In May 2021, plans for the establishment of the Spanish Space Agency (Agencia Espacial Española (AEE)) were announced. In March 2023, the Spanish Council of Ministries voted for AEE’s launch.
Spain’s Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, recently shared the government’s intention to “put Spain at the forefront of the aerospace transport industry”. This aligns with the fact that the initial budget for AEE’s operations in 2023 is over EUR 700 million (USD 753 million).
The government also has announced that it will offer essential support for space industry start-ups.
As part of the Spanish government’s considerable efforts to transform the country’s standing in the global aerospace industry, it initiated the Strategic Project for Aerospace Recovery and Economic Transformation (Aerospace PERTE), which focuses on collaboration among public authorities, companies, and RD&I centres. Additionally, it has been reported that the government has increased its budget for public investment to EUR 2.315 billion, with an additional EUR 300 million also expected. In the meantime, according to the Prime Minister, up to 155,000 direct and indirect jobs could be created in the Spanish aerospace sector by 2025.
Sánchez has also stressed that Spain’s focus will be on environmental control, quantum communications, and security in international cooperation while “contributing to Spain’s positioning on the European map”.
This represents a great opportunity for investors and newcomers, as well as experienced space actors, to participate in the AEE’s upcoming programmes.
Access Partnership closely monitors tech and space regulations and policy developments. For more information, please contact Sofia Stellatou at [email protected], Sofia Tirini at [email protected], or Chrystel Erotokritou at [email protected].
