Since 2016, the space ecosystem has developed significantly. Today, Luxembourg is home to more than 70 public and private players in the space sector employing more than 1400 people. The last few years have also seen the birth of a new dynamic within the space sector. Technological evolutions, miniaturization, the fall in launch prices are among the factors that have led to facilitate and stimulate the development of new entrepreneurial initiatives in this field. This evolution also comes with new challenges linked to a more intense use of earth orbits, with the appearance of new risks of congestion of these orbits.
These recent developments, added to the ESA Ministerial Council meeting have led to renew the strategy and the ambitions of Luxembourg in terms of development of the civil space sector, as well as the related financial envelope.
Sustainability at the heart of the national space strategy
The objective of the strategy is to continue the efforts made to develop the Luxembourg space sector as a vector of diversification and perpetuation of the Luxembourg economy, but also as a major contributor to the sustainability of activities on Earth and by focusing on a responsible approach to activities in Space.
The aim is to develop existing skills but also new skills and opportunities among the major trends in the sector that are relevant for Luxembourg both in terms of economic prospects and integration within the ecosystem.
The space strategy will thus focus on 4 priorities:
- Economic sustainability: consolidate positioning of companies and research labs, seize opportunities on new markets with significant commercial perspectives and offer a favorable frame to develop the sector and attract private investment.
- Sustainability on Earth: contribute to address societal and environmental challenges, reinforce and develop capabilities to serve other economic sectors, reinforce and develop capabilities to contribute to reaching the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
- Sustainability in Space: in light of the intensifying use of space orbits, promote a responsible and sustainable use of outer space, be actively involved in the international fora, reinforce and develop capabilities in space traffic management and in-orbit servicing.
- Sustainable use of space resources: continue supporting the Spaceresources.lu initiative, support the creation of new knowledge and new technologies, position ESRIC as European hub for the development of a sustainable utilization of space resources, continue Luxembourg’s international engagement.
The implementation of the strategy will be done through financing activities, talent development, international cooperation, evolution of the legal and regulatory framework and communication actions with strategic projects such as the LSA Data Centre and the Space Campus as important drivers.
A full version of the 2023-2027 national space strategy will be available on our website in January 2023.
