Luxembourg workshop on space industry
At a two-day workshop starting Monday, ESA is presenting the status of the European space industry to representatives of Luxembourg's companies and research institutes. This will be followed by bilateral meetings with industry and research organisations aimed at exchanging information, which will facilitate an increasing participation of Luxemburg in European space activities.
Since September 2000 the country has been participating in ESA’s ARTES telecommunications programme. On 6 May 2004 Luxembourg signed the agreement on accession to the ESA convention to become the 16th ESA Member State. According to the provisions of the Convention, Luxembourg shall become a full Member State of ESA once its national Parliament ratifies the accession agreement. In this role Luxembourg will be able to participate in an increasing number of ESA programmes.
Luxembourg is already home to the largest satellite operator in the world, managing a fleet of more than 40 satellites serving about 90 millions households with satellite TV receivers, and to a very successful downstream value-adding industry.
The industrial structure of the country is highly diversified and rich in the high-tech sectors, with IT services, electronics, automotive, mechanical and chemical sectors being the most prominent. It spans the subsidiaries of very large multinational firms, national medium-size and small highly specialised companies supplying complex products and services.
Its research organisations are involved in high-level science and operate excellent facilities. Luxembourg benefits from its privileged geographical location at the heart of Europe, reflected in a highly skilled multinational workforce integrating national, European and non-European professionals.
The October workshop is organized by ESA with the support of Bertin Technologies, Euroconsult and Luxinnovation. During the workshop ESA will brief participants on the current state of the European space industry and provide information on how to participate, who the main players are and recent industry trends.
In addition, ESA, through Bertin Technologies and Euroconsult, will conduct a series of bilateral meetings with representatives from the companies and institutes present at the workshop, in order to map Luxembourg's capabilities and potential, and provide information to industry about ESA’s programmes.
For more details, please see the workshop programme.
Notes for editors:
Luxinnovation is the National Agency for Innovation and Research and the first-stop shop for research and innovation in Luxembourg. Luxinnovation is the National Contact Point for the European Space Agency (ESA), the 6th Framework Programme for R&D (FP6) and Eurêka in Luxembourg.
Bertin Technologies is a leading consulting firm providing services for technology and innovative management in the space, defence and biotechnology sectors for both industrial and institutional clients.
Euroconsult is a worldwide reference for research and consulting services in the space sector, providing independent and impartial advice to government agencies, space companies, satellite operators and investors in their decision-making process.
