Catalonia Moves to Expand Space Capabilities
The Generalitat de Catalunya is advancing its space ambitions by consulting private sector companies on the development of future Earth observation satellite missions. The Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia (IEEC), based in Castelldefels, has launched a preliminary market consultation with specialised aerospace firms, including Open Cosmos, to assess technical and economic proposals for upcoming satellite projects. This step marks the beginning of the execution phase of the Catalonia Space Strategy 2030, a government roadmap aimed at strengthening the regional aerospace industry and contributing to European technological sovereignty. Under this plan, eight satellite missions are scheduled between now and 2030, focusing on Earth observation and communications infrastructure.
€150 Million Public Investment to Mobilise Sector Growth
To finance the initiative, the Catalan government plans to mobilise up to €150 million in public funds over the next five years. An initial €40 million has been allocated to a capital fund managed by Avançsa, the public company responsible for fostering public-private collaboration in the business ecosystem. An additional €7.5 million is budgeted for early actions in 2026. The strategy aims to double total investment through co-financing, with each public euro intended to attract an equivalent amount from private investors. This model is designed to accelerate innovation and expand commercial services based on satellite data analysis.
The space sector is already a reality, and we must make it grow bigger and better. We must make disruptive sectors grow faster, not at the normal speed, because the world is evolving more rapidly.
, Miquel Sàmper, Minister for Business and Labour
GENEO-02 Mission to Deliver Advanced Capabilities
One key milestone will be the launch of GENEO-02 at the end of 2026, currently in the flight qualification phase. This mission will consist of a main microsatellite and at least two secondary satellites equipped with short-wave infrared cameras and Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity. It will reduce revisit time over Catalonia to just 21 hours. The contract for GENEO-02’s data provision, valued at €4,215,000, includes responsibilities for full mission lifecycle management, emergency data acquisition, IoT payload operation, and integration of an in-orbit technology demonstrator (IOD). Services will support research centres, public agencies, and industry players within Catalonia.
Building on Past Successes
These new missions build on existing achievements. In 2021, the Generalitat launched Enxaneta, a nanosatellite that tested IoT connectivity in remote areas before safely disintegrating during atmospheric re-entry in July 2024. In January 2023, Menut was launched in partnership with Open Cosmos, providing multispectral imagery of Catalan territory. The Government also seeks to position Catalonia as a hub for international space collaboration. Alongside the central Spanish government, the IEEC and the Spanish Space Agency (AEE), it has submitted a bid to host the International Astronautical Congress (IAC) in Barcelona in 2026. The proposal competes with bids from Houston, Geneva, and Muscat, with the winner to be announced during the Antalya event in October 2026.
Reported by metropoliabierta.elespanol.com, catalonia.com, Maquetacion, ARA, Javier Bueno, Quim Portet, Metrópoli Abierta - Urban Life.
