Overview

Eurospace – a not for profit organisation incorporated under the French law of 1901 – fosters the development of space activities in Europe and promotes a better understanding of space industry related issues and problems. It gathers industry-relevant information and maintains permanent liaison with ESA (the European Space Agency), National Space Agencies (CNES/France, DLR/Germany, ASI/Italy) and in general any organisation using or compelling the use of space techniques such as the European governments or the European Union.

Eurospace was founded in 1961 as the organisation of the then emerging space industry. Ever since, Eurospace has counted the membership of the major industrial space companies in Europe under the chairmanship of charismatic industry leaders such as Mr Delorme (founder President and CEO of L’Air Liquide until 1993), Mr Vallerani (President of Alenia Spazio until 1998), Mr Öfverholm (President of Saab Ericsson Space), Mr Carlier (CEO of Astrium in 2001), Mrs Pascale Sourisse (CEO of Thales Alenia Space), Mr Marco Fuchs (CEO of OHB-System), Mr Jean-Loïc Galle (CEO of Thales Alenia Space), André-Hubert Roussel (CEO of ArianeGroup), up to the current President Jean-Marc Nasr (Head of Space Systems within Airbus Defence and Space and President of Airbus Defence and Space SAS).

Its Management structure comprises a Board of Directors, called the ‘Council’ the composition of which reflects the size of each country’s company participation, the General Assembly and a Policy Committee which directs the Association’s policy established by the Council and monitors the activity of the various working groups and panels. The Council also nominates the President and the Financial Committee members to be elected by the General Assembly, appoints the members of the Policy Committee (PC), supervises the activities of the latter and sets up temporary committees or working groups to deal with specific issues. A Financial Committee supervises the financial situation and determines the amount of the yearly membership fee to be paid by the companies.

In 2004, Eurospace became the Space Group of ASD (AeroSpace and Defence Industries Association of Europe – formerly AECMA), representing space interests. The new aggregated structure allows industry to benefit from existing synergies between aeronautics, space and defence industrial activities.

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