Introduction
The CapTech Space is the largest forum of research and technology (R&T) community for space defence in the EU and the largest EDA CapTech. It brings together over 600 experts from Member States, industry, SMEs, research organisations, and academia. Started in 2023, this multinational cooperation drives research, innovation, and technology development to strengthen EU’s strategic autonomy in space defence.
CapTech Space’s main goals are to:
- Coordinate and strengthen R&T for space defence in Europe
- Address capability gaps and support emerging defence needs
- Promote multinational cooperation among the Member States and their industries in line with the EU Space Strategy for Security & Defence
- Reduce costs and boost synergies with dual-use activities
- Pool knowledge and resources across the European defence ecosystem
CapTech Space also works closely with the European Space Agency (ESA), the European Union Satellite Centre (SatCen), the European Commission and NATO. The key initiatives include the Joint Task Force between on European Strategic Non-Dependence on Critical Technologies (EDA-EC-ESA) and the EDA-SatCen study on Digital Twins for Security and Defence as well as the 2026 implementing arrangement between EDA and ESA on their cooperation for a Joint Study on Long-Term Space-Based Earth Observation Technology Roadmaps.
Technology Building Blocks
The following nine Technology Building Blocks (TBBs) are the specific technological focus areas that guide the CapTech’s activities and research priorities:
- Defence space architecture: developing interoperability and securing information sharing
- Space Situational awareness and Space Operations: space-based sensors, satellite solutions and AI techniques to survey the space environment
- Launch, space and ground segment: developing technologies for innovative small satellites in Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO), propulsion systems, launchers, and the High-Attitude Pseudo-Satellite (HAPS)
- Detection, mitigation and protection by space systems: covering capabilities for protection including electronic warfare, early warning and ballistic missile defence
- Earth observation and reconnaissance: developing European high-performance sensors for space-based earth observation and defence imagery
- Space-based position, navigation and timing applications
- Satellite communications: ensuring high bandwidth and security in satellite communications
- Quantum and other disruptive technologies for space applications: keeping up with military quantum information networks, quantum computing and other disruptive technologies
- Data processing: using AI image and data processing that enables efficient real-time data monitoring, spatial image recognition and timely decision making
Link to EDA’s capability domains
The CapTech Space primarily supports the Space capability domain, focusing on two main priorities:
- Space services: using space-based technologies to deliver defence capabilities in earth observation, satellite communication and positioning, navigation and timing. These are essential enablers supporting all operational domains
- Space operations: covering the launch, early orbit, monitoring, management, execution, and protection of space defence missions and assets
In addition, CapTech Space contributes to other capability domains, such as Cyber, where cross-domain technologies and challenges are closely interlinked.
CapTech Space also serves as the R&T component of the EDA Defence in Space (DiS) Forum, which aims to develop a common European approach to defence capabilities in space. The Forum promotes collaboration between Member States and fosters shared defence perspectives across ongoing EU initiatives, including those related to the EU civil space programmes.
Join the CapTech
The CapTech Space meets three times per year and. Member States can offer to host meetings on top. Dedicated industry workshops foster the participation of both governmental representatives and private entities.
During the meetings, representatives of the Ministries of Defence, designated as CapTech National Coordinators (CNCs), discuss technology areas with the potential to lead to multinational research projects, in consultation with the CapTech Governmental and non-Governmental members.
You can submit membership request to the CapTech moderator. The applications require approval by the respective CapTech National Coordinator (CNC). The approval of the CNC will be needed to become a Governmental Expert (CGE) or non-Governmental Expert (CnGE), and for your participation in a CapTech event.
To become a member of the CapTech (CGE or CnGE), contact:
[email protected].