Luxembourg launches business-focused national space agency

Unlike many similar organisations abroad, Luxembourg's space agency will not directly conduct research or launch missions, but foster collaboration between key players in the space industry, with the core mission of accelerating the emergence of innovation-driven businesses.

The newly-created Luxembourg Space Agency builds on the country’s deep understanding of the legal and infrastructure requirements for space entrepreneurs to achieve their commercial ambitions. Under the authority of the Ministry of the Economy, the agency is partnering with leading national academic, research and business organisations and communities as well as other public institutions within Luxembourg’s extensive ecosystem of public- and private-sector stakeholders.

For more than three decades, Luxembourg has been at the forefront of commercial and co-operative initiatives that have shaped a vibrant space economy. Its greatest success has been the creation in 1985 of the government-supported SES (Société Européenne des Satellites), today the world’s largest commercial satellite operator. Further space-related services and businesses have developed alongside SES, and today commercial space activity accounts for nearly 2% of GDP, among the highest ratios in Europe.

In 2005, Luxembourg joined the European Space Agency (ESA) as a full member, laying the foundation for participation by the Grand Duchy’s companies in ESA R&D programmes and space exploration projects. The most recent step by the Ministry of the Economy was the launch in 2016 of the SpaceResources.lu initiative, positioning the country as a pioneer in the exploration and utilisation of space resources as a step toward the in-space economy of the future.  

Luxembourg’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Economy, Étienne Schneider, says: “Building on Luxembourg’s longstanding support for the space industry through a combination of policy, programmes and funding, the agency will further encourage innovation-driven space entrepreneurship and promote this country as Europe’s platform for commercial space development and a home for cutting-edge industries. Luxembourg is ready to welcome, support and assist the development of space industry players that can move forward together.”

Marc Serres, CEO of the Luxembourg Space Agency, explains: “Deepening and expanding Luxembourg’s space business sector is a priority for the country’s future. The agency will carry out its mission through a network of national partners that bring the skills, expertise and capabilities for the Luxembourg Space Agency to meet all the needs of commercial space entrepreneurs. This strategy based on multiple-stakeholder partnerships is designed to create an attractive and supportive ecosystem for space companies to grow and thrive.”    

ESA Director General Jan Wörner says: “I congratulate Luxembourg on this very important step in its space history. With its wide range of services and expertise, ESA is continuing its strong co-operation with the Grand Duchy. Collaboration between the Luxembourg Space Agency and ESA can be a very good opportunity for Europe by pooling our capabilities in a network of space agencies that embodies the European ideal in space.”

SES President and CEO Steve Collar adds: “The Grand Duchy has a proud history in space. The Luxembourg Space Agency is an important step for the country’s future as a space leader. Harnessing the country’s investment culture and educational resources is helping to drive our business and put Luxembourg in the forefront as a spacefaring nation.” 

As a public institution promoting the economic development of the space sector, directing the SpaceResources.lu initiative, managing national space programmes and international relations regarding space industry-related issues, the Luxembourg Space Agency is partnering with (in alphabetical order):

• Chamber of Commerce, a professional organisation and public institution encompassing all sectors of the economy apart from agriculture and skilled trades
• Employment Development Agency (ADEM), the country’s public employment agency
• Groupement luxembourgeois de l'aéronautique et de l'espace (GLAE), an industry group for the aerospace sector
• Institute of Intellectual Property Luxembourg (IPIL), an organisation bringing together national and international intellectual property expertise
• Luxembourg Science Center (LSC), a private non-profit organisation whose goal is to generate enthusiasm for science, technology, engineering and mathematics among young people and promote interest in science and technology among the general public
• Luxembourg Space Tech Angels (LSTA), a business angels network helping space start-ups to establish themselves in Luxembourg, providing early-stage funding, mentoring and advice
• Luxinnovation, a key partner for companies conducting innovative activities in Luxembourg
• National Research Fund (FNR), the country’s main provider of research funding
• SES, a global leader in commercial satellite operation, launched in Luxembourg in 1985 as a public-private partnership
• Société Nationale de Crédit et d’Investissement (SNCI), a public-sector financial institution specialising in medium- and long-term financing of investment projects
• Technoport, a technology-oriented business incubator that supports innovative young companies in validating their ideas and turning them into commercial reality
• University of Luxembourg, the country’s public university

Starting in the 2019 academic year, the University of Luxembourg will offer an inter-disciplinary space master’s degree markedly different from programmes at other institutions. It will provide participants from an engineering or scientific background with additional technical expertise in fields needed to support Luxembourg’s space industry, along with a strong grounding in business.

To fund space innovation, the Luxembourg Space Agency is establishing with other partners a venture capital vehicle to be established as a reserved alternative investment fund, with financial backing from the public sector as well as private investors. The Luxembourg Space Fund targets an initial 100 million EUR in capital, its goal is to provide equity funding for new space companies with ground-breaking ideas and technology.

Press release by the Ministry of the Economy