New technology is the starting point for everything the European Space Agency does. Our primary goal is to ensure enabling technologies are available at the very point when new ESA and European missions need them. While other ESA Directorates incorporate their own specific research and development programmes, the Directorate of Technology, Engineering and Quality is responsible for longer-term technology development – including generic technologies bringing benefit for all technical domains – while also supporting research and development infrastructure such as laboratories, test facilities and specialist sections covering every aspect of the space environment.