Lex Delles on economic mission to Colorado Springs to strengthen space sector partnerships

From 12 to 15 April, Lex Delles, Minister of the Economy, SME, Energy and Tourism, travelled to Colorado Springs in the United States on an economic mission to attend the Space Symposium, meet US stakeholders and visit several space companies.

During the mission, the Minister met with several US-based companies operating in the space sector, highlighting the dynamism and high level of technological development of the US ecosystem, particularly in Colorado. These exchanges helped identify opportunities for cooperation, investment and industrial development in Europe, and more specifically in Luxembourg.

Organised jointly by the Directorate-General for Foreign Trade of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, the Luxembourg Trade and Investment Office in San Francisco, the Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce and the Luxembourg Space Agency, the mission aimed to strengthen Luxembourg’s presence on the US market and to promote the national space ecosystem to key international stakeholders.

Meetings and visits to space companies in the region

Following a welcome networking reception organised by the Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce and the Luxembourg Trade and Investment Office in San Francisco upon his arrival on Sunday evening, the Minister began the week with a visit to the manufacturing site of Albedo, a pioneer in the field of Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO). He visited the facilities where the company’s satellites are built and discussed the economic prospects of this emerging segment. Discussions also covered Albedo’s European ambitions and Luxembourg’s positioning as a potential base for its activities on the continent.

The Minister then met True Anomaly, a company specialising in the development of satellites and software solutions dedicated to the protection of military space infrastructure. He also met representatives of Umbra, which specialises in Earth observation using synthetic aperture radar, enabling the acquisition of very high-resolution images regardless of weather or lighting conditions. Finally, he met Hawkeye, which operates a constellation of satellites capable of detecting and analysing radio frequency emissions for security and intelligence purposes. Discussions focused on space security challenges and opportunities to strengthen cooperation with Europe, and in particular with Luxembourg, which is perceived as a neutral and strategic partner within NATO.

Space Symposium

The Minister also met Heather Pringle, Chief Executive Officer of the Space Foundation, organiser of the Space Symposium, to highlight Luxembourg’s strong presence at the event and to further consolidate ties with this key player in the international space ecosystem.

For the 41st edition of the Space Symposium, Luxembourg was represented by a national pavilion organised jointly by the Luxembourg Space Agency and the Directorate-General for Foreign Trade of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, with the support of Luxembourg Trade and Invest. For this second participation, the stand brought together 17 Luxembourg-based companies, including start-ups and institutions active in the space sector: Amphinicy Technologies, Astrobiome, ClearSpace, Data Design Engineering, Edge Aerospace, EMTDLab, ESRIC, Exobiosphere, Gradel, HITEC, Infinite Orbits (LMO), Integrasys, ispace EUROPE, Neuraspace, Northstar, Odysseus Space, Space Cargo Unlimited and SPiN. This collective participation illustrates the growing interest of Luxembourg companies in the US market and the country’s ability to position itself as a credible and innovative player in the global space economy.

Official meetings

As part of efforts to strengthen institutional ties, the Minister met with representatives of the United States Department of State, the United States Department of Commerce and the United States Department of Transportation to discuss bilateral relations between Luxembourg and the United States in the space sector, a cross-cutting sector involving multiple US agencies. He also met Diana Primavera, Lieutenant Governor of Colorado, to discuss the state’s strengths in defence and space, as well as synergies between the Luxembourg and Colorado ecosystems, notably through companies active on both sides of the Atlantic. After visiting Luxembourg’s national pavilion at the Space Symposium, the Minister also visited the stands of SES and Euro-Composites, two leading Luxembourg industrial companies present with their own stands at the event. These exchanges highlighted their role as key pillars of economic relations between Luxembourg and the United States, particularly in satellite telecommunications and industrial and defence value chains.

On the sidelines of the symposium, a major milestone was marked by the announcement of the opening of the European office of Blue Origin in Luxembourg. This strategic decision confirms Luxembourg’s attractiveness for major international space players and further strengthens its position as a European hub for the space economy.

The Minister also met Professor Jean Koster, Professor Emeritus in Aerospace Engineering at the University of Colorado Boulder, a recognised figure in the academic and scientific space community whose expertise and networks contribute to strengthening ties between the Luxembourg and US space ecosystems.

Minister Delles said: "This mission to Colorado Springs illustrates the dynamism and international reach of Luxembourg’s space ecosystem. My discussions with US companies and political representatives confirm that Luxembourg is seen as a reliable strategic partner in the space sector. The opening next week in Luxembourg of the European office of Blue Origin, a leading player in the international space industry, represents a key milestone and reflects the growing attractiveness of our ecosystem. We will continue to strengthen these transatlantic partnerships for the benefit of our companies and the wider economy."

Press release by the Ministry of the Economy