Commitment by Member, Associate and Cooperating States
At the ESA Council at Ministerial level held in Paris on November 22-23, 2022, European Ministers of Member, Associate and Cooperating States sustained the Agency’s ambitions for space with a record € 16.9 Bn budget, a 17% increase compared to 2019. Despite the challenges that our continent is facing, with the war on our doorstep, a looming economic recession and climbing inflation, this unprecedented commitment confirms the importance that the several States attribute to the space sector to advancing scientific research and European autonomy in the technology domain.
Space commercialisation boosted with ScaleUp
In order to support entrepreneurship and commercialisation of the space sector in Europe, ESA’s directorate of Commercialisation, Industry and Procurement has put forward the ScaleUp programme proposal. This programme is intended to support a company along its entire life cycle with two elements: “ScaleUp Innovate”, with the aim of developing new business ideas and start-ups with business incubation, intellectual property and technology transfer services, and “ScaleUp Invest”, that will support companies to take more risks, hit the market faster and attract private and institutional investors by introducing business innovation through the establishment of an ESA network of business accelerators and an ESA marketplace.
The ScaleUp programme was very well received during the Council and was granted funding for € 122.4 Mln, with an oversubscription of +22.4% with respect to the initial request. The ScaleUp Innovate element was funded with € 98.46 Mln, while ScaleUp Invest was funded with € 23.92 Mln. This relevant commitment by the Council shows how the commercialisation of the European space sector is becoming crucial for our continent, to foster an independent ecosystem where space entrepreneurs can thrive.
Element 1 – INNOVATE
Figure 1 – Funding by State for ScaleUp INNOVATE element
Element 2 – INVEST
Figure 2 – Funding by State for ScaleUp INVEST element