About Us
The European Space Policy Institute, founded in 2003, is the independent think tank for space based in Vienna, Austria – the world’s capital of space diplomacy. ESPI is supported by its 21 member organisations and Advisory Council composed of internationally recognised experts from a range of domains.
You can read the ESPI Statutes here. and our latest Annual Report here.
Working in a non-profit capacity, ESPI:
- Promotes European space policy on an international and global level
- Provides independent analyses, proposals and recommendations to European decision-makers and institutions
- Raises public awareness on strategic space issues
In line with its policy vision, ESPI2040: Space for Prosperity, Peace and Future Generations, ESPI advocates for a strong Europe as a partner to the world.
Our Activities
ESPI’s mission is implemented through the ESPI Agenda, which is comprised of three lines of activities:
Engagement
By leveraging its independent status and expertise to facilitate dialogue and consensus building, ESPI drives intensified engagement and lends support to public actors across Europe and provides an active forum for networking and knowledge sharing, connecting a diverse range of stakeholders.
In a transforming world, with more than 80 nations conducting space activities and new space agencies and actors emerging, continuous dialogues, engagement, and collaboration with relevant stakeholders both within and outside of Europe remains critical.
For more information about ESPI’s events and engagement activities, click here.
Research
High-quality research remains at the core of ESPI’s activities, and underpins its expertise, initiatives, and collaborations.
ESPI’s research agenda responds to:
- Two missions focused on the benefits of space for Earth, addressing:
- Green and Sustainable Societies, moving towards a NetZero and sustainable future; and
- Security and Defence, protecting Europe and its values.
- A third mission focused on Exploration and Science, inspiring Europe through new frontiers.
ESPI’s research agenda also includes two transversal research themes addressing foundational and enabling elements, without which Europe cannot act in space and on the three aforementioned missions:
- Industry, Innovation, Finance, and Workforce, fostering Europe’s competitiveness; and
- Space as an Asset securing Europe’s ability to decide and act in space.
Education
ESPI supports a European education ecosystem that is able to nurture and retain a talented and skilled workforce. ESPI provides European decision-makers with information and trends in support of mid- to long-term guidance in space education, talent, and workforce, as well as fosters and supports European educational policies and activities contributing to capacity-building in Europe and beyond.
For more information about ESPI’s educational initiatives, click here.
