Understanding the impact of ESA early R&D on Europe’s innovation and research
know.space completed 4 case studies that explore the impact of ESA's early R&D activities on Europe's innovation and research. These studies, commissioned by the European Space Agency, offer a detailed look at how early-stage support drives innovative progress in the space domain.
A series of case studies for the European Space Agency.
Through initiatives like Discovery, the Technology Development Element, and the General Support Technology Programme, ESA bridges the gap between early ideas and mission/market-ready technologies. These initiatives stimulate innovation, create incentive for further investment and facilitate the development and access to R&D facilities.
The findings highlight how ESA’s Discovery activities bring new players into the space sector, provide critical early-stage support, and help build Europe’s future space workforce - shaping a competitive and resilient European space economy. Case study reports for four selected Discovery projects have been finalised and are available on ESA Space Economy website library, which can be accessed using the ‘Learn more’ button, below.
Cellular Agriculture for Future Human Space Missions (UK)
Development of New 3D Printed Magnetic Materials for Space Applications (Italy)
Project CLAIS - Clean Air in Space (Austria)
An ultra-compact mass spectrometer that enables the reliable analysis of complex molecules (Switzerland)
