Who is shaping the space sector in Portugal? New Survey to map national ecosystem
Portuguese Space Catalogue to returns in 2026 with updated methodology and new sections, including a dedicated area for Higher Education institutions.
From those developing space technology to the organisations that regulate the sector, fund innovation, and train the next generation, the next edition of the Portuguese Space Catalogue aims to provide a clearer picture of Portugal’s space ecosystem.
As in previous Editions, the Agency has launched a new survey to map the national space ecosystem. The questionnaire is open to companies, research centres and, for the first time, research units based in Higher Education institutions.
Now in its third edition, the Portuguese Space Catalogue is the primary tool for mapping the national space sector. Published in English, it is designed to showcase the ecosystem to national and international partners and investors, while identifying capabilities, products, services and research and development activities.
The latest edition, published in 2024, featured 80 companies and 30 research centres, highlighting the strong growth of Portugal’s space ecosystem. Just three years earlier, the catalogue listed 52 companies.
Alongside the organisations invited to respond to the survey, the 2026 edition will also include information on space infrastructures, regulatory authorities, civilian and military public bodies, as well as education support structures identified directly by the Portuguese Space Agency.
What’s new in the 2026 edition
The main change in the new edition is the introduction of a third category dedicated to Higher Education institutions, which will include research units. At the same time, the section on research centres has been revised to ensure greater consistency and comparability across organisations. Only centres with direct, relevant, proven and independently identifiable activity in the space sector will be listed separately. Smaller laboratories or research units based within universities will not appear as standalone entries where that activity does not amount to an autonomous contribution to the space value chain. In those cases, they will instead be referenced under the profile of the relevant Higher Education institution.
Marta Gonçalves, Educational Projects and Science Manager at the Portuguese Space Agency, said the new structure reflects the growing maturity of the ecosystem. “Creating a category dedicated to Higher Education makes it possible to better reflect the real role of these institutions, including their contribution to the creation and hosting of research units, where a significant part of Portugal’s space-related community is based,” she said.
The updated eligibility criteria will also apply to companies. To be included in the catalogue, organisations will need to demonstrate a direct and relevant contribution to the space value chain, supported by concrete and recent activity, including at least one project in the past five years. Entities engaged in downstream activities that have participated in projects under the European Space Agency or Horizon Europe will be listed in a dedicated list within the catalogue.
Joan Alabart, Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Space Exploration Manager at the Agency, said the aim is to provide a more accurate picture of the national space industry in a catalogue that remains clear and accessible. “The goal is to reflect all entities that actively participate in and contribute to the sector, rather than only those that happened to respond to the survey. The sector has grown and diversified in recent years, and the catalogue should reflect that evolution,” he said.
The questionnaire is available on the EUSurvey platform, and responses can be submitted until 15 May. Questions may be sent to info.catalogo@ptspace.pt.
Survey: Higher Education Institutions, Research Centres, and Companies.
