The future of space in Portugal goes through the ESA

For decades, we viewed space as a synonym for science, technology, and even magic. Today, it is far more than that: it has become part of the fabric of our daily lives, our prosperity, and our collective security.

Space services power sectors of vital importance, from communications and transportation to precision agriculture, meteorology, civil protection, cybersecurity, and defense, and their impact is increasingly visible to citizens.

The technological revolution and this new era of the space sector, marked by the rise of private companies and startups, have brought fresh energy and new private capital. Even so, public investment remains the sector’s true driver, representing more than 80 percent of global spending. Space is therefore a public good and a geopolitical environment where nations’ competitiveness, sovereignty, and resilience come into play.

While the democratization of access to space and to megaconstellations creates new opportunities, it also presents serious challenges related to sustainability and orbital congestion.

Europe stands out on several fronts: in science, in meteorology (through EUMETSAT missions), and in flagship programs such as Copernicus, Galileo, EUSST, and GOVSATCOM (IRIS²). These achievements show the strength of European cooperation, yet this potential must be transformed into strategic autonomy, leading a sustainable space economy and reducing external dependencies in space access and in-orbit operations.

Given today’s demanding geopolitical environment, European sovereignty and resilience depend on integrating space, security, and defense dimensions. As highlighted in the Draghi Report, space is at the heart of Europe’s new competitiveness agenda. The 2028-2034 Multiannual Financial Framework reflects this ambition, with more than €130 billion earmarked for resilience, security, and Europe’s space and defense industries. The European Space Shield, one of the flagship projects of the 2030 Defense Preparedness Roadmap, will strengthen the protection of European space assets and services against increasingly complex threats.

The upcoming ESA Ministerial Council in 2025 will be decisive. Its proposal, expected to exceed €22 billion, will set the agency’s new priorities and the major programs that will shape the sector’s future. With exceptional strategic relevance, it must also reinforce the commitment to a more autonomous and sovereign Europe in space.

In the face of geopolitical and technological challenges, it is essential to understand that investing in space is investing in society. Member States must also recognize that multilateral cooperation is, more than ever, the indispensable condition for a competitive and independent Europe.

ESA must continue balancing competition and cooperation. Its georeturn policy, which guarantees contracts proportional to each Member State’s investment, has been key to developing national capabilities and strengthening Europe’s industrial and scientific base.

Portugal has a clear opportunity here. Today, Portugal’s space industry is a driver of innovation and competitiveness, a magnet for talent, marked by agility and niche expertise. As an accumulative knowledge sector, each investment generates lasting value. However, fragmentation and relatively low investment continue to limit the critical mass needed to compete and move up the value chain.

ESA, especially through its optional programs, is the main vehicle for preparing the national industry technologically and strategically, and for integrating large-scale space projects. Yet national investment remains far below the European average: around 59 percent of GDP per capita spending, according to ESA’s 2022 Ministerial Council. 

Reversing this trend requires strengthening Portugal’s national contribution and prioritizing dual-use technologies and strategic niches. This commitment will enable Portugal’s industrial base to grow both in scale and along the value chain, ensuring access to become a supplier for major European Union infrastructure programs in Navigation, Secure Telecommunications, Earth Observation, and Space Surveillance.

The moment is now. Investing in space is investing in the future. ESA is the ideal instrument to turn ambition into results and secure for Portugal the place it deserves in the new European space landscape.

Author: Alberto de Pedro Crespo

*This article was first published in the newspaper Público