DG DEFIS in talks with European start-ups on space sustainability at NewSpace Europe Conference
On 29 November 2023, DG DEFIS participated for the first time in the NewSpace Europe conference in Luxembourg-City, Luxembourg. NewSpace Europe is an annual 1-day space startup conference which, this year, revolved around Artificial Intelligence, Space Sustainability, Space for Finance, and Talents for Space. It is attended by approx. 500 visitors from European and other countries.
DG DEFIS was a keynote speaker and panellist in the panel on ‘Space sustainability – how can the EU and startups join forces to tackle a global challenge?’; other panellists represented SpaceTec Partners (now Novaspace), Neuraspace, Northstar Earth & Space, and Look Up Space.
In the keynote speech, DG DEFIS pointed out the importance of addressing space debris and the need to better protect space assets, to strengthen the competitiveness of the EU space industry, to involve industry closely in policy initiatives, and to define clear rules and guidelines on what space operators need to do to provide space-based services in the EU.
In the ensuing panel discussion, panellists discussed the role of the private sector in space traffic management, how to convince investors to invest in a space start-up, technological solutions to collect, process and generate data, and the EU as a potential customer for such data. In their concluding remarks, panellists stressed the need for a strong community and good reliable partnerships, for good policies and measures, for investors to understand the problem of space sustainability, and for the space community as a whole to start rewarding positive and punishing bad behaviour in space. DG DEFIS concluded that important solutions on these aspects will come from industry, and that the EU will support industry in developing such solutions.
Background
DG DEFIS’ participation in this event supports the implementation of the EU approach on STM.
More information
Supporting Material
JOINT COMMUNICATION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL An EU Approach for Space Traffic Management An EU contribution addressing a global challenge
An EU Approach for Space Traffic Management
The EU approach on Space Traffic Management (STM) proposed by the Commission and the High Representative therefore aims at keeping space operations safe, space orbits usable, and space accessible for decades to come while ensuring and further fostering the competitiveness of the EU space industry.
EU Space Surveillance and Tracking (EU SST) is the cornerstone of EU STM strategy. EU SST fosters innovation and supports European industrial capabilities for strategic autonomy. The EU Industry and Start-ups Forum on STM (EISF) unites stakeholders to define R&D priorities.