The European space branch consists of several players, reaching from supranational entities to industry and private investors. In their different roles, they contribute to develop and deliver European services to the citizens.
Which categories of actors are involved in driving and shaping the European space branch? The European space branch consists of several players. In their different roles, they contribute to develop and deliver European services to the citizens. The space branch in Europe was established on national level, while for the huge research programmes, the European nations joined forces in the European Space Agency (ESA). With increasing relevance of space applications for the citizens and governments, the European Union as the highest political actor in Europe becomes the leading authority in the European space sector. Since 2021, the political framework of the space programmes of EU and the role of the stakeholders is defined in the EU Space Regulation.
European Commission with its Directorate-General (DG), in particular DG Defence Industry and Space (DEFIS) and DG CONNECT, the supranational level is represented. The Commission provides the strategies, political guidelines and regulations for the space branch and the EU economy. To foster the development of the necessary technologies, funding programmes are created by the Commission for different stages of the technological development.
In EU, several EU agencies and entities are involved in the space branch. Depending on their role in the EU framework, they represent users of space applications and services, shape the funding programmes and EU policies, manage and operate the services or the research and development projects.
- EUSPA – EU Agency for the Space Programme
- SATCEN – EU Satellite Centre
- EDA – European Defence Agency
- Users: EEAS, FRONTEX, EMSA, EFCA, EUROCONTROL, EUROPOL, etc.
The European Space Agency (ESA) represents the international level in the space branch, where the ESA member states – which are not fully coherent with the EU member states – collaborate in funding programmes for technological research and development as well as space science and exploration.
The Member States of EU and ESA are represented by their national space agencies and ministries. The responsibilities and collaboration between the national entities depend on the member state. Typically, the national space agency represents and coordinates all space related aspects of the country, involving the government and its ministries and agencies, such as Ministry of Economy, Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Digital Economy or Ministry of Defence.
The space industry is the core of the space economy, consisting of companies which create a wide range of products and services. From the manufacturers of satellites, rockets and the ground segment, the suppliers of parts, operators of satellites, providers of space services to resellers of services, the industry is segmented into several sub-branches.
The users and customers of space services can be private customers of consumer solutions up to governmental users for space services on national or EU level.The needs and requirements of the diverse users are the key drivers for shaping the space services. Therefore, regular exchange with the users via conferences or surveys are key to understand and update the users’ requirements.
Research institutes and Academia are hosting the scientific and technological knowledge and provide the environment for research and development. With their funding programmes they support the applied science for space technologies as well as the basic science relevant for space, such as physics or astronomy.
Another part of the space economy are private investors and insurance companies. Space missions usually involve expensive technologies and come with a high risk of failure or malfunction. In order to develop and manufacture the necessary infrastructure such as rockets or spacecrafts, investors have to provide the needed monetary resources. The risks are covered by certain insurance companies specialised in the space domain.
Consulting companies are supporting with their consulting services in all categories of stakeholders, from consulting the industrial companies to the agencies or supporting the users with consulting on space services.
Comments