Brussels, 1-3-2013 — /europawire.eu/ — Space is at the service of the European citizens. Many of the systems and services that are today essential for our well-being and security depend directly or indirectly on space. Without being aware, European citizens rely on space technologies when they use their mobile phones, make financial transactions, take an airplane, watch the weather forecast or look for the nearest restaurant using their cars’ navigation system. Space has become part of our daily lives. The Commission therefore proposes a new space policy to meet the challenges of today’s world.
Europe’s space industry is a driver for growth and innovation and a highly strategic sector, helping us face both societal challenges and create innovative technologies and services. Existing space programmes Galileo and EGNOS are expected to generate economic and social benefits worth around €60-90 billion over the next 20 years.
EU space industry under pressure
Space has become a global business. The European space sector is increasingly under pressure from industries in new emerging space powers such as India and China. Also, the European space industry differs from its main international competitors to the following extent: its budget is smaller, it relies more on commercial sales, the part of military expenses is smaller, and synergies between civil and defence sectors are far less developed. Furthermore, unlike the US, Europe’s downstream satellite navigation and Earth observation markets are only now emerging.
The European industry faces commercial and innovation challenges:
- Across the world, the space industry is highly subsidized through institutional programmes which translate into financing of research and development (R&D) programmes and purchasing of space products and services. Total European R&D is roughly estimated to account for 10% of unconsolidated sales turnover of the EU space sector. In an international context, the funding of European R&D is relatively small. For example, approximately 25% of the US civil space budget is spent on R&D. Furthermore, expressed per capita, NASA’s civil budget alone is approximately four times bigger than the combined European civil space budgets (national, ESA and EU/FP7). The European institutional market is relatively small – in 2009 the US budget was almost 10 times higher than the European budget – and very fragmented, due to the diversity of public stakeholders and their different and not always coordinated industrial policies.
- The satellite communications (SatCom) industry is instrumental in sustaining the entire European space industry. This segment’s sales account for more than 60% of the European space manufacturing industry over the last ten years. Although Europe can count on a world-class SatCom industry, this sector faces not only increasing global competition but also technical and political challenges due to the scarcity of the radio spectrum.
- Europe needs to position itself in the emerging markets for navigation (SatNav) and Earth observation applications (SatEO), services and products. These service industries have a high potential for growth and job creation. As for European SatNav, it is estimated that related EU programmes Galileo and EGNOS will generate socio-economic benefits for around €60-90 billion over the next 20 years. As regards SatEO, the benefits from the EU’s Copernicus programme are estimated at almost €35 billion by 2030 (comparable to 0.2% of the EU’s GDP). However, the development of the European satellite-based services industry is currently challenged by the existing regulatory framework and insufficient support to start-up companies which are at the heart of services and applications development.
To address these challenges, Europe should achieve technological non-dependence, security of supply and maintain independent access to space.
Why is EU intervention necessary in this field?
The EU needs to ensure cost-efficiency and competitiveness at global level, while boosting the development of state of the art skills and competencies. We also need to address space industry issues in a global and consistent manner.
The EU aims to intervene for two reasons:
- More than half of the turnover of the European space industry depends on the commercial market. However, the space market does not follow the classical rules of competition as the sector is highly subsidized worldwide. The EU should therefore strive to ensure that its industry is on an equal footing with its global competitors and that it has the skills and technologies required to maintain the level of excellence achieved today. To remain competitive, the European space sector needs a European industrial policy that takes into account all the challenges the industry faces.
- The EU will be one of the largest institutional clients for the European space industry over the next 10 years. Our policy choices could either strengthen or weaken our industry. Implementing an industrial policy for the space sector allows the definition of a clear line of action in the service of our growth, our jobs and our people.
The Commission’s new space policy Communication identifies the main challenges the European space industry faces and proposes a series of measures to help it becoming more competitive at global level. Below is an overview of the proposed measures.
Improve the legislative framework for service and manufacturing
- The majority of Member States have not yet developed space legislation.
- The expansion of space activities, notably the development of the commercial market, could raise legal issues which are not fully addressed at European level such as: obligation for insurance, registration and authorisation of space activities and services, sanctions, and environmental issues.
- The Commission could be called upon to establish an EU space regulatory framework in order to fully exploit the internal market potential for space, by filling existing legal gaps and preventing the development of divergent national legislations.
- Monitor the impact on the space industry of the control regime for dual-use goods and regarding EU intra-EU transfer of defence products.
- Investigate how to best take into account SatCom’se future spectrum needs in the context of the Radio Spectrum Policy Programme;
- Contribute to the preparation of the next ITU World Radio Communications Conference in order to defend EU interests in the field of global and regional spectrum allocations.
