A word from the Director - GSTP turns 25

Today, the GSTP celebrates its 25th Anniversary with a workshop in Lisbon, Portugal. Attended by industry, academia and ESA colleagues the event is focusing on the important role the programme has played in supporting our partners to build necessary processes and capacity, giving them the time and space they need to develop the technologies of future missions. On the occasion the Programme Director, Franco Ongaro, shares his thoughts on upcoming technological challenges for the space sector and what role GSTP can play in solving them.

A word from the Director

Under ESA’s leadership, European space industry is developing cuttingedge technologies that enable amazing missions to discover the Universe, understand our environment, navigate, communicate, educate and save lives.

The General Support Technology Programme (GSTP) contributes to this by annually investing around 100M€ in technology development activities. These build know-how and capability in the industry, which helps to enable missions and maintain Europe’s competitiveness in the global market. This keeps Europe at the forefront of technological innovation and maintains a highly skilled workforce.

In 1993, the GSTP was created with the aim of maturing space technologies that come from basic feasibility demonstrations and has grown into a programme relied upon by all 22 of ESA’s Member States, as well as Canada and Slovenia.

Over these two days we celebrate 25 years of the programme, highlighting success stories and looking towards the future as we discuss the new space context and the upcoming challenges it brings.

Looking ahead, the GSTP will continue to mature space technologies, encourage cooperation and maintain and build capabilities across the space industry in Europe.

Our past and present achievements give us good reason to be proud. We are looking forward to working together for the next 25 years and beyond.

Franco Ongaro, ESA's Director of Technology, Engineering and Quality