Autonomy in orbit: Europe’s place in the new space economy

The global space sector is evolving rapidly — no longer limited to scientific missions and Cold War rivalries, it has become a critical arena for commercial innovation, military strategy and geopolitical influence. The space sector now thrives on launching satellites for Earth-based communication, significantly expanding the scope for new space-related applications.
At this event, we launched our new Blueprint on the European space economy. The report assesses the state and trajectory of Europe’s space sector, the challenges it faces and policy avenues for moving forward. It introduces the concept of the new space economy, outlines the major global trends reshaping the sector and provides an in-depth analysis of the two most important forces driving this transformation: governments and companies. The Blueprint also offers concrete recommendations for how Europe can foster innovation, support commercialisation and ensure strategic autonomy in critical space capabilities.