By participating in the European Space Agency (ESA) programs, Latvian organizations received funding of 4.9 million euros last year, according to the report by the Ministry of Education and Science for 2024.
Of this amount, 1.58 million euros were received in the national program, and 1.2 million euros in the main technology support program.
Among the most significant projects is the contract for the "Commercialization Reactor" amounting to 1.1 million euros for the creation of a business incubator by the European Space Agency (ESA) in Latvia, as well as the project by Baltic Scientific Instruments LLC for the development of perovskite-based detectors for X-ray and gamma radiation.
Perovskite is a material with a unique crystalline structure that is used to create inexpensive solar cells, LEDs, photodetectors, and other optoelectronic devices.
Since 2015, the largest contract amounts in ESA programs for the development of space technologies and services have been received by six Latvian organizations.
The main tool for the development of the space sector in Latvia is participation in the European Space Agency as an associated member. Additionally, opportunities provided by participation in the EU Space Program and the EU Space Agency, as well as involvement in the Horizon Europe program, are utilized.
Currently, Latvia participates in five ESA target programs — the technology support program, Earth observation, space security, space research, and the Scale-up startup development program.
