New framework agreement for ESRIC

On 13 September, during a visit by the Minister for Research and Higher Education, Stéphanie Obertin, and the Minister for the Economy, SMEs, Energy and Tourism, Lex Delles, to the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST), which hosts the European Space Resources Innovation Centre (ESRIC), a new framework agreement was signed between the Government of Luxembourg and LIST, covering the operation of ESRIC until 2029.

Launched in 2016, the SpaceResources.lu initiative aimed to establish an attractive and coherent framework for the development of activities in the field of the use of space resources. Over the last few years, stimulated by this Luxembourg initiative, the international landscape has evolved considerably and many players are now interested in this field, which continues to progress rapidly.

Against this backdrop, Luxembourg joined forces with the European Space Agency (ESA) in 2020 to announce the creation in Luxembourg of ESRIC as the European Space Resources Innovation Centre. This new framework agreement guarantees funding for ESRIC's activities until 2029, thanks to a new budget of €26 million, which will enable it to develop its activities around research and development of key technologies, support for economic activities and community management.

While this budget will be jointly allocated by the Ministry of the Economy and LIST, through annual grants, ESRIC is an integral part of the Luxembourg space ecosystem, promoted and supported by the Luxembourg Space Agency (LSA). The agreement will be implemented by the LSA, whose expertise will be used to monitor the collaboration with ESA. As a key partner in the project, ESA, which provides technical and commercial support to the business incubator dedicated to space resources, will in future provide facilities enabling the development of ESRIC's research activities. This development will also be made possible thanks to funding from the National Research Fund.

Lex Delles commented: "ESRIC has built up a solid reputation as a reference centre for Space Resources, unique in Europe. The new framework agreement will enable it to face the next few years with confidence, and with the guarantee of the LSA's support for its implementation. Research and innovation in the field of space resources is a key area for making the European space sector stronger and more competitive, and ESRIC plays a vital role in this context. I am proud that Luxembourg is home to this unique centre.

Stéphanie Obertin: "I am delighted that ESRIC, thanks to its implementation as a department of LIST, is now an integral part of Luxembourg's public research landscape. With this new framework contract, ESRIC's activities will be even better able to link research to the transfer of knowledge to the public and private sectors, with positive spin-offs for Luxembourg's economy and society."

Dirk Fransaer, CEO a.i. of LIST, was delighted: "LIST is pleased to continue to support the Luxembourg government and the LSA in the further development of ESRIC in Luxembourg. ESRIC has grown rapidly and has well-equipped laboratory space on our premises to carry out its research activities. Our teams will continue to offer it all their expertise so that the centre can continue to grow and reach a hundred employees by 2029, thereby helping to make Luxembourg a European reference in the space resources sector".

"The development of ESRIC's activities, both in the areas of research and support for start-ups, has put it firmly on the map of the space resources scene. Its expertise is recognised internationally, and the role it plays in mobilising experts from all over the world around this issue is crucial. This new framework agreement will enable us to capitalise on the developments of the last few years, and to continue to make ESRIC a figurehead for space resources in Luxembourg," emphasised Mathias Link, Deputy CEO of the Luxembourg Space Agency.

"ESRIC emerged from the shared vision and determination of various players in the worlds of research, business and space. Luxembourg's continued growth in this field is tangible proof of ESRIC's impact, and we are committed to advancing the field of space resources in the years to come," concluded Kathryn Hadler, Director of ESRIC.