Norway sets ESA spending priorities for next period

Every third year, ministers from ESA’s 23 member states meet to determine Europe’s space priorities and commit national funding. The decisions help shape both European and Norwegian space policy.

“Space plays an increasingly important role in industrial and defence development. That is why the government is investing in the space sector,” Minister of Trade and Industry, Cecilie Myrseth, said. She highlighted Norway’s geographic location, expertise and launch facilities at Andøya as assets for Europe as well as for Norway.

Minister Myrseth led the Norwegian delegation to the ministerial council in Bremen on 26–27 November, alongside Christian Hauglie-Hanssen, Director General of the Norwegian Space Agency.

Earth observation, navigation and space transport

“Norway will continue its main investment in earth observation with around €30 million in the coming period,” Hauglie-Hanssen said. Funding for space exploration and human spaceflight will be reduced, reflecting the limited scope for Norwegian research groups to participate.

Norway will also commit €6 million to a new programme for low-Earth-orbit navigation satellites (LEO PNT), aimed at improving positioning, navigation and timing capabilities.

The largest Norwegian allocation, €55 million, will go to ESA’s space transportation programme, which includes continued development of Europe’s Ariane and Vega launchers. Nearly €30 million of that contribution is earmarked for the European Launcher Challenge (ELC), designed to foster competitive and cost-effective European launch services.

The ELC is of particular interest to Norway’s Andøya Space and Germany’s Isar Aerospace, which are working together to develop launch capacity from Andøya. “If Europe is to succeed in commercialising the launch market, fair competition is essential. ELC can help ensure that,” Hauglie-Hanssen said.

Agreement on overall ESA budget

"Talks continued until the final hours," Hauglie-Hanssen said, with debate centring on ESA’s long-term ambitions, the role of commercialisation and the use of space technology to support European security and crisis response.

Member states ultimately agreed on a total ESA budget of €22.1 billion for the next period. Norway’s total commitments amount to €292 million: €161 million for optional programmes and €131 million in mandatory programmes.

Arctic Space Centre proposal

During the conference, Myrseth signed a letter of intent with ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher to study the establishment of an ESA Arctic Space Centre in Tromsø. A joint working group will assess potential activities, scope and organisation through 2026. The proposed centre could play a major role in northern operations and emergency preparedness, where demand for satellite data and communications is growing.