A new study on the future of the European space sector was presented on Wednesday 23 January by Ambroise Fayolle, Vice-President of the European Investment Bank (EIB), and Elżbieta Bieńkowska, Commissioner for the Internal Market and Industry, as part of the 11th European Space Policy Conference.
In assessing the current context for investment in the European space sector, the report, prepared by EIB staff, first concludes that the latter is overall not optimal, due to a lack of funding, and that it complicates the commercialisation of space technologies.
The report therefore recommends making public support more flexible and market-oriented by facilitating access to risk capital and the mobilisation of additional private investment.
In addition, it recommends the organisation of a forum, entitled ‘Finance for space', which would bring together representatives of the financial community, academia, politics and industry, with the aim of developing innovative space solutions.
For Mr Fayolle, this report “gives a clear roadmap on how we can leverage our current public financial support schemes at national and European levels to crowd in the much-needed private capital”.
"The insights of the report [...] will help us to design and roll-out smart financing to stimulate more investments for space in Europe", said Elżbieta Bieńkowska
To view the report: https://bit.ly/2FTv6G2. (Original version in French by Damien Genicot - intern)