling new users to test, evaluate, and integrate space-based solutions into their business processes through a dedicated EU funding instrument.

Space Data Quality Label: Commission exploration of standardisation measures and development of a quality label ensuring the reliability, security, and accuracy of downstream space-based data and services, with particular attention to cyber threat integrity risks.

Radio Frequency Interference Monitoring System: Commission development of a monitoring system generating timely information on the impact of radio frequency interference on space systems, drawing on open data, ground sensors, and commercial and EU-owned satellites, in support of competent authorities and user communities.

Space Solutions Mainstreaming in Sectoral Policies: Commission initiative to systematically integrate space-based solutions across EU sectoral policies, including manufacturing standards, interoperability requirements, user terminal specifications, and demonstration projects in user communities.

Copernicus National Collaboration Programmes: Commission programme facilitating collaboration with national administrations to integrate Copernicus data into national decision-making processes, particularly in climate change, atmosphere, marine, and land environment policy, to increase uptake and reduce administrative burden.

In-Space Economy Collaboration Framework: Commission, Member State, and ESA coordination structure for the orbital, cislunar, and lunar economy, supporting EU industry, research, and academia in developing a coherent EU approach to in-space activities.

ISOS4I Pilot Mission: In-space operations and services demonstration mission to validate critical capabilities — including satellite inspection, life extension, refuelling, and debris removal — as a precursor to a permanent in-space servicing architecture integrated into the EU space ecosystem. [by 2030]

Strategic In-Space Services Flagship: Commission and ESA preparation of a new strategic flagship providing on-demand in-space services for maintenance, upgrade, assembly, manufacturing, repair, removal, recycling, and logistics tasks for satellites and other space objects. [by 2035]

Space Data Centres and Distributed Computation Demonstrators: Commission support for the maturation and prototype demonstration of enabling technologies for space-based data centres and distributed in-orbit computing, including thermal management, optical links, and quantum-secured communications.

Space Resource Extraction R&I: Commission coordination with Member States and ESA on research into space resource extraction and utilisation, including concept studies, scientific instrument development, and cooperative and interoperable robotics, building on Public Private Partnerships in AI, data, and robotics.

Space Team Europe: New high-level advisory forum bringing together Member States, the Commission, EUSPA, ESA, space industry, SMEs, and research organisations to contribute to EU decision-making in the space sector and steer preparation of the EU Space Master Plan.

EU Space Master Plan: Commission-led implementation roadmap, prepared with Space Team Europe, translating the space economy vision into sequenced concrete actions across all building blocks.

EU Space Sector Monitoring Methodology: Commission development of a dedicated methodology to monitor the EU space sector's contribution to competitiveness and its share of the global space economy, integrated into the Competitiveness Compass Coordination Tool. [from 2025]