EU Space Market Report 2026: a growing, connected space economy

Europe's space economy is entering a new growth phase. This first article in our new series explores the key market trends, technologies and applications shaping the future of the EU Space Programme.

From satellite navigation (GNSS) and Earth Observation (EO) to secure satellite communications and orbital safety, Europe's space economy is becoming more connected. EUSPA's EU Space Market Report brings these developments together in a single analysis, revealing the market trends, technologies and solutions shaping Europe's space future.

Europe's space economy is entering a new phase of expansion. According to the EU Space Market Report 2026, EO revenues are expected to more than double, from €3.5 billion in 2024 to €7.9 billion by 2034. GNSS revenues are also forecast to exceed €580 billion over the same period.

Beyond updated market forecasts, the report also expands its scope by analysing Secure SATCOM and space safety alongside GNSS and EO. Collectively, these EU Space Programme components enable a broad ecosystem of downstream applications.

The report examines their impact across 16 market segments, from agriculture and aviation to emergency management, transport, security and urban development, demonstrating how space technologies are becoming part of everyday economic activity.

Download the full report to see where your industry fits in.

Services driving GNSS

GNSS value-added services, with positioning woven into logistics, farming, finance and mobility, are growing faster than device sales and will account for close to 80% of total GNSS revenue by 2034.

Even though GNSS-enabled devices are used everywhere, from smartphones to cars and trucks, the applications powered by positioning data are now driving the market forward.

EO becomes a business tool

Following a similar path, EO is moving from a specialist capability into an everyday business tool across all related market segments. This trend reflects the pressure of climate change on agriculture, energy and infrastructure, and an improving business case for using satellite data to manage these challenges more effectively. Agriculture alone accounts for over a fifth of EO revenue today.

European companies have also established a strong position at the end of the value chain by transforming raw satellite data into actionable insights, a segment where Europe holds more than 60% of the global market.

Secure SATCOM for critical connectivity

As cyber threats and geopolitical instability increase, Secure SATCOM is addressing a need that has become harder to ignore: a reliable, secure and resilient connectivity.

Governments and critical infrastructure operators are driving demand, using Secure SATCOM for everything, from border surveillance to crisis response. Satellite data service revenues generated by EU users in this segment are projected to grow from just over €200 million in 2025 to nearly €1.2 billion by 2040. Programmes such as GOVSATCOM and the upcoming IRIS² constellation are helping strengthen Europe's strategic autonomy by reducing dependence on providers outside the EU and ensuring secure communications when they are needed most.

SSA protects space infrastructure

Space Situational Awareness (SSA), in its Space Surveillance and Tracking (SST) sub-component, addresses a quieter but growing concern: keeping orbit safe and usable. As the number of satellites and the amount of space debris continue to grow, tracking and managing objects in orbit is essential to protecting the infrastructure that underpins navigation, communications and Earth observation services.

The EUSST, pooling capabilities from 19 Member States, already provides collision-avoidance, re-entry and fragmentation-detection services to hundreds of satellites and organisations, helping ensure that Europe's space infrastructure remains safe and operational.

A space economy working as one

Europe's space economy is becoming increasingly interconnected. Navigation, EO, Secure SATCOM and SSA/SST each address different user needs, but together they support public services, economic growth and Europe's strategic autonomy.

EUSPA's EU Space Market Report presents the latest data and forecasts, drawing a detailed picture of how the European space market is expected to evolve over the coming decade and the opportunities this evolution more will create across industries.

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