European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has said Europe will be at the heart of building a new frontier in space.

She was speaking at the International Space Summit where she said space was becoming vital to the growth of the future global economy.

“We are discussing the innovations taking place now above us, in our orbits and beyond. Because since the turn of this century, space-based capabilities have transformed our daily lives,” she told delegates. “They connect us across continents. Guide us wherever we go. And help us understand our nature and how it is changing.

“Europe has been at the heart of this transformation. We see that in the capabilities we have built together – and in the difference, they make to people’s lives.

“This summer, as emergency teams across Europe and beyond rushed to respond to wildfires, Europe’s Copernicus system was there to help. Our satellites provided near real-time data to track the fires and direct support where it was needed. They helped identify areas most at-risk before fires broke out. This helped us to preposition 800 firefighters in high-risk areas – standing ready to reinforce local teams from the first critical hours on.

“This is just one example. In recent weeks, Copernicus has supported the response to the devastating floods in Nepal. And every day, it allows scientists to track the impact of climate change, from the melting ice of the Arctic to the forests of the Amazon. These data are free and open to the world – they help us respond to the biggest challenges we share. And Copernicus is not alone. Galileo is used by more than 4.5 billion devices worldwide. It guides our cars and planes. It provides the precise timing that our financial systems or our electricity grids depend on. It helps emergency services locate people when every second counts.”

She added: “.The opportunity in front of us is enormous. The global space economy is expected to almost triple by 2035 – from around $630 billion today to around $1.8 trillion. Europe begins from a position of strength. We have cutting-edge technologies, world-leading talent, and a strong space industrial base. But strength today is no guarantee of leadership tomorrow. To remain at the forefront Europe must act together, invest at scale, and turn our market into a competitive advantage. Let us have a closer look at these points.

“First, we must act as one Europe. The Commission, the European Space Agency and national governments – we must pool our strengths. Our industries are calling for clear and predictable demand, to give them the certainty they need to invest and scale.

“Nowhere is that clearer than for space transportation. With Ariane 6 and Vega-C, Europe has its own launch capabilities. And across our continent, a new generation of innovative companies are growing. Just this weekend, a German start-up backed by EUR 10 million in European Innovation Council funding, launched the first ever commercial rocket into orbit from continental Europe. Now we must build on this momentum.”

Von der Leyen continued: “Second, we need investment at scale. With our Cassini Investment facility, we are mobilising 2 billion EUR in risk capital for European space companies. This is supporting innovation here in Europe. Be it firms tracking ships that evade conventional systems. Or companies developing reusable spacecraft to carry cargo into orbit and one day perhaps people. Our new EUR 5 billion Scaleup Europe Fund goes further. It invests in strategic technologies where Europe needs global champions, including space.

“Third, we must turn the scale of Europe into an advantage. Our companies are no longer competing primarily at a national or European scale. They are competing with companies on a global level. Our policies need to reflect that reality. That starts with our Single Market. We have proposed a ‘Single Market in satellite communications’, with spectrum assigned at European level. Our EU Space Act replaces fragmentation with a common European framework for safety, resilience and sustainability. So that a European entrepreneur can build and operate from day one in a market of 450 million people.”

She concluded: “I have spoken today about Europe’s role in this new space age. About investing in the capabilities to strengthen our economy and our independence. But independence does not mean isolation. Independence means – having a choice. The orbits above us are a shared resource. And we have a shared responsibility to protect them.

“That is why I welcome the UN Group on Space Situational Awareness established here today. And it is why, through our Space Act, Europe is working to set strong universal standards for the safe, secure and sustainable use of space. Because space belongs to no single country.”