“Polish companies will get the opportunity to participate in the development of space technologies in the field of operation and provision of services and in the field of final applications”- says Rodrigo da Costa, executive director of the EU Space Program Agency (EUSPA).
The best companies will be provided with financial and technical support as well as assistance in establishing contacts with investors. The Polish space industry is still at an early stage of development, but strong specializations are emerging, including space medicine, robotics and computer science.
The space industry – including Polish companies – is one of the most innovative sectors of the economy. It can be estimated that 150-200 enterprises operate in this sector in Poland. Some of them are start-ups, but there are also companies operating at a high level of organization, with great technological achievements, which launch commercial activities on a larger scale.
The participation of Poland in the European Space Agency (ESA) is of great importance for the development of the Polish space sector, because the membership fee translates into orders for domestic companies. In addition, the European Commission is investing in the development of space programs, which are also a source of funding for projects – Copernicus (the world’s largest civilian Earth observation satellite constellation) and Galileo (Global Navigation Satellite System). Polish research institutions also participate in European funds for research and development – Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe 2021-2027, from which they will be able to obtain funding for research and innovation.
The European Defense Fund established by the European Parliament is also launched. Its aim is to coordinate and support the investments of the Member States, including with autonomous access to space and constant observation of the Earth.