European Space Agency looks ahead with ESA Strategy 2040

The European Space Agency has released ESA Strategy 2040, outlining how it plans to approach the “challenges and opportunities” of space up to 2040.

Its stated aim is to “Lead and orchestrate European space excellence to build a more prosperous, resilient, independent and inspiring life for all of Europe”.

Goals

The agency says its strategy is framed around five goals, with each goal having specific objectives.

Protect our Planet and Climate
Explore and Discover
Strengthen European Autonomy and Resilience
Boost Growth and Competitiveness
Inspire Europe

For example the objectives for #4 – Boosting growth and competitiveness – are five-fold:

Accelerate innovation by spearheading the development of cutting-edge competitive European space technologies in key strategic domains.
Strengthen industrial capacity and competitiveness to unlock new markets and drive economic growth, fostering a more prosperous society.
Position Europe as a commercial hub in the booming global space economy, attracting significant private investment.
Establish Europe as a space research hub, by leveraging world-class technical facilities and, by investing in and attracting top STEM talent.

“Europe must commit to new areas of investment and establish clear rules of engagement among ESA, the EU, and national agencies, increasingly engaging industrial actors and funding entities,” said ESA’s Director General Josef Aschbacher.

The strategy document is available for download.

Evolving

“As we look to the future, it is evident that the landscape of space activity is evolving rapidly,” said the Chair of the ESA Council. “Across the globe, space is increasingly recognised as a vital component of national strategies for resilience, technological advancement, and economic growth. Public investment in space is rising at unprecedented levels, and the commercialisation of space activities has brought the private sector to the forefront of space innovation.”

“The convergence of space technologies with digitalisation, as well as the growing intersection between space and defence, is reshaping the industry in ways unimaginable just a decade ago. For Europe to maintain its leadership position and role as a globally trusted partner in this highly competitive and strategic domain, we must be prepared to meet these shifts with renewed ambition and enhanced investment.”