13/03/2018 (Agence Europe) – Eurospace, which represents the Space industrial sector and the Association of European Space Research Establishments (ESRE) have signed a common declaration on the next Research and Innovation Framework Programme (FP9). In this document, examined by EUROPE on Friday 9 March, the two organisations call for the creation of a budget line for space as part of the next FP9, with a €2.5 billion budget for a seven year period. They also support the introduction of a joint technological initiative combining investment from the private sector and public funding at national and European levels on the model of the pilot project launched by Parliament (see EUROPE 11911). (PH)