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Space Policy

2. Space research

Sustaining a competitive space industry - to include manufacturers, service providers and operators - requires new research and technologies. For this reason, space is, for the first time, added as a separate theme to the EU’s Seventh Research Framework Programme (FP7). Between 2007 and 2013, FP7 allocates a total of €1.4 billion to space research. With this financial backing, EU-funded space research will contribute to the further development of the European Space Policy. This will in turn support Community policies in wide areas of agriculture, environment, fisheries, transport and telecommunication either through space-observation tools or space-based solutions.

The European Union decided to invest in GMES (Global Monitoring for Environment and Security) which will be instrumental in managing the consequences of natural disasters and climate change. Galileo will be Europe’s independent navigation system and, amongst other applications, aid the development of new search-and-rescue mechanisms.

Space-based science is an important driving force for technological developments that have an impact on our daily lives. Until 2013, during the lifetime of FP7 European Research activities will be drawn from the following areas:

• Space-based application at the service of European society (developing satellite observation systems and GMES services for the management of the environment, security, agriculture, forestry and meteorology, civil protection and risk management);
• Exploration of space (the provision of support for collaborative initiatives between ESA or national space agencies, coordinate efforts for the development of space-borne telescopes);
• Research and technological development for strengthening space foundations (support research for long term needs such as space transportation, biomedicine, life and physical sciences in space).

Space is a strategic industrial sector for growth. Its applications underpin economic activity and government services. European companies, with SMEs being the overwhelming majority, are key actors in the worldwide commercial market of satellite manufacturing, launch services, satellite operations and downstream service providers. In order to sustain a competitive space industry, new research and technologies are required and the support offered through FP7 promises to create these opportunities.

Up-to-date information on specific initiatives and activities in the sector of space research, including calls for proposals, is available via the CORDIS information service.