- Explore whether commercial spaceflights activities need to be embedded in a legal framework
- Launch a study to assess the market potential of suborbital spaceflights to determine whether to develop a European regulatory approach.
Pursue standardisation
- The Commission will pursue the development of European space standards on the basis of the work already performed by the European Cooperation for Space Standards Organisation and according to the mandate issued to the European Standardisation Organisations (CEN-CENELEC and ETSI).
Ensure the availability of necessary skills
To remain competitive, EU needs to keep and expand its own resources, develop new skills to meet the need of emerging sectors and attract talent from non-EU countries:
- Develop and provide to industry a long term and clear vision of the institutional market at EU level;
- Carry out and update mapping of the supply chain to ensure the right level of European independence, expertise and competitiveness;
- Support the development of appropriate skills required specifically by the space sector, and promote the establishment of mutuallyrecognised academic space qualifications in Europe (initiate and coordinate between Member States the development of space academies);
- Include in future R&D framework programmes dedicated actions in which part of the research must be carried out by PhD candidates – as is currently the case in air traffic management;
- Encourage the development of lifelong learning programmes through strengthened cooperation between industry and universities, in particular in the emerging area of satellite based applications;
- Enhance the EU’s appeal to foreign researchers.
Support the European space industry’s access to the global market
It is vital for the European space industry to maintain and strengthen its position on the commercial market. However, major non-EU countries’ institutional markets are not accessible to European industry. As international cooperation could also serve as a market opener, the EU must ensure that space is integrated into the Union’s external policy:
- Analyse measures and good practices developed by Member States to support access to international markets;
- Ensure that the specificities of the space sector and the European space industry are taken into account in trade negotiations and relevant commercial agreements, to foster a level playing field.
Supporting research and innovation
Enable European competitiveness in space, notably by ensuring non-dependence in critical technologies and by fostering innovation.
- Continue to coordinate the Commission’s efforts with those of Member States, the ESA and the EDA in order to identify critical space components and to ensure their availability;
- Examine whether it is feasible to boost the emerging Earth observation market through incentives such as long term contracts with the Earth observation industry;
- Promote the use of space-based applications in EU policies;
- Support awareness raising campaigns to make possible users – cities, regions, various industrial sectors, etc – aware of the potential of space-based applications, generate interest in such applications and facilitate this with ad hoc take up actions (e.g. vouchers for local authorities or SME end users);
- Support the development of innovation support measures to industry at EU, national and regional level with a specific focus on SMEs in the downstream satellite-enabled services sector;
- Implement the Commission Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) Action Plan to foster the development and adoption of satellite navigation applications using EGNOS and Galileo;
- Support space technology cross-fertilisation with other sectors and spin-in/spin-offs in R&D and Innovation programmes.
Enable advances in space technologies
The EU intends to boost technological progress in strategic areas and to contribute to the necessary effort in space research, in particular in breakthrough technologies. Key Enabling Technologies (KET) have been recognized as central to all technological industrial competitiveness in Horizon 2020, but also in particular to innovative space technologies. The space industrial policy should therefore support KET uptake in new space technologies, by.
- Increasing space research efforts, in particular in breakthrough technologies
- Supporting the development of alternative technologies to those of competitors
- Promoting R&D support to industry and space research organisations, including the downstream service sector and support the development of application-oriented R&D programmes at universities related to space technologies and promote the transition from prototyping to product and market
- Assessing hosted payloads business case, to explore the potential for further institutional and scientific use and identify the best ways to address the challenges ahead such as legal issues, government/military requirements, etc.
- Assessing other cost-effective launch opportunities in order to embark new technologies to test them
- Useing Horizon 2020 to accelerate the implementation of substitutes to raw materials needing replacement such as those listed within the framework of the REACH regulation.
Stimulate the full exploitation of space data and the development of innovative applications
- Ensure more extensive utilisation of space data from existing and future European missions in the scientific, public and commercial domain.
Expanding the array and use of available financial instruments
Given their associated risks, large scale space infrastructures need large financial contributions over long periods, continuity of funding both for operational and financial reasons and flexibility/contingency instruments. Existing financial products might not match these needs. The Commission therefore proposes to:
- Explore possibilities to facilitate access to finance, especially by SMEs, by promoting the further development of innovative financial instruments and the use of the existing instruments;
- Encourage Member States and regions to increase the use of structural funds and innovative financial instruments to promote the development of innovative satellite-based services by SMEs;
- Ensure the rapid extension of the scope of the EU project bond initiative to space infrastructures.
