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Space Poland Regional Organizations

Poland aerospace country increases contribution to European Space Agency

At the Ministerial meeting in Paris in November 2022, Poland declared its basic contribution to the European Space Agency (ESA) for the years 2023-2025 in the amount of 27 million euro (26.7 million euro a year, 81 million euro over 3 years) for Basic Activities and Scientific Programme, and 51 million euro (17 million euro a year) for 9 optional programs: Human and Robotic Exploration, Earth Observation, Telecommunications and Integrated Applications, General Support Technology Programme, Space Safety, Technology and Research Instruments (Prodex Program), Space Transportation, Navigation, Commercialization, Industrial Policy and Procurement. The total over 3 years would amount to 132 million euro.

In July 2023, Poland announced an increase in the contribution by 295 million euro. The increase in funding will be allocated to 5 areas:

  1. PL-ESA bilateral program for building observational satellites,
  2. PL-ESA bilateral program for technology development,
  3. Poland’s participation in ESA programs,
  4. Access to research on the International Space Station (ISS),
  5. Internship for Poles at ESA.

Poland plans to focus on the following programs: Earth Observation, Exploration, Satellite Construction and Space Safety. The aim is for the Polish space sector to constitute 3 percent of the European market.

In August, Poland signed an agreement with the European Space Agency and U.S. company Axiom Space guaranteeing a Polish astronaut on the International Space Station. He will test the most advanced technologies of Polish companies, conduct experiments and an educational program for students. Poland also signed an agreement with ESA on programs supporting the development of the Polish space sector: on internships of Polish graduates in ESA (3 million euro), and on development of Polish space technologies, to increase the technological level of Polish entities (7 million euro). In October an agreement with ESA on construction of at least 4 observational satellites (3 optical and 1 radar-based) entered into force. The system will be operational in 2027. The cost is 85 million euro. ESA will help with design, construction, launch and commissioning of the satellites. 

In November, Polish company Thorium Space SA joined the HummingSAT program, an ESA Partnership Project to build a new product line of small European telecommunication satellites for the GEO orbit. The company starts working on a small Polish GEO telecommunications satellite.

The Polish space sector is developing very rapidly. U.S. Commercial Service recommends that U.S. companies closely follow the developments in this sector. With Poland’s increased contribution to the European Space Agency new projects will be in the pipeline and could present an opportunity for cooperation for U.S. companies. For more information, please contact U.S. Commercial Service Poland at office.warsaw@trade.gov.
 

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