PORTUGAL SPACE // OUR MISSION // IMPLEMENTATION
FUNDING FRAMEWORKS
There are a number of funding frameworks that the government of Portugal has enable to grow the space sector and to grow the impact that the space sector in the competitiveness growth of other sectors.
Portugal has resorted to underwriting and investing in ESA and ESO programmes, as well as through Portugal’s financial contributions to the EU and to the European Union’s space and research programmes. According to socio-economic studies conducted by ESA, the economic impact of space spending is expanded by a multiplier effect: each €1 invested in the space sector equals a financial return of €6 to the economy. Space is, therefore, a net contributor for economic growth, jobs creation and competitiveness across a wide range of industrial and commercial sectors.
National Programs
The Foundation for Science and Technology has been, for more than two decades, the primary funding source to the industrial and academic Portuguese space sector. The emergence of other sources of funding for industrial activities has redirected FCT to support more focused on the scientific community. There are different funding instruments aimed at scientists, research teams and R&D centres.
ESA Programs
The ESA’s members approved, in November 2019, the most ambitious plan in the history of the organisation. At the Space19+, the 22 Member States subscribe to a program of €14.4 billion for the next five years, including Mandatory Activities, which include the Scientific Programme and the Basic Activities.
The budget for the next three years is approximately 12.5 billion euro, which stands for an increase of around 1.8 billion compared with the funds given by the member states in 2016.The Portuguese contribution has also increased significantly from 73 million euro subscribed in 2016 to 102 million subscribed at Space19+, paving the way for implementing of the Portuguese Space Strategy 2030.
Through ESA’s existing geographical return mechanism, the Portuguese space sector – including academia, research centres and companies – will receive 102 million euros in the coming years.
ESA Programs
The ESA’s members approved, in November 2019, the most ambitious plan in the history of the organisation. At the Space19+, the 22 Member States subscribe to a program of €14.4 billion for the next five years, including Mandatory Activities, which include the Scientific Programme and the Basic Activities.
The budget for the next three years is approximately 12.5 billion euro, which stands for an increase of around 1.8 billion compared with the funds given by the member states in 2016.The Portuguese contribution has also increased significantly from 73 million euro subscribed in 2016 to 102 million subscribed at Space19+, paving the way for implementing of the Portuguese Space Strategy 2030.
Through ESA’s existing geographical return mechanism, the Portuguese space sector – including academia, research centres and companies – will receive 102 million euros in the coming years.
EC Programs
The European Union space-related activities have thus far been funded through each subsequent Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) through the space projects Copernicus and Galileo as well as through Horizon 2020.
In the frame of the upcoming MFF, which will run from 2021 to 2027 the European Union will fund its Space Programme, which will include Copernicus, Galileo, SST and Govsatcom, as well as Horizon Europe. Horizon Europe brings a fundamental difference when compared to H2020. The funding will be allocated across clusters, such as civil society, health, climate, food, etc. Space activities are included under the Digital, Industry and Space cluster.
The upcoming Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) will see €13,2 billion from 2021 to 2027 for space activities with the aim of enabling the European space community to develop innovative space technologies and operational concepts from ideas to proven business.
Acceleration Programs
In the frame of ESA, the ESA Business Incubation Centres (ESA BICs) started in 2003 intending to inspire and work with entrepreneurs to turn space-connected business ideas into commercial startups. Today, there are 30 ESA’s centres disseminated for more than 60 cities – including more than ten cities in Portugal: Coimbra, Cascais, Lisboa, Covilhã, Aveiro, Porto, Braga, as well as in Azores and Madeira Islands – in 17 European countries.
In almost 20 years, more than 700 startups have been fostered throughout Europe creating thousands high tech jobs, thanks to the applications of space systems, and the space technologies transfer to market. ESA BIC Portugal, created at Instituto Pedro Nunes (Coimbra) at the end of 2014, aims to support startups that use space technology for non-space industrial and commercial uses such as health, energy, transport, security and urban life, among others.
In the last five years (2015-2019), the first phase of the technology transfer programme coordinated by IPN, ESA BIC Portugal has incubated 30 companies, created more than 100 new jobs and generated a total turnover of around five million euros.
IPN is also an ambassador for the ESA Business Applications programme, an initiative through which 16 projects using satellite data (such as Earth Observation data or Satellite Communication Systems) to create new products and services have been supported, with an investment of 2.5 million euros.
Acceleration Programs
In the frame of ESA, the ESA Business Incubation Centres (ESA BICs) started in 2003 intending to inspire and work with entrepreneurs to turn space-connected business ideas into commercial startups. Today, there are 30 ESA’s centres disseminated for more than 60 cities – including more than ten cities in Portugal: Coimbra, Cascais, Lisboa, Covilhã, Aveiro, Porto, Braga, as well as in Azores and Madeira Islands – in 17 European countries.
In almost 20 years, more than 700 startups have been fostered throughout Europe creating thousands high tech jobs, thanks to the applications of space systems, and the space technologies transfer to market. ESA BIC Portugal, created at Instituto Pedro Nunes (Coimbra) at the end of 2014, aims to support startups that use space technology for non-space industrial and commercial uses such as health, energy, transport, security and urban life, among others.
In the last five years (2015-2019), the first phase of the technology transfer programme coordinated by IPN, ESA BIC Portugal has incubated 30 companies, created more than 100 new jobs and generated a total turnover of around five million euros.
IPN is also an ambassador for the ESA Business Applications programme, an initiative through which 16 projects using satellite data (such as Earth Observation data or Satellite Communication Systems) to create new products and services have been supported, with an investment of 2.5 million euros.