site.btaDeputy Innovation Minister Confers with EUSPA Director

Deputy Minister of Innovation and Growth Georgi Angelov met with the Executive Director of the EU Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA), Rodrigo da Costa, in Plovdiv (South Central Bulgaria) on Thursday. The meeting was part of the Research, Innovation and Industrial Cooperation - a Paradigm for Adequate Defence conference at the Hemus 2024 international defence equipment and services exhibition.

Angelov and da Costa had a conversation about technology advancement and space sector growth in Bulgaria,  the Innovation and Growth Ministry said in a press release. Angelov pointed out that the space sector has turned into a strategic catalyst for economic growth in Europe in the last ten years. He emphasized that companies in this sector get more opportunities for growth, attracting private equity and institutional investors, implementing business innovations using space data to the benefit of society and the economy.

The two also discussed the importance of the space sector as a strategic asset contributing to the development of new markets and business opportunities for the industry, including for SMEs.

Angelov and da Costa agreed that to achieve space sector autonomy and sustainability, Bulgaria is to intensify efforts to consolidate national participation in European space programmes and create means to foster the space industry.

European space programmes like Galileo, EGNOS, Copernicus, and the Secure Connectivity Programme (IRIS2) play a crucial role in maintaining Europe's industrial and strategic independence. These programmes have a substantial impact on tackling societal challenges and global issues, it transpired during the meeting.

EUSPA delivers secure European satellite navigation services. It also encourages the commercial use of data and services from the Galileo, EGNOS, and Copernicus programmes. Additionally, EUSPA oversees the coordination of the forthcoming EU satellite communications programme, GOVSATCOM.