Academic and Industrial Cooperation in Innovative Space Research

D. Raitt

The European Space Agency's interest in the broad area of academic research stems from the objective of building up capacity in universities in order to stimulate technological innovation, synergy and harmonisation throughout the ESA Member States. This article gives an overview of several initiatives and activities within the Directorate of Industrial Matters and Technology Programmes pertaining to academic research and cooperation, namely the Academic Research Programme (TRP), the Academic Research Pilot Initiative for the Mapping and Harmonisation of Space R & D Activities in European Universities, studies on University-Industry Relations in the Space Domain, and the Conference on Academic and Industrial Research Cooperation in Space (Vienna, 4-6 Nov. 1998). Conclusions and recommendations resulting from the studies and the conference are also provided.