In a geopolitical moment that some define as a ‘new Cold War’ or a ‘Hot Peace’, our sector has become a strategic terrain -the fourth domain of Defence (after air, sea and land). And in the face of this new reality, Europe cannot afford a fragmented Space. Only a shared and ambitious vision, based on integrated European solutions, will allow it to maintain a world-class role.
History shows that when Europe cooperates, it wins. Projects such as Galileo, Eurofighter or the GSM (Global System for Mobile Communication) standard are examples of what we can achieve when wills, capabilities and vision are aligned. Giotto, Mars Express, the iconic landing of Philae on comet 67P, the Copernicus programme, etc... ESA’s successes are also an essential part of what Europe has managed to build together.
At Telespazio Ibérica, part of the Telespazio group (owned by Leonardo and Thales), we are experiencing this moment with enthusiasm, audacity and a sense of responsibility.
We represent a clear example of how large multinationals can act as drivers of national technology, generating local innovation ecosystems and collaborating with SMEs, research centres, universities and public administrations to strengthen the country’s industrial and scientific fabric.
Space, traditionally led by large state agencies, has today become a dynamic and open ecosystem, where very diverse actors converge, demanding real solutions based on data and information that we cannot obtain on the ground.
The traditional model has given way to a new era of integrated services where Earth observation, satellite navigation, secure communications and critical infrastructure management are combined with artificial intelligence, geospatial analysis and digital platforms. Telespazio Ibérica is fully aligned with this increasingly dual vision (civil and military), as the current context demands.
But if we want Spain to have a relevant voice in this new scenario, we must reinforce our capabilities based on a collaborative logic, oriented towards the end user and the market. It is not enough to develop technology: it must be translated into useful, interoperable and sustainable solutions.
Our experience in European missions such as Copernicus, EGNOS or Moonlight shows us that Space is already at the service of citizens. Monitoring forest fires, improving water management, supporting precision agriculture, guaranteeing communications in emergencies or protecting critical infrastructures are not ambitions for tomorrow, but tasks of today.
Collaboration is key, but so is talent. Attracting and retaining qualified professionals is one of the great challenges facing our industry. We have to build a narrative that connects with young people and with technical profiles in search of purpose.
The Space sector has that appeal: its real impact on people’s lives, its international dimension, its role in the great challenges of the planet. ESA, during these 50 years, has been an inexhaustible source of scientific vocations. Let’s follow its example, offering stimulating and meaningful projects.
The 50th anniversary of ESA is an opportunity to look back with pride, but above all to look forward with ambition. International competition is fierce, with emerging powers such as China and India, and private actors such as SpaceX altering the rules of the game.
