From 19 to 21 May 2025, representatives of the European Space Agency (ESA) and OHB Systems AG, a leading German satellite manufacturer, visited Latvia to strengthen cooperation with Latvian institutions, companies and research