The announcement took place as part of the “50 Years of ESA/100 year Roy Gibson, Session – Roy Gibson – The Golden Age of EO” session moderated by Volker Liebig and in the presence of ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher and ESA Director of Earth Observation Programmes, Simonetta Cheli, with an impressive participation from international leaders who shaped space and the golden age of Earth observation.
The Fellowship, in honour of Roy Gibson—the first Director General of ESA, serving from 1975 until 1980—recognises the critical importance of space policy and diplomacy in times of unprecedented geo-political and geo-economic shifts, which also affect space.
A joint ESPI-ESA-UKSA initiative, the Fellowship will:
- Be awarded each year for a duration of 12 months.
- Run its first edition from Q3 2025, with applications opening on July 2025.
- Take place at ESPI’s premises in Vienna, with optional research visits to ESA and other ESPI members’ locations.
- Focus on:
- International cooperation and space diplomacy to strengthen synergies between stakeholders in Europe and to support Europe’s role as partner to the world for prosperity, peace and future generations.
- Actionable proposals and recommendations for consideration in the areas of G&S, S&D, E&S.
- Provide a gross salary of € 50,000 per year.
Requirements:
The Fellowship is open to researchers and young-to-senior professionals from ESA and EU Member States possessing:
- A Master’s degree (e.g. Economics, Banking & Finance, Law, Political Science, Business, Engineering, Physics, Data Science, Technology & Innovation).
- At least 3 years of professional work experience (Consultancy, Think Tank, Industry, Public Sector, NGO).
- Excellent analytical or writing skills and excellent command of English, written and oral.
- Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of the space sector and the space policy landscape.
Applications shall contain:
- Curriculum Vitae and motivation letter.
- A research abstract with an outline of proposed research, including engagement and outreach (and possible stays with ESPI Members).
- An outline of expected impact (national/EU/European/International) and possible scenarios for implementation (following the fellowship).
Applications will open soon!
