Europe is falling behind in the global space race… Space-Comm to support ESA’s call for action

Space-Comm to accelerate European space industry ambitions

 

Perhaps the most striking message from the UK Space Conference held recently in Manchester 16-17 July, came from the head of the European Space Agency, Director General, Josef Aschbacher: “Europe is falling behind the global space race.’ Now more than ever, Europe requires innovation, collaboration and strategic ambition across the industry. This is the key message that Space-Comm aims to address, supporting ESA’s call to action and the future of European space industry, with the biggest and most influential event series dedicated to transforming Europe’s ambitions in to commercial reality.

 

Aschbacher’s message is not a new one, particularly in comparison with the US and China. He has frequently highlighted the launch crisis in Europe, the delays with Ariane 6 and Vega-C and dependency on others like SpaceX, that undermines Europe’s strategic autonomy. In 2024 the US carried out approximately 145 orbital launch attempts, China executed 68 orbital launches, and Europe just 3. Aschbacher often contrasts ESA’s budget of around €E7.7 billion to NASA (US) with $27 billion and CNSA (China) with $14 billion; and the broader US space-related government spending of $73 billion including NOAA, DoD and Space Force is nearly 10 times that of ESA’s institutional budget. The scale of ESA’s budget and investment in Europe is too small to compete in key areas such as research, innovation, satellite constellations and space exploration. While the US and China are accelerating plans for new moon missions, human spaceflight and mega-constellations, Europe is falling behind in terms of investment and high-visibility projects.

 

In these defining times for a new global space race, Space-Comm aims to bring the European space industry together to turn ambition in to commercial success, to create the arena where government, industry and investment converge. Europe needs to catch up or risk being left behind; this is the call to action from Aschbacher that Space-Comm has taken onboard and aims to address.

 

Space-Comm Europe will be the new flagship event for the European space industry held at ExCeL London, 4-5 March 2026 with the support of ADS and long standing relationships with ESA, NATO, UN, UNOOSA, the UK Space Agency and primes including Lockheed Martin, Airbus, BAE Systems, Leonardo, Thales Alenia and Amentum. Space-Comm Europe builds on the success of the UK’s largest and most influential space industry event, Space-Comm Expo UK, attracting over 5,000 delegates, 200 speakers, and 190 exhibitors from over 50 nations. London provides the backdrop of one of the world’s most connected and high profile cities for global business and finance.

 

Space-Comm Scotland 3-4 December 2025 held at SEC Glasgow, will raise the profile of Europe’s launch ambitions from SaxaVord Spaceport, with ESA recently confirming €44 million for 4 launch providers Orbex, RFA Augsburg, Isar Aerospace and HyImpulse; whilst also highlighting Glasgow’s position as the European space capital for small satellite manufacturing with AAC Clyde Space, Spire, Craft Prospect and Alba Orbital.

 

There has never been a more pivotal era for the European space industry with Space-Comm providing a global platform for the European space community across aerospace, defence, business and capital investment. The three pillars that underpin Space-Comm deliver a new focus and sense of purpose. Firstly, to accelerate the commercial future of the space industry giving unparalleled access to leaders and influencers from government and business. Secondly, to drive innovation scaling Europe’s space capabilities with the opportunity to meet primes, innovators, buyers and investors shaping the next decade of the European space industry. And thirdly, to highlight satellite data for competitive advantage, attracting new industries and new audiences from adjacent business sectors, to utilise space data for innovation to drive economic growth.

 

Europe is a complex landscape due to fragmentation, with multiple national space agencies, priorities, programmes, budgets, regulations, political and cultural considerations. There are 22 countries with membership of ESA, 27 countries in the EU and 44 countries in Europe. Space-Comm aims to foster collaboration, key to success for the industry, across the space community. In the UK, announced at the UK Space Conference, the total space industry income is valued at £18.6 billion with over 1,907 organisations, employing 55,500 with a further 81,400 indirectly supported jobs across the supply chain giving a total of 137,000, according to Size and Health 2024. The global space industry was valued recently by the Space Foundation at $570 billion in 2023 an increase of 7.4% from 2022 of $531 billion and nearly double the size of the space economy a decade ago, with Europe accounting for approximately 20%. Some analysts estimate the value the global space economy at over $1 trillion by 2030.

 

The new strategy for Space-Comm aims to reflect both the urgency and opportunity of the European space industry highlighted by ESA’s Director General, Josef Aschbacher. Europe has the talent, the industrial strength, and technological expertise to lead in space. Space-Comm delivers the platform to transform Europe’s ambition in to commercial reality.

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