Making a better use of procurement policy
The vast majority of public funding is channelled to space industry through public procurement. Like the defence and security sectors, space is strategic and there is a need to ensure that adequate EU instruments and funding schemes, which take its specificities into account, are put in place. The intention is to:
- Develop and provide to industry a long term and clear planning of the institutional market
- Analyse the impact of the implementation of the EU Directives on public procurement and defence procurement on the national and European space markets
- Early coordination for programmes which involve joint funding by both the Commission and ESA. It should take place to ensure a smooth transition between the development phase and the operational phase.
Establish and implement a real European launcher policy
EU autonomy in strategic sectors such as launch services is of fundamental importance. A real European launcher policy must be established by the institutional actors – as is the case in the other space-faring nations – to avoid short term or case by case decision taking.
Support the setting up and operation of European Space Situational Tracking service
The Commission proposes to provide an organisational framework to support the setting up and operation of a space surveillance and tracking (SST) service at European level(see Memo 2). The SST would be built on existing national assets and expertise. It would define a data policy which takes into account national security interests and which allows the monitoring and hence the protection of space infrastructures, in order to ensure the sustainability of space activities in Europe.
The proposed measures do not entail any new expenditure, but suggest recourse to existing instruments or non-financial actions.
Background
Within the EU, space industrial policy has been the subject of discussion over recent years. This discussion has intensified with the increasing involvement of the EU in space matters and the adoption of the Lisbon Treaty. The Commission 2010 Communication on an integrated industrial policy stated that the Commission will “pursue a space industrial policy developed in close collaboration with the European Space Agency and Member States”. In its 2011 Communication setting out the space strategy for the Union the Commission underlined that “it is vital to quickly draw up, in close collaboration with ESA and Member States, a space industry policy that fully reflects the specific needs of each space industry sub-sector”. Member States welcomed this intention in Council conclusions adopted in May 2011.
- Digi Communications N.V. announced that its Spanish subsidiary, Digi Spain Telecom S.L.U., has completed the first stage of selling a Fibre-to-the-Home (FTTH) network in 12 Spanish provinces
- Natural Cotton Color lancia la collezione "Calunga" a Milano
- Astor Asset Management 3 Ltd: Salinas Pliego Incumple Préstamo de $110 Millones USD y Viola Regulaciones Mexicanas
- Astor Asset Management 3 Ltd: Salinas Pliego Verstößt gegen Darlehensvertrag über 110 Mio. USD und Mexikanische Wertpapiergesetze
- ChargeEuropa zamyka rundę finansowania, której przewodził fundusz Shift4Good tym samym dokonując historycznej francuskiej inwestycji w polski sektor elektromobilności
- Strengthening EU Protections: Robert Szustkowski calls for safeguarding EU citizens’ rights to dignity
- Digi Communications NV announces the release of H1 2024 Financial Results
- Digi Communications N.V. announces that conditional stock options were granted to a director of the Company’s Romanian Subsidiary
- Digi Communications N.V. announces Investors Call for the presentation of the H1 2024 Financial Results
- Digi Communications N.V. announces the conclusion of a share purchase agreement by its subsidiary in Portugal
- Digi Communications N.V. Announces Rating Assigned by Fitch Ratings to Digi Communications N.V.
- Digi Communications N.V. announces significant agreements concluded by the Company’s subsidiaries in Spain
- SGW Global Appoints Telcomdis as the Official European Distributor for Motorola Nursery and Motorola Sound Products
- Digi Communications N.V. announces the availability of the instruction regarding the payment of share dividend for the 2023 financial year
- Digi Communications N.V. announces the exercise of conditional share options by the executive directors of the Company, for the year 2023, as approved by the Company’s Ordinary General Shareholders’ Meetings from 18th May 2021 and 28th December 2022
- Digi Communications N.V. announces the granting of conditional stock options to Executive Directors of the Company based on the general shareholders’ meeting approval from 25 June 2024
- Digi Communications N.V. announces the OGMS resolutions and the availability of the approved 2023 Annual Report
- Czech Composer Tatiana Mikova Presents Her String Quartet ‘In Modo Lidico’ at Carnegie Hall
- SWIFTT: A Copernicus-based forest management tool to map, mitigate, and prevent the main threats to EU forests
- WickedBet Unveils Exciting Euro 2024 Promotion with Boosted Odds
- Museum of Unrest: a new space for activism, art and design
- Digi Communications N.V. announces the conclusion of a Senior Facility Agreement by companies within Digi Group
- Digi Communications N.V. announces the agreements concluded by Digi Romania (formerly named RCS & RDS S.A.), the Romanian subsidiary of the Company
- Green Light for Henri Hotel, Restaurants and Shops in the “Alter Fischereihafen” (Old Fishing Port) in Cuxhaven, opening Summer 2026
- Digi Communications N.V. reports consolidated revenues and other income of EUR 447 million, adjusted EBITDA (excluding IFRS 16) of EUR 140 million for Q1 2024
- Digi Communications announces the conclusion of Facilities Agreements by companies from Digi Group
- Digi Communications N.V. Announces the convocation of the Company’s general shareholders meeting for 25 June 2024 for the approval of, among others, the 2023 Annual Report
- Digi Communications NV announces Investors Call for the presentation of the Q1 2024 Financial Results
- Digi Communications intends to propose to shareholders the distribution of dividends for the fiscal year 2023 at the upcoming General Meeting of Shareholders, which shall take place in June 2024
- Digi Communications N.V. announces the availability of the Romanian version of the 2023 Annual Report
- Digi Communications N.V. announces the availability of the 2023 Annual Report
- International Airlines Group adopts Airline Economics by Skailark ↗️
- BevZero Spain Enhances Sustainability Efforts with Installation of Solar Panels at Production Facility
- Digi Communications N.V. announces share transaction made by an Executive Director of the Company with class B shares
- BevZero South Africa Achieves FSSC 22000 Food Safety Certification
- Digi Communications N.V.: Digi Spain Enters Agreement to Sell FTTH Network to International Investors for Up to EUR 750 Million
- Patients as Partners® Europe Announces the Launch of 8th Annual Meeting with 2024 Keynotes and Topics
- driveMybox continues its international expansion: Hungary as a new strategic location
- Monesave introduces Socialised budgeting: Meet the app quietly revolutionising how users budget
- Digi Communications NV announces the release of the 2023 Preliminary Financial Results
- Digi Communications NV announces Investors Call for the presentation of the 2023 Preliminary Financial Results
- Lensa, един от най-ценените търговци на оптика в Румъния, пристига в България. Първият шоурум е открит в София
- Criando o futuro: desenvolvimento da AENO no mercado de consumo em Portugal
- Digi Communications N.V. Announces the release of the Financial Calendar for 2024
- Customer Data Platform Industry Attracts New Participants: CDP Institute Report
- eCarsTrade annonce Dirk Van Roost au poste de Directeur Administratif et Financier: une décision stratégique pour la croissance à venir
- BevZero Announces Strategic Partnership with TOMSA Desil to Distribute equipment for sustainability in the wine industry, as well as the development of Next-Gen Dealcoholization technology
- Digi Communications N.V. announces share transaction made by a Non-Executive Director of the Company with class B shares
- Digi Spain Telecom, the subsidiary of Digi Communications NV in Spain, has concluded a spectrum transfer agreement for the purchase of spectrum licenses
- Эксперт по торговле акциями Сергей Левин запускает онлайн-мастер-класс по торговле сырьевыми товарами и хеджированию
- Digi Communications N.V. announces the conclusion by Company’s Portuguese subsidiary of a framework agreement for spectrum usage rights
- North Texas Couple Completes Dream Purchase of Ouray’s Iconic Beaumont Hotel
- Предприниматель и филантроп Михаил Пелег подчеркнул важность саммита ООН по Целям устойчивого развития 2023 года в Нью-Йорке
- Digi Communications NV announces the release of the Q3 2023 Financial Results
- IQ Biozoom Innovates Non-Invasive Self-Testing, Empowering People to Self-Monitor with Laboratory Precision at Home
- BevZero Introduces Energy Saving Tank Insulation System to Europe under name “BevClad”
- Motorvision Group reduces localization costs using AI dubbing thanks to partnering with Dubformer
- Digi Communications NV Announces Investors Call for the Q3 2023 Financial Results
- Jifiti Granted Electronic Money Institution (EMI) License in Europe
- Предприниматель Михаил Пелег выступил в защиту образования и грамотности на мероприятии ЮНЕСКО, посвящённом Международному дню грамотности
- VRG Components Welcomes New Austrian Independent Agent
- Digi Communications N.V. announces that Digi Spain Telecom S.L.U., its subsidiary in Spain, and abrdn plc have completed the first investment within the transaction having as subject matter the financing of the roll out of a Fibre-to-the-Home (“FTTH”) network in Andalusia, Spain
