Space Defence Tech Meet Up: Strategy, Innovation, and European Alignment in Focus

At the Space Defence Tech Meet-Up held on 2 June at Lisbon’s Técnico Innovation Centre, leaders from defence, academia, and industry gathered to address Europe’s lagging position in the space sector. Organised by Critical Software, SAAB, and Instituto Superior Técnico, the event reflected growing concern over the continent’s slow pace and fragmented efforts, particularly when compared to the United States and China. 

Speakers highlighted that space is no longer merely a frontier for scientific exploration, but a strategic domain tied to sovereignty, security, and economic resilience. With only two successful launches in the past year, Europe risks falling behind “not only by China but even by India”, as Professor Joana Mendonça said. The message was clear: underinvestment, excessive caution, and scattered funding across numerous small projects are stalling meaningful progress. 

Christer Fuglesang, ESA astronaut and innovation advisor, reflected on the need for unity: “From space, you see this beautiful blue ball with no borders, and it makes you wonder why we can’t work as well together down here.” His words framed a broader concern regarding Europe’s risk-averse and fragmented approach. 

While challenges remain, the tone during the event was not one of defeat, but of potential. Colonel Pedro Costa, from the Portuguese Air Force, emphasised Portugal’s strategic location and its potential role in Earth observation and satellite operations, calling for “less dispersion and more coordinated action” across Europe to build real autonomy in space capabilities. According to Diogo Amorim, Business Development Manager at Critical Software, Portugal has both the “technical talent and infrastructure potential” to support space missions. 

For a visual recap of the event, watch the full video now on Critical’s Youtube channel.