On September 10th, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the European Commission and the SPACE (Space Partnership Association for the Competitiveness of Europe) AISBL, for the co-programmed European Partnership for Globally Competitive Space Systems – the "Space Partnership" – in the frame of Horizon Europe.
The partnership is set to strengthen the competitiveness of the space industry by bringing together the entire space supply chain to identify key research priorities, accelerating innovation, and reducing the time-to-market for EU space systems, aiming to achieve several key objectives across technological, scientific, and societal domains. From a technological and economic perspective, it seeks to accelerate innovation by fostering collaboration among stakeholders, encouraging private investments, exploring new approaches such as New Space, and enhancing the commercialization of disruptive technologies. It also aims to streamline resources and improve the coherence and effectiveness of project implementation. On the scientific front, the partnership strives to boost research on disruptive technologies, ensuring that EU-funded projects contribute to Europe’s competitiveness and accelerate the transfer of these innovations to the industry. From a societal standpoint, the partnership focuses on advancing EU autonomy in critical infrastructures and unlocking the value of space in areas such as digitalization, climate action, transport, agriculture, and security, supporting key EU policies. The importance of the partnership and its role in driving innovation and collaboration within the European space sector is highlighted by the funding planned by the European Commission (up to EUR 150 million) to support activities under this partnership.
This partnership serves as a pilot case for a new way of collaborating with industry and research institutes, uniting key players across the sector. By 2025, it is expected to enhance the involvement of the private sector in Horizon Europe, with an EU investment of 100 million EUR earmarked for satellite communication, Earth observation, and space transportation. Private partners are expected to contribute an additional 120 million EUR through in-kind support. In this context, the European Commission represents the public, while SPACE AISBL represents the private sector.
The MoU signature ceremony took place in the presence of the Director Generals of DG DEFIS and DG RTD, along with the President of SPACE AISBL and representatives from the founding members. The founding members of SPACE AISBL, including Eurospace, SME4Space, ESRE, EASTRO, and EASN, represent a large portion of the space supply chain and will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of Europe’s space innovation.
The Space Partnership Association for the Competitiveness of Europe (S.P.A.C.E.) AISBL was established in 2024 with the aim of strengthening Europe’s competitiveness in the space sector by fostering collaboration and innovation across various key organizations. Formed by five prominent organizations -ASD Eurospace, ESRE, EARTO, SME4SPACE, and EASN- the S.P.A.C.E. association seeks to foster synergies that will ensure Europe’s leadership in space technology and foster a more competitive, resilient, and innovative ecosystem across the continent.
The role of EASN in the S.P.A.C.E. association is pivotal, as it represents the academic and research community in aeronautics across Europe. EASN can contribute by fostering collaboration between universities, research institutions, and the space industry, helping bridge the gap between cutting-edge academic research and practical applications in the aerospace sector. Additionally, EASN can play a key role in developing the next generation of aerospace professionals by supporting educational initiatives and ensuring that European academia remains at the forefront of space research and development.
Download the SPACE AISBL Press Release and read the official EC announcement.