Third edition of Space Resources Week in Luxembourg

Organised for the third time in Luxembourg, "Space Resources Week" is the world's largest conference exclusively devoted to the exploration and use of resources in space. Organised in “phygital” mode, the space resources week brought together nearly 120 international speakers and experts who took stock of the development of the space resource use sector.

More than 1,300 people from all over the world signed up to follow the various seminars which focused on the latest discoveries as well as new concrete use cases for space resources, the international legal framework and on funding methods for the research and development of new technologies.

ESRIC: A START-UP SUPPORT PROGRAMME

Following the recent creation of the "European Space Resources Innovation Centre" (ESRIC), the Minister of the Economy Franz Fayot announced during his speech the launch this year of an ESRIC support programme to encourage start-ups in the start-up phase to refine their business plan, attract their first clients and obtain their first investment. Executed in collaboration with the European Space Agency (ESA), the Technoport incubator and the Luxembourg Space Agency (LSA), this programme will also offer start-ups access to offices and equipment to further develop their products or services.

"The increasingly active presence of private players in the field of New Space favours the development of commercial space activities. The Luxembourg government welcomes the approach proposed by ESA's Agenda 2025, and especially when it acts to stimulate collaboration and commercialisation in the European space sector, including with regard to the development of the use of space resources ", declared Franz Fayot.

In his address, ESA Director General Dr Josef Aschbacher said, "ESA will continue to pay particular attention to the area of ​​space resources. I count on the support and leadership of the Grand Duchy in this regard. Luxembourg is a central player in the European space sector in general and in the field of space resources in particular. Together we can unleash the full potential of space resources, open up new economic perspectives and ensure the sustainability of future space activities in Europe and the world."

As part of the SpaceResources.lu initiative launched in 2016 by the Ministry of the Economy, the "Space Resources Week" is organised and coordinated by the European Space Resources Innovation Centre (ESRIC) part of the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST), with the support of the Luxembourg Space Agency (LSA), the European Space Agency (ESA), the International Space University (ISU) and the Colorado School of Mines in the United States.

The event was launched in 2018 under the name "Mining Space Summit" and then evolved into "Space Resources Week".

Communicated by the Ministry of the Economy

Photo: © MECO