Space Resources Week 2026 Concludes: Celebrating a Decade of Leadership and Innovation

The 2026 edition of Space Resources Week, being held from 04 to 07 May 2026, marked the 5th anniversary of ESRIC and the 10th anniversary of the SpaceResources.lu, celebrating Luxembourg's continued leadership in the field.

Since its creation, ESRIC has combined research, infrastructure and business support to build a unique ecosystem dedicated to space resources. It is supported by its founders, the Ministry of the Economy / Luxembourg Space Agency (LSA) and the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST), and its strategic partnership with the European Space Agency (ESA).

"Space Resources Week fully embodies Luxembourg's ambition to position itself at the forefront of a pioneering and sustainable space sector," highlighted the Minister of the Economy, Lex Delles. "By putting in place a clear regulatory framework and actively supporting research as well as partnerships, we are creating a solid ecosystem conducive to innovation. ESRIC and the SpaceResources.lu initiative play a central role in this dynamic. On the occasion of their respective 5th and 10th anniversaries, I would like to salute their constant commitment and their decisive contribution to this vision," he added.

This anniversary was an opportunity to reflect on achievements and look ahead to the next phase of space exploration. This 4-days conference- bringing together the international community- has been a perfect platform to do so in both a formal and informal setting.

Kathryn Hadler, Director of ESRIC, said "We were delighted once again to bring the global space resources community to Luxembourg. With over 490 people registered from 35 countries, this was our largest event yet, and, on the tenth anniversary of the SpaceResources.lu initiative and 5 years after ESRIC was launched, it highlights the central position that Luxembourg holds in this topic. We are grateful for the support from LIST, LSA and our strategic partners the European Space Agency (ESA) and from our sponsors, exhibitors and speakers."

10 years of SpaceResources.lu – looking back and ahead

From a trailblazing, niche initiative, pushed by a small European country to a topic high on the agenda of all major international players, the past ten years have seen the space resources topic grow massively in interest in the space community.

As international plans are currently shifting from short-term lunar visits to a permanent human presence, centered on the strategic use of space resources, this "live off the land" approach is becoming the cornerstone of upcoming missions like China's Chang'e 7 (2026) and the Indo-Japanese LUPEX (2028), both designed to harvest lunar ice for water and rocket fuel.

Europe as well is playing a vital role through the ESA Moonlight initiative, creating a lunar "GPS and Wi-Fi" network, and the PROSPECT drill, which will chemically analyze polar soil. By utilizing lunar materials for oxygen and construction, missions like NASA's Artemis III can drastically reduce the cost of deep-space exploration, transforming the Moon into a sustainable industrial hub and a gateway to Mars.

These missions, along with the increasing private-sector investment are the reason why interest in space resources continues to grow. At the same time, the sector is opening new opportunities on Earth. Research into space resource utilisation is contributing to the development of more sustainable approaches in industries such as mining, including efforts to reduce waste and develop water-free processing techniques.

Space Resources Week 2026 provided a platform to discuss not only technological progress, but also the economic, environmental and societal implications of using space resources.

By bringing together diverse expertise, from science and engineering to policy and business, the event aimed to shape a future where space resources support sustainable exploration and contribute to innovation on Earth.

Connecting research and industry

A defining feature of Space Resources Week is its ability to connect research with industry. The programme showcases advances across the entire value chain, from mapping resources to extraction technologies, manufacturing and future space-based economies.

The event also highlighted the growing role of start-ups and entrepreneurs. Through the ESRIC Start-up Support Programme (SSP) and the Space Resources Accelerator, supported by the European Space Agency (ESA), early-stage ventures are developing technologies with both space and terrestrial applications, helping bridge the gap between long-term space ambitions and near-term commercial opportunities.

About Space Resources Week:

This annual event brings together space agencies, scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs, policy-makers and industry leaders to explore how resources found in space could shape the future of sustainable space exploration.

Organised by the European Space Resources Innovation Centre (ESRIC), an initiative of Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST) and Luxembourg Space Agency (LSA), Space Resources Week has grown into the leading international forum dedicated to the emerging field of space resources. Over the past years, the event has helped position Luxembourg at the forefront of this rapidly evolving sector.

Press release by the Luxembourg Space Agency