Prof. Dr.-Ing. Stefanos Fasoulas is Professor for Space Transportation Technology and Managing Director of the Institute of Space Systems of the University of Stuttgart, Germany. He received his PhD in 1995 in aerospace engineering at the University of Stuttgart, Germany. He has over 30 years of experience in research and teaching. He also served as Professor for Space Systems and Utilization and Director of the Institute for Aerospace Engineering at the TU Dresden, Germany. He is the author or co-author of more than 350 peer-reviewed or conference publications. Since 2021 he has been acting as Dean of the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering and Geodesy, University of Stuttgart, and since 2024 as Spokesperson of the Collaborative Research Center “Advancing Technologies of Very Low Altitude Satellites” (CRC 1667 ATLAS), supported by the German Research Foundation (DFG).
Q: How would you assess the European space research ecosystem (with regards to its efficiency, funding opportunities, etc.)?
From my academic perspective, the European space research ecosystem is a quite complex and multifaceted network of institutions, funding mechanisms, and stakeholders. It is rich in scientific capital, and globally still respected, but it also faces structural inefficiencies that hinder its full potential. At its core, the ecosystem is composed of ESA, the EU (Horizon Europe and its space-relevant programs), national space agencies, a growing private sector, and academia. Europe has achieved remarkable success in key domains like scientific Earth observation, satellite navigation, and climate science.
These achievements are underpinned by a long tradition of public investment. However, governance fragmentation remains a significant barrier. It seems to me that the coexistence of ESA, EU and national entities often leads to overlapping mandates and duplicated administrative efforts. There is no central mechanism to consistently align the overall strategy under a single and in particular agile vision. On the funding side, public support is robust, particularly through Horizon Europe, ESA's mandatory and optional programs, and national investments. Nevertheless, the translation of research into scalable innovation remains slow. Compared to the U.S.A. and also to China, Europe’s space sector is undercapitalized, risk-averse, and constrained by complex procurement and compliance procedures. Access to early-stage financing, in-orbit demonstration opportunities, and commercial launch services remains limited for academia, start-ups and academic spinoffs. Despite these hurdles, Europe’s strengths are considerable: an unparalleled climate monitoring infrastructure, a strong academic base, and world-class collaborative missions. The challenge is not in the lack of talent or ambition, but in mobilizing the ecosystem more efficiently, de-risking innovation, and fostering a dynamic environment where science, industry, and policy interact with speed and shared purposes.
Q2: Which should be, in your view, the European high-level research goals, for the period beyond Horizon Europe, and which would be the main research challenges associated to these high-level goals?
This is a great question. I think that spaceflight is an investment in infrastructure, vital for both present and future goods in the form of data - much like roads, airways, and shipping lanes are for the transport of physical goods. Therefore, the next phase of high-level space research goals beyond Horizon Europe (post-2027) will be crucial for sustaining Europe’s strategic autonomy, economic competitiveness, and scientific leadership. Europe must define a new generation of space research goals that reflect both scientific ambition and strategic necessity.
Personally, I would suggest five high-level goals, all of which should have equal priority: First, Europe must achieve strategic autonomy in space infrastructure, ensuring independent access to space, secure satellite communications, and comprehensive space situational awareness. Second, it should aim to establish global leadership in space-based climate monitoring by building on its Copernicus program to provide the most advanced, near-real-time Earth observation system in the world. Third, Europe should aim to construct a space-based digital backbone capable of supporting future digital and quantum technologies, such as quantum key distribution, high-throughput data relays, and onboard AI processing. Fourth, Europe should lead or co-lead deep space exploration, contributing uniquely to global space science. Fifth, a vibrant “FutureSpace” ecosystem must be nurtured, one that enables rapid innovation and entrepreneurial growth.
These goals are accompanied by substantial research challenges. Climate leadership requires for example advances in sensor technology, AI-based modeling, and resilient data infrastructures. Strategic autonomy depends on launchers, space traffic control, and safe communications. Deep space exploration calls for autonomous systems, new propulsion solutions, and instrumentation. Digital leadership in space hinges on secure satellite constellations, edge computing, and cyber-resilient architectures. And, enabling industrial growth requires better access to capital, faster regulatory pathways, and more effective technology transfer mechanisms. Addressing these challenges requires long-term investment, inter-agency coordination, and a policy framework that embraces risk and cross-sector innovation. Europe's future in space depends not only on technical capability, but on its ability to act decisively, inclusively, and strategically in a rapidly evolving global space market.
Q3: What would be an appropriate frame (including the funding mechanisms and tools) to facilitate addressing the above-mentioned challenges?
I think that Europe must establish a coordinated framework that aligns governance, funding, and implementation tools under a unified vision and that coordinates long-term strategy across ESA, the EU, and member states, ensuring coherence in research agendas and avoiding duplication. Public funding should remain the backbone, with Horizon Europe’s successor providing stable resources for basic and mission-oriented research, complemented by ESA-led "grand challenge" missions. Simultaneously, tools like an expanded European Innovation Council (EIC) Space Accelerator and the CASSINI initiative should channel venture capital and de-risk start-up investment. A “Defence Dual-Use Fund” could bridge civil and security-focused innovations.
Above all however, implementation needs to be faster and agile, with mechanisms such as in-orbit demonstration platforms, micro-launcher testbeds, and quantum-secure communications networks to validate new technologies. Universities and research centers must be supported through fellowships and open science infrastructure, while fast-track procurement schemes could help to bring innovations to market. Regional innovation could be bolstered through specialization strategies and local ecosystems. Internationally, Europe must engage in strategic partnerships for deep space missions and open data collaboration. This holistic framework must balance risk, foster academic research and entrepreneurship, promote sustainable space utilization, and ensure that Europe does not just follow global trends, but leads them.
Q4: What would be the role of academia, as part of the European space ecosystem in achieving Europe’s high-level goals in space?
Coming from academia, I’m somewhat biased in answering this question, but I give it a try: Academia plays in my view a pivotal role in achieving high-level space research goals by serving as the primary source of knowledge, innovation, and talents. Universities and research institutes generate the fundamental science and applied technologies in all fields essential for Europe’s strategic autonomy and scientific leadership. Academia trains the next generation of engineers, scientists, and also policymakers through graduate programs and interdisciplinary networks. Beyond education, universities contribute directly to mission development by designing scientific instruments, participating in operations, and managing data exploitation. They are essential for fostering entrepreneurship through spin-offs and technology transfer, often in partnership with regional innovation hubs. In the realm of policy and ethics, academia provides evidence-based input on sustainability, space law, and responsible exploration. Furthermore, as anchor institutions in regional clusters, universities stimulate local economic development and attract investment to Europe’s space sectors. However, to fully leverage academia’s role, Europe must simplify access to funding, incentivize risk-taking in academic research, and expand support for commercialization.
Without academia’s active engagement, Europe cannot achieve its future space ambitions. And, academia is not just a supporting actor in Europe’s space ambitions - it is a strategic partner and driver of innovation, excellence, and sustainability. By placing universities and research centers at the core of a space strategy, Europe could foster a space ecosystem that is visionary, inclusive, and globally competitive.