Slovenia becomes full member of ESA

According to Economy Ministry State Secretary Matevž Frangež, full ESA membership will bring numerous opportunities for the evolution of the Slovenian space sector and development of technological innovation.

This achievement is a reward for the country's successful and rapid establishment of a promising and dynamic space sector, which includes more than 40 companies, research institutes and three universities, he said.

Providing innovative solutions, those are the world's leading organisations in some of the niche areas of the space sector such as Earth observation and the development of innovative materials and artificial intelligence.

Today's milestone is but the start of efforts to implement the national vision, whose slogan is Slovenia, Small on Earth, Big in Space.

"Our vision in not only to develop space technologies but also to invest in turning space innovation into a series of civilian applications aimed at improving life on Earth," he said.

Tanja Permozer, the head of the Slovenian Space Office, believes that Slovenia's full ESA membership is an important recognition that makes the country a part of the space elite while providing many strategic and economic advantages.

It allows the country to participate on an equal footing in all key ESA decisions, strengthen international cooperation, raise Slovenia's profile in the space sector, and access new programmes that step up research, development and technology commercialisation.

Full membership also allows Slovenia to have the possibility of greater geographical return of funds in the form of projects for local companies, contribute to sustainable development and digitalisation, and create new jobs.

It paves the way for a Slovenian space agency to be established. Currently the Slovenian space sector is not yet mature enough for a national space agency. Permozer is hopeful that such an agency could be established within five years.

Slovenia has been cooperating with ESA since signing the Cooperation Agreement in 2009. It strengthened its cooperation in 2016 by signing an associate membership agreement, and upgraded it further in 2020, when it amended the association agreement. By ratifying the agreement on full membership in 2024 it took the last step towards full integration into ESA.

So far, Slovenia has signed more than 60 contracts with ESA, which allowed the implementation of high-tech projects run by Slovenian companies and institutions.
Slovenia's geo-return rate, by which ESA measures the performance of a country, is above one, which means that the country recovers more than 100% of the funds invested.

Full membership does come with additional financial obligations. The annual membership fee will now increase from the current EUR 500,000 to some EUR 2.8 million. In addition, the state will pay a one-off amount of EUR 1.7 million on joining as a full member.

Slovenia will mark its full accession with a ceremony at the Herman Potočnik Noordung Center of Space Technologies in Vitanje on 10 January.

Noordung's legacy has a special place in Slovenia's pantheon of great minds since his visionary work launched the development of the country's space programme.

Also on 10 January, there will be a Slovenia-ESA summit in the spa town of Rimske Toplice dedicated to the new opportunities the country's full membership brings for its space sector.

Future-wise, Permozer would like to see even more Slovenian space companies over the next ten years. She hopes the country's sector will continue to grow so fast and make successful forays into the international markets.

It is essential that the country builds strong ties linking the scientific, business and government spheres to open up opportunities for economic breakthroughs, Frangež said.

"We want to develop this sector into a globally competitive and innovative player that will boldly carry the name Slovenia not only out in the world, but also up into space.