But a couple of years ago, as the world recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic and armed conflict returned to Europe, investor enthusiasm – a vital fuel for innovation and scaling – cooled. The continent’s money men and women grew cautious, and as a result, many startups failed to get the funding they needed to flourish. Now, that enthusiasm is roaring back and promising to accelerate innovation in Europe. Among the most exciting beneficiaries of that zeal is the space tech sector, which stands on the verge of remarkable accomplishments to add to its litany of successes so far.

A renewed wave of investment

The recent resurgence in investor enthusiasm marks a meaningful shift. The ‘wait-and-see’ approach that characterised the last two years of venture capital investment was an understandable one to take, and even a prudent response to the economic and geopolitical uncertainty. But it nonetheless meant that Europe lost some of its dynamism. With confidence coming back, we can anticipate real leaps forward in the tech sector, including space tech. And the return of investor interest hasn’t just reflected rising confidence, but also growing recognition of the breakthroughs – and benefits – that are possible.

Transformative potential of space tech

Space tech is no different from the rest of the sector in that it’s attracting the interest of investors. But it is different in terms of the scale of the challenges it’s looking to solve. European space tech companies are right at the forefront of confronting some of the biggest and most pressing problems facing the continent and the rest of humanity, from sluggish productivity – in the two decades since 2004, US productivity growth has been more than double that of the eurozone – to the climate crisis, responsible last month for unprecedented 50C temperatures in northern and central India.

From satellite deployment and laser communication to emissions tracking and wildfire monitoring, space tech companies are creating, developing, scaling and rolling out technologies that have the potential to change how we understand and interact with our planet. Masses of raw satellite data are already being processed by environmental intelligence companies, with the resulting insights going to national and international leaders across the globe. Satellites are also facilitating navigation, optimising logistics and vehicle flows, empowering communities in far-flung corners of the world by bringing connectivity to remote regions, and, via laser communication, making data transmission faster, safer and more resilient against interference and jamming – boosting defence.

The funding gap

Needless to say, all this costs money. Space tech companies, for all their immense potential, have historically struggled to get the funding they need to bring their technology to those who need it. Developing cutting-edge technology requires substantial investment not only for R&D, but also for scaling operations and bringing goods and services to the market.

Despite their immense potential, space tech companies have historically faced significant funding challenges. Developing cutting-edge technology requires substantial investment not just for research and development, but also for scaling operations and bringing innovations to market. Many promising ventures have struggled to secure the necessary capital, limiting their ability to achieve breakthroughs and compete on a global stage.

That could change thanks to the growing appetite of Europe’s investors for discovering the next unicorn. With more capital flowing into the startup ecosystem, space tech companies will be able to quicken their pace of innovation. This is because funding enables companies to scale their operations more effectively, moving from prototype to production more swiftly; because it allows for more comprehensive research and development, fuelling the creation of more advanced and efficient technologies; and because it supports commercialisation: making space tech accessible and distributable to a broad audience.  

A big moment for Europe

Given the evolution of European space tech in recent years, the return of investor enthusiasm in tech could usher in a period of flourishing for the sector – a ‘golden age of space tech’, if you like. And this could have a much bigger impact than lining the pockets of those investors and their investees, driving economic growth and creating jobs. One small indication of this has been provided by Globant, which has shown that by adopting satellite technology fully, the world could reach net zero 10 years early.

The road ahead

The space tech sector holds enormous promise. But realising its potential requires sustained investment and support. Investors must continue to recognise the value of backing innovative startups, and policymakers need to create a conducive environment for these companies to thrive. Economic shocks and volatility are inevitable, but Europe’s space tech and wider tech ecosystem can help the continent to weather those periods. By seizing this moment, we can bring about a future in which space technology companies are liberated to play the starring role in solving global problems and driving progress.