Commercialization of Space Boosted at ESA Ministerial Council

To encourage entrepreneurship and the commercialization of space, 23 ESA Member and Associate States have pledged a total of €117.6 million (≈$122.4 million) to ESA’s ScaleUp program at ESA’s Ministerial Council CM22. This amount exceeds the target funding request by more than 17%, thus confirming the strong support that ESA Member States intend to provide to the development of a strong and sustainable commercial space ecosystem.

ScaleUp is part of ESA’s directorate of Commercialization, Industry and Procurement which works with all directorates in ESA to help deliver new commercialization opportunities in European space thereby increasing the competitiveness of Europe’s space economy and bringing socio-economic benefits to European citizens.

Through this funding, ESA aims to create a European commercialization hub, where new ideas for space can become commercial realities.

The ScaleUp program, which has two elements, supports a company along its entire life cycle. First, it assists in the development of the enterprise with business incubation, business acceleration, intellectual property and technology transfer services (ScaleUp Innovate), and then, it facilitates the scaling up of their products on new markets (ScaleUp Invest).

ScaleUp is business-focused and not technology or sector specific and applies within all ESA programs. This program targets start-up companies, applied research and innovation centers, and more mature companies such as SMEs, Mid-Caps and large system integrators.

ESA Investment in the Commercialization of Space Builds Business Confidence

ESA will give European private investors the confidence to invest in home-grown space businesses which have the potential to become global entities. ESA’s collaboration with investors via its Investor Network facilitates access to finance for New Space businesses, enabling them to scale up in the global marketplace. This will increase Europe’s economic autonomy with market growth independent of other actors.

Commercialization plays an integral role in creating prosperity in all areas of the space sector. Josef Aschbacher, ESA Director General, said ESA shall “build a place where European space entrepreneurs thrive.” Many representatives in opening statements at the Ministerial meeting also expressed their wish to support European space entrepreneurs.

(Images provided with ESA news release)