Space

Space research is fundamental to ensuring that EU space policy continues to provide cutting-edge solutions to everyday societal problems. It also benefits EU citizens and ensures that Europe remains competitive in space activities.

Europe has been active in the space sector for several decades and its activities encompass a wide spectrum, ranging from rocket launchers and space exploration to space-based applications that provide new services to society. EU space policy and research has been supported through framework programmes. The current programme, Horizon 2020, covers the period from 2014 to 2020. This support is critical to the ongoing development of the space sector, in particular:

•it helps to sustain a competitive space industry (including manufacturers, service providers and operators) and research community;

•it provides support to develop appropriate technologies and services, necessary for the development and exploitation of new systems;

•it encourages the research community, as well as the private sector, to intensify their efforts and investments in the space sector.

Space research is contributing to enhance EU industrial competiveness. It plays also a vital role in tackling many kinds of societal challenges, for example - climate change by ensuring comprehensive monitoring of our planet using space-based Earth Observation systems.