To strengthen cooperation with Latvian institutions, companies, and research organizations in the space sector, representatives of the European Space Agency (ESA) and Germany’s leading satellite manufacturer OHB Systems AG visited Latvia from 19 to 21 May 2025. During the visit, meetings were held with the Latvian Space Office, as well as with representatives of companies and research institutions to discuss Latvia’s current achievements in ESA programmes and future collaboration opportunities.
On 19 May, ESA representatives – Head of the Associate and Cooperating States Section Stephen Airey and ESA’s National Contact Point for Latvia, Slovenia, and Croatia Karol Brzostowski – met with members of the Latvian ESA delegation: delegation head and space sector expert Kaspars Karolis, and senior expert Ilze Stikāne.
The meeting focused on reviewing Latvia’s participation in both the national and optional ESA programmes and identifying future directions for development. ESA representatives provided recommendations on how to strengthen the competitiveness of Latvian companies and ensure sustainable growth in the European space industry.
Meanwhile, ESA’s Industrial Coordinator for Latvia, Dāvids Štēbelis, together with OHB Systems representative Luca Spani Molella, visited several Latvian space-sector companies to discuss potential cooperation opportunities. OHB Systems AG is a leading satellite manufacturer in Germany, one of ESA’s main system integrators in Europe, and actively operates in telecommunications, navigation, Earth observation, science, and space exploration.
Seminar on ESA National Programme – Support for Startups and Research
On 20 May, the annual seminar on Latvia’s participation in ESA’s national programme (Requesting Party Activities – RPA) was held. ESA representatives provided practical information on proposal development, RPA structure, funding opportunities, and mechanisms for involvement. As the RPA programme enables Latvian organizations to compete among themselves, it is particularly well-suited for first-time ESA applicants. This year, around half of the participants were attending for the first time, demonstrating growing interest from new stakeholders. Following the presentations, Latvian companies and research institutions had the opportunity for one-on-one meetings with ESA and OHB Systems representatives, as well as with the head of the ESA BIC Latvia business incubation centre.
Showcasing Latvian Innovation to the ESA
On 21 May, ESA representative Karol Brzostowski and ESA’s Industrial Coordinator in Latvia visited several Latvian companies with the potential to start cooperation with ESA. The day also featured a demonstration by Latvian company Deep Space Energy, which presented its high-efficiency radioisotope power generator prototype at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 3. The demonstration was attended by representatives from the Ministry of Education and Science, the University of Latvia, and others.
About the ESA National Programme in Latvia
Latvia has been an associate member of the European Space Agency since 27 July 2020. This status provides Latvia-registered organizations access to the ESA national programme. The aim of the RPA programme is to enhance the capacity and competitiveness of local organizations by supporting the development of innovative space-related products and services, thus fostering sustainable business opportunities in the space sector.
In the fifth round of Latvia’s ESA national programme, which concluded in 2024, a total of 10 projects were approved with a combined budget of €1,581,267.
The sixth call for proposals under Latvia’s ESA national programme will officially be announced on 2 June 2025 via the ESA portal.
The seminar was organized by the Ministry of Education and Science in cooperation with the European Space Agency, under the ERDF project No. 1.1.1.1/1/24/I/001 “More Effective and Smarter Implementation and Management of Latvia’s Science Policy.”