- Продюсер Михаил Пелег, как сообщается, работает над новым сериалом с участием крупной голливудской актрисы
- Double digit growth in global hospitality industry for Q4 2023
- ITC Deploys Traffic Management Solution in Peachtree Corners, Launches into United States Market
- Cyviz onthult nieuwe TEMPEST dynamische controlekamer in Benelux, Nederland
- EU-Funded CommuniCity Launches its Second Open Call
- Astrologia pode dar pistas sobre a separação de Sophie Turner e Joe Jonas
- La astrología puede señalar las razones de la separación de Sophie Turner y Joe Jonas
- Empowering Europe against infectious diseases: innovative framework to tackle climate-driven health risks
- Montachem International Enters Compostable Materials Market with Seaweed Resins Company Loliware
- Digi Communications N.V. announces that its Belgian affiliated companies are moving ahead with their operations
- Digi Communications N.V. announces the exercise of conditional share options by an executive director of the Company, for the year 2022, as approved by the Company’s Ordinary General Shareholders’ Meeting from 18 May 2021
- Digi Communications N.V. announces the availability of the instruction regarding the payment of share dividend for the 2022 financial year
- Digi Communications N.V. announces the availability of the 2022 Annual Report
- Digi Communications N.V. announces the general shareholders’ meeting resolutions from 18 August 2023 approving amongst others, the 2022 Annual Accounts
- Русские эмигранты усиливают призывы «Я хочу, чтобы вы жили» через искусство
- BevZero Introduces State-of-the-Art Mobile Flash Pasteurization Unit to Enhance Non-Alcoholic Beverage Stability at South Africa Facility
- Russian Emigrés Amplify Pleas of “I Want You to Live” through Art
- Digi Communications NV announces the release of H1 2023 Financial Results
- Digi Communications NV Announces Investors Call for the H1 2023 Financial Results
- Digi Communications N.V. announces the convocation of the Company’s general shareholders meeting for 18 August 2023 for the approval of, among others, the 2022 Annual Report
- “Art Is Our Weapon”: Artists in Exile Deploy Their Talents in Support of Peace, Justice for Ukraine
- Digi Communications N.V. announces the availability of the 2022 Annual Financial Report
- “AmsEindShuttle” nuevo servicio de transporte que conecta el aeropuerto de Eindhoven y Ámsterdam
- Un nuovo servizio navetta “AmsEindShuttle” collega l’aeroporto di Eindhoven ad Amsterdam
- Digi Communications N.V. announces the conclusion of an amendment agreement to the Facility Agreement dated 26 July 2021, by the Company’s Spanish subsidiary
- Digi Communications N.V. announces an amendment of the Company’s 2023 financial calendar
- iGulu F1: Brewing Evolution Unleashed
- Почему интерактивная «Карта мира» собрала ключевые антивоенные сообщества россиян по всему миру и становится для них важнейшим инструментом
- Hajj Minister meets EU ambassadors to Saudi Arabia
- Online Organizing Platform “Map of Peace” Emerges as Key Tool for Diaspora Activists
- Digi Communications N.V. announces that conditional stock options were granted to executive directors of the Company based on the general shareholders’ meeting approval from 18 May 2021
- Digi Communications N.V. announces the release of the Q1 2023 financial results
- AMBROSIA – A MULTIPLEXED PLASMO-PHOTONIC BIOSENSING PLATFORM FOR RAPID AND INTELLIGENT SEPSIS DIAGNOSIS AT THE POINT-OF-CARE
- Digi Communications NV announces Investors Call for the Q1 2023 Financial Results presentation
- Digi Communications N.V. announces the amendment of the Company’s 2023 financial calendar
- Digi Communications N.V. announces the conclusion of two Facilities Agreements by the Company’s Romanian subsidiary
- Digi Communications N.V. announces the conclusion of a Senior Facility Agreement by the Company’s Romanian subsidiary
- Patients as Partners Europe Returns to London and Announces Agenda Highlights
- GRETE PROJECT RESULTS PRESENTED TO TEXTILE INDUSTRY STAKEHOLDERS AT INTERNATIONAL CELLULOSE FIBRES CONFERENCE
- Digi Communications N.V. announces Digi Spain Telecom S.L.U., its subsidiary in Spain, entered into an investment agreement with abrdn to finance the roll out of a Fibre-to-the-Home (FTTH) network in Andalusia, Spain
- XSpline SPA / University of Linz (Austria): the first patient has been enrolled in the international multicenter clinical study for the Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy DeliveRy guided by non-Invasive electrical and VEnous anatomy assessment (CRT-DRIVE)
- Franklin Junction Expands Host Kitchen® Network To Europe with Digital Food Hall Pioneer Casper
- Unihertz a dévoilé un nouveau smartphone distinctif, Luna, au MWC 2023 de Barcelone
- Unihertz Brachte ein Neues, Markantes Smartphone, Luna, auf dem MWC 2023 in Barcelona
- Editor's pick archive....