Industry body ACCESS.SPACE Alliance says European space start-ups and SMEs still lack funding, customers and contracts
ACCESS.SPACE Alliance (ASA), which represents the small satellite sector, has published a position paper on the current state of space financing in Europe. In the paper, ASA states that start-ups and SMEs often lack customers and contracts to support their business and face difficulties in finding public support and participating in large or long-term space programmes at European and national levels. It also remains difficult for space business, especially for start-ups and SMEs which often do not have dedicated resources, to navigate through even the available funding opportunities.
Comparing the financing situation with other parts of the world, ASA points out that the number of space-related companies and the amounts of public and private investments are often higher than in Europe. ASA does acknowledge that very few countries have developed comprehensive directories of space-related entities, and that there is limited visibility in terms of the number of companies, employment, investments, growth and ownership and control.
Betty Bonnardel, founder and board member of ASA, said: “It is necessary to properly finance the space ecosystem and agree on concrete actions to support space-related start-ups. This is why ACCESS.SPACE proposes a number of policy actions to tackle these issues with a sense of urgency”.
One of the recommendations that ASA makes is the adoption of an innovation strategy for New Space in Europe, encompassing access to private and public capital and continue providing all needed support for start-ups and SMEs. ASA also suggests to increase the number of funding entities (venture capital firms, private equity firms and business angels), bridge the “valley of death” and focus on the areas where Europe can lead.
To improve access to funding, ASA also recommends the creation of an official ‘one-stop-shop’ web site granting access to all European public funding programmes with digital tools to facilitate access and provide guidance.
ENDS
Note to editors
The position paper is a result of the views expressed during the ASA webinar on space financing (April 22, 2021), attended by representatives of the European Commission, the European Investment Fund (EIF), the European Investment Bank (EIB), the European Space Agency (ESA) and the private sector, and the second ASA conference in May this year (https://www.youtube.com/
• The ASA Position Paper can be accessed at: https://access.space/download/
Media contact
For interviews or further information, please contact Harry Pirrwitz via email at harry@ciceroandfriends.com or call +44 (0)73 9252 5980.
About ACCESS.SPACE Alliance
The ACCESS.SPACE Alliance is an international industry body uniting the small satellite sector formed to promote a viable and self-sustaining ecosystem and to encourage and advocate for the development of the same. We comment with authority and credibility on behalf of our members on policy as well as technical and commercial issues related to the small satellite industry. We foster collaboration by creating dialogue and awareness, address key issues to develop the sector and promote policies and standards on matters that concern and benefit our members. https://access.space | https://twitter.com/ACCESS_
VBbbZzvBV
