Ottawa, ON – At the SpaceBound conference late Monday afternoon, Industry Minister Mélanie Joly provided the gathered industry representatives a funding announcement of $528.5 million that will help them access programs in Europe, a further signal that Canada is pivoting towards Europe as a protectionist U.S. continues its trade war with Canada.
While Canada’s relationship with the U.S. is still good where cooperation in space is concerned, an example is Canada’s participation in the upcoming Artemis 2 mission that will see astronaut Jeremy Hansen head to the moon, there is uncertainty for our industrial base. And uncertainty does not make for a stable marketplace, especially with a heavy reliance on exports.
So it is prudent to look elsewhere, and where better to expand an existing relationship than with Europe. Canada and the European Space Agency (ESA) have a longstanding relationship with Canada being the only non-European cooperating state in ESA. Canada renewed its cooperation agreement with ESA in 2019 through 2030.
In making the announcement Minister Joly said, “This investment represents a tenfold increase compared to previous contributions and is set to advance research and development of Canadian-made space technologies for both civilian and defence purposes.”
Examples of dual-use technologies include satellite communications (including quantum technologies), Earth observation, space exploration, positioning, navigation and timing, and space situational awareness.
An example of what companies might expect is a contract Sherbrooke, Quebec based SBQuantum received last week from ESA for the development of a quantum diamond magnetometers sensor.
In speaking with several delegates at the conference afterwards we met a mostly positive response with at least one wondering how fast they could prepare themselves for this opportunity as they don’t have as many ties to Europe they once had.
That shouldn’t be a problem with Global Affairs Canada setting up trade missions. Canada was already on the ground in Germany this week with a trade delegation there for the annual Space Tech Expo Europe in Bremen.
And a delegation led by the Canadian Space Agency was also already heading to Europe next week for the ESA’s Ministerial Council on November 26–27, also in Bremen, in which ESA will make decisions on what programs to fund next year. Joly said that this is where Canada will discuss its investment and what specific ESA programs it will contribute to. And with that the door to European markets will be open just a little wider than previously.
The SpaceBound conference continues today and includes an early morning keynote from Minister of National Defence David J. McGuinty.