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A skilled workforce is the key to sustainable growth, innovation and competitiveness. Unfortunately, when it comes to talent, demand outpaces supply. In fact, according to the European Commission, more than three quarters of companies in the EU report having difficulty finding workers with the necessary skill set.  

With the goal of boosting competitiveness and supporting skill development, the EU has named 2023 the ‘European Year of Skills’ – an initiative that EUSPA is ready to support.

Europe’s knowledge hub for all things related to EU Space

According to EUSPA research, the global GNSS downstream market is forecasted to see revenues reach up to EUR 510 billion by 2032. It also forecasts that the Earth Observation sector will double its revenues, from approximately EUR 2.8 billion to over EUR 5.5 billion within the next decade. 

Add these figures up and what you get is a clear opportunity for European companies to compete in the global market. But to take advantage of this opportunity, businesses need the right information and the right market intelligence.

“EUSPA has a well-earned reputation as being the go-to-source for all things related to the utilization of European GNSS - and more and more for Earth Observation” says EUSPA Executive Director Rodrigo da Costa. “That means being the central point of information, expertise and market intelligence that companies from across Europe depend on when integrating European space solutions into their start-ups, enterprises, innovations and research.”

In addition to publishing such flagship reports as the EO and GNSS Market Report and the GNSS Investment Report, the latter of which was co-authored with the European Investment Bank (EIB), EUSPA regularly participates in events, webinars, congresses, competitions and tradeshows across Europe – and beyond. It also hosts and co-host several in-house events, including Entrepreneurship Day and the EU Space Week.

“Knowledge sharing is a two-way street,” adds da Costa. “Every event is a chance to not only share our knowledge with businesses, but to learn what they need and how we, as an agency, can better address those needs.” 

An investment in our future  

One of the most often heard needs is access to talent. In response, EUSPA has launched several initiatives aimed at skill development. 

Take for example the EUSPA Space Academy, a free online training opened to all individuals, start-ups, entrepreneurs and SMEs who want to learn the ins and outs of building a space application business. The training is taught by top academics, industry leaders and EUSPA experts, with each module covering a specific skill, such as customer support, business planning, accessing funding and intellectual property, to name only a few. 

Many of these skills can be further honed via various EUSPA-supported competitions and hackathons, some of which include mentoring and incubation opportunities. 

But skill development is by no means restricted to entrepreneurs and companies, EU agencies and governmental organisations can benefit too. Thus, we will continue and reinforce our collaborations. For example, we are organising together with Mercator a workshop on EU Space for Plastic Detection in Ocean and Waterways.  

Together with EURISY, we will also organise information sessions in several locations in Europe on Satellite-based Services for Disaster Risk Management.

EUSPA also offers paid traineeships to university students and graduates. Available across the Agency’s various departments, including engineering, finance, legal, and communications, these traineeships are a unique opportunity for individuals to get first-hand experience on the workings of EUSPA and to acquire the skills they need to enter the labour market with confidence.

“Harnessing the immense potential of the European workforce starts with effective and inclusive training and skill development,” concludes da Costa. “At EUSPA, we strongly believe that offering such opportunities isn’t just an investment in individuals and companies, it’s an investment in our collective future.”

Media note: This feature can be republished without charge provided the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) is acknowledged as the source at the top or the bottom of the story. You must request permission before you use any of the photographs on the site. If you republish, we would be grateful if you could link back to the EUSPA website (http://www.euspa.europa.eu).

January 1^st not only marks the start of a New Year, it’s also the start of the Swedish Presidency of the Council of the European Union. “Sweden is taking over the Presidency at a time when the European Union is facing unprecedented challenges,” says Prime Minister of Sweden Ulf Kristersson. “A greener, more secure and freer Europe is the foundation of our priorities.”

Those priorities include security, competitiveness, the green and energy transitions, democratic values and the rule of law – each of which stand to benefit from the EU Space Programme.

Priority 1: security 

Access to space is vital for the autonomy and sovereignty of the European Union. Since its first venture into satellite navigation with EGNOS in 2011, the Union’s space programme has been growing stronger with the addition of Copernicus in 2014 and Galileo in 2016. Soon, the EU will expand into satellite communications with GOVSATCOM and IRIS².

Each of these components contributes to– or will do so in the near future– the security of our continent’s citizens. 

For instance, unique features of Galileo will give an extra layer of security to governmental authorised users and sensitive applications that require high signal continuity like police operations.

Thanks to the Copernicus service for Security, national authorities can improve crisis prevention, preparedness and response in areas like border and maritime surveillance. Coupled with the Emergency Management of Copernicus, the Union can better address the management of natural disasters, man-made emergency situations and humanitarian crises with timely and accurate geo-spatial information derived from satellite remote sensing and completed by available in situ or open data sources.

GOVSATCOM will ensure the long-term availability of reliable, secured and cost-effective satellite communication (satcom) services for governmental users. The initiative will benefit a broad range of EU and national entities in their day-to-day operations and contribute to the security and safety of all EU citizens. Likewise, the newly announced IRIS2 constellation will provide secure communication services to the EU and its Member States as well as broadband connectivity for European citizens and private companies.

Priority 2: competitiveness 

EU Space is a key enabler of European competitiveness. According to the EUSPA EO and GNSS Market Report 2022, the global GNSS downstream market is forecasted to see revenues reach EUR 510 billion by 2032. The downstream market also includes an Earth Observation sector expected to double its revenues, from approximately EUR 2.8 billion to over EUR 5.5 billion within the next decade. Add these figures up and what you get is a clear opportunity for European companies to compete in the global market.

To help businesses leverage this opportunity, EUSPA serves as the go-to-source for all things EU Space, providing the information, expertise and market intelligence companies need in order to successfully integrate European space solutions into the applications, devices and services we all use on a daily basis.

Priority 3: the green and energy transitions  

The EU Space Programme is set to play a key role in Europe’s green and energy transitions, which requires that companies take a deep look at their internal operations and surrounding supply chain to understand where and how pollution and waste occur. 

From renewable energy generation and distribution to industrial waste management, wildlife monitoring, urban planning and fleet management, Copernicus and Galileo offer a host of independent, as well as synergistic, services to aid companies along their sustainability journeys and support them in greening their operations.

The Copernicus Climate Service (C3S) for instance has developed applications that demonstrate how climate data can be used. Such applications provide information for the renewable energy sector to understand information such as future supply and demand or wind speeds. They also help coastal areas understand and prepare for future storm surges.

Likewise, the use of GNSS data by Galileo/EGNOS are key to minimizing the environmental footprint of the agriculture sector by helping farmers cut down their emissions thanks to more precise and optimised tractor routes.

Priority 4: democratic values and the rule of law

EU Space supports European autonomy and independence – both of which are critical for ensuring our democratic values are upheld and the protection of the rule of law. For example, prior to the launch of Galileo, Europeans had to depend on foreign operated GNSS systems. With Galileo, users now have a reliable alternative that, unlike other programmes, remains under civil control.

Satellite positioning is an important and essential service that we often take for granted. Just think what would happen if GNSS signals were suddenly switched off. Truck and taxi drivers, ship and aircraft crews and people across Europe would suddenly be lost. Furthermore, governments, democratic institutions, financial and communication activities, public utilities, security and humanitarian operations, and emergency services would all come to a standstill. With the addition of Galileo, we have significantly minimised these risks.

The EU Space Programme was conceived with the core aim to benefit end users be it citizens, governments or businesses. Therefore, the vast majority of data and information delivered by Copernicus, Galileo and EGNOS is made available and accessible on a free, full and open basis.

EUSPA to support Swedish Presidency to deliver on its priorities

Sweden takes over the rotating Council Presidency from the Czech Republic and over the course of the next six months will chair meetings at every level in the Council, helping ensure the continuity of the EU's work in the Council.

“EUSPA looks forward to supporting the Swedish Presidency deliver on its priorities,” says EUSPA Executive Director Rodrigo da Costa. “By fostering the development of an innovative, competitive and independent space sector, EU Space contributes to such key priorities as the green and energy transformation and provides for the safety and security of the Union and its citizens – all while reinforcing the EU’s autonomy, resilience and democratic principles.”    

Media note: This feature can be republished without charge provided the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) is acknowledged as the source at the top or the bottom of the story. You must request permission before you use any of the photographs on the site. If you republish, we would be grateful if you could link back to the EUSPA website (http://www.euspa.europa.eu).