In an exchange with the European Commission on Tuesday 22 November, NEREUS, the Network of European Regions Using Space Technologies, welcomed the space strategy for Europe which largely addresses the concerns and demands of the network’s member regions.
The members of NEREUS were pleased, in particular, that the Commission is seeking, through the structural and investment funds (ESI funds), to provide support for research and innovation and also infrastructure in the regions that have identified the space sector among their priorities and wants to facilitate cross-border cooperation. For example, some regions, in Portugal (Azores), Sweden and the United Kingdom, want ultimately to put in place regional spaceports for small launchers carrying nanosatellites, we have been told.
The Commission objective of facilitating and encouraging use of financial instruments through public-private partnerships was also welcomed, as was the Commission’s desire to focus on skills training in the area of space and Earth observation through the new skills agenda. The regions – just like the space industry (see EUROPE 11657) – were pleased at the importance given to communication on the benefits of and spin-offs from the space sector for users and European citizens. The regions, lastly, were happy to note that the strategy ensures balanced territorial distribution, avoiding the pitfall of concentrating activities in small geographical areas.
In April 2016, NEREUS adopted its political position on the space strategy that was still being developed. It made a number of major recommendations: - space policy focus has to be more user-relevant, in particular with respect to territorial, regional and cohesion policies; - public understanding of the tangible benefits of space-based products has to be improved; - regional and local players have to be involved in decision-making; - access to space data at all levels of society must be ensured. (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)