Space technologies
Space innovation makes us discover new worlds, but also develop technologies addressing pressing challenges and improve life on Earth. Companies account for 80% of yearly space patent filings, making them the dominant innovators.
At the EPO, we collaborate with the European Space Agency, the European Southern Observatory, the European Space Policy Institute and other stakeholders to find out what the future holds in this domain. Our reports, events and technology platform explore this and more.
Dive in
Propulsion systems for space – report
This report, conducted by the EPO and the European Space Policy Institute in collaboration with the European Space Agency, investigates the development of the technology of propulsion in the space sector.
Technology platform on space technologies
Find thousands of patent applications on space technologies classified by field. This curated platform makes it easy for researchers and inventors to find the latest inventions by area.
Space technologies in figures
Over 1 000
companies active in the market – twice the number in 2012 – according to Boston Consulting Group and ESPI.
2 800 satellite launches,
the average per year in 2023, a remarkable increase from the 300 average per year between 2010 and 2019.
EUR 9.2 bn
is the estimate for the space propulsion business in 2022, and this is projected to double or even triple in value by around 2030.
Q&A: insights from the EPO
- I work in R&D for space technologies: how can I use this information?
The EPO’s space technology platform provides a real-time overview of technological trends in cosmonautics and space observation. Our platform is comparable to an online library of academic publications: it’s an easy way to find knowledge, research and tech classified in different domains.
Researchers can:
- track and map over 60 space technology concepts to patent documents
- analyse innovation trends by company, country and year
- access tailored Espacenet patent searches for space-related R&D
- When did innovation in space technologies start gathering pace?
Space patent filings increased eightfold from 1990 to 2022, with rapid acceleration after 2010 and continuing into the 2020s.
- Who is driving innovation in space technologies?
- Companies account for 80% of yearly space-related patent filings, making them the dominant innovators.
- Universities and public research organisations play a lesser role.
- Which countries lead innovation in space propulsion?
- China dominates this field with 1 719 patent families, far outpacing the US (1 158) and Europe (732). But most international patent families, containing patents of high value which proprietors will want to commercialise in at least more than one country, are in Europe and the US.
- Russia, Japan and South Korea are also active in this domain.
- Some spacecraft can travel for years in deep space without running out of fuel. How do they do it?
Advanced space propulsion systems extend mission lifetimes by maximising efficiency and reducing fuel dependency:
- Ion thrusters (e.g. NASA's Dawn mission)
- Solar sails (e.g. LightSail)
- Nuclear propulsion
- Plasma engines
- Electromagnetic tethers
- Is teleportation actually possible yet or is it still the stuff of science fiction?
Although teleportation of objects of persons may still be a long way off, quantum teleportation has been successfully demonstrated over long distances in controlled experiments, also in space.
- Key applications of quantum technologies in space:
- Quantum key distribution for unhackable communications
- Atomic clocks for ultra-precise time keeping and navigation
- Quantum sensors for Earth observation
- Patent filings in space-related quantum tech have increased by 400% in five years.
- Key applications of quantum technologies in space:
Publications
Dive into a collection of insightful reports focused on space technologies.
This report, conducted by the EPO and the European Space Policy Institute in collaboration with the European Space Agency, investigates the development of the technology of propulsion in the space sector.
The report provides insights into patenting activity in space-borne sensing technologies. It was jointly produced by the EPO and the European Space Policy Institute in collaboration with the European Space Agency.
This study conducted by the EPO and the European Space Policy Institute in collaboration with the European Space Agency investigates the development of the technology of travel beyond the Earth's atmosphere into outer space.
Innovation case studies
Explore a series of innovation case studies showcasing how companies have successfully leveraged intellectual property in the field of space technologies. These real-world examples highlight the role of IP in driving growth, securing funding and fostering innovation.
Tracing the journey of the startup Oxeon: a combination of private ownership and public innovation support led to the commercialisation of Oxeon’s innovative textiles in the sports, industrial and aerospace sectors, and the subsequent licensing of its weaving technology.
Tools
Search for innovators and investors in the space field
The Deep Tech Finder is your gateway to exploring Europe's innovation landscape. Designed for investors, researchers, startups and universities, this free tool connects you with key players in cutting-edge technology fields.
Find technologies on our space innovation platform
Find thousands of patent applications on space technologies by field. This curated platform makes it easy for researchers and inventors to find the latest inventions by area.
Podcasts
Rocket science 101: inside space propulsion
Space technology is evolving at light speed and may even offer solutions to global challenges such as climate change. Join expert guests as they explore the significance of space propulsion for various applications, the rapid transformation of the space sector, the growing number of players in the field and the boom in spacecraft launches over the past decade.
From Mars to Morocco: space innovations for Earth challenges
Why are space technologies essential to address global challenges and to contribute to sustainable development goals? Join Maria-Gabriella Sarah (European Space Agency) and Rainer Horn (Novaspace) to discover how satellite-based communications and navigation improve our daily lives, and how innovations initially designed for astronauts have been repurposed to serve remote communities during health crises.
Houston, we have solutions!
Join us on an interstellar adventure to explore the out-of-this-world technology that makes space exploration possible. Inventor and YouTuber Simone Giertz and former patent examiner Rainer Kaysan will guide you through these fascinating inventions, careers in space and the key role aerospace innovation plays in becoming a greener planet.
Event recordings
Past events organised by the Observatory
Explore the events we hosted and watch video recordings
