For 40 years, Austria has contributed to the development and performance of the European space sector through the European Space Agency.
Tomorrow, Austria will have been a member of the European Space Agency (ESA) for forty years. It joined as an associate member on 1 April 1981, after Austria had already participated in ESA programmes since the organisation was founded in 1975. Only six years later, Austria achieved the status of a full member.
Space research provides important data and information which is particularly significant when it comes to major challenges such as the climate crisis, but also energy security and mobility.
Space and space research do not only stand for fascination and inspiration, but above all for innovative jobs and future technologies. Since joining the ESA, Austria has continuously developed into an internationally recognised partner in the space sector. Domestic companies and research institutions thus have the opportunity to participate in European and international space projects, such as Copernicus. With the earth observation data and services of Copernicus, Europe is an international leader in the observation of changes in the climate and the environment. With the help of space research and the data obtained, we can take better and more effective measures against the climate crisis,
says Leonore Gewessler, the Minister for Climate Protection responsible for space affairs.
The decision to join the European Space Agency has made a decisive contribution to the development of about 150 companies and research institutions in Austria, which offer jobs to about 1,000 highly qualified people. We thus make an important international contribution to the development and performance of the space sector,
says Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg.
Josef Aschbacher, an Austrian, is head of the organisation since the beginning of March 2021. As ESA Director General, he now has the task of making Europe more competitive and strengthening Europe’s role in space. The use of space technology in addressing socio-political challenges is another central focus. To this end, the commercial space sector is stimulated with initial funding from public money in order to develop new business opportunities. Competitors are not only the traditional space nations, but also private space companies.
The European Space Agency is a procurement organisation with national contributions to the ESA’s various programmes flowing back to national industries and researchers in the form of direct contracts. Austria’s contribution to the ESA budget amounted to €51.2 million in 2020. The principle is known as “geographic return”.
Dedicated to the peaceful uses of outer space, the ESA has 22 members, two associate members and cooperation agreements with six EU member states. It employs around 2,200 people and had a budget of approximately €6.7 billion in 2020.
