‘EU Space ISAC, the new EU center for space sector security

Brussels – The objective is to strengthen the security and resilience of Europe’s space sector. The European Commission intends to reinvigorate policies for an increasingly central industry by launching the new EU  Space Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EU Space ISAC), run jointly with the European Union Space Program Agency (EUSPA). 

Although announced in the EU space strategy for security and defense, the launch of the new center is not a ‘war’ maneuver. In a world increasingly dependent on satellite technologies and services, it aims to shelter services critical to the economy, citizens, and public policy. Civil security, then, to protect the space sector from troublemakers.

Although there is no mention of names, the EU move intends to respond to the policies of Russia and China. “In the current geopolitical context of increasing power competition and intensifying threats, the EU is acting to protect its space assets,” the EU executive says. In this new framework of tensions, the EU intends to “defend its interests, discourage hostile activities in space, and strengthen its strategic position and autonomy.”

EU Space ISAC is a network of European space companies that wish to develop their expertise as part of a collective approach to better prevent, address, and mitigate security challenges. The network comprises twelve founding members (Airbus, Cyberinflight, GMV, Infodas, Leonardo, OHB, Osmium, Priamos, Promethee, Satlantis, TAS, and Tecnobit), who, together with the EU Commission and EUSPA, will work for two years, and then reason to update the work program, also in light of possible accessions.

The new center is open to all those interested in participating. The founding consortium, of which Italy’s Leonardo is a member, will focus mainly on cybersecurity, but the areas of work are diverse: data management and storage, research, education, quantum computing and communications. Two calls per year are planned (April 30, 2024; Oct. 31, 2024; April 30, 2025; Oct. 31, 2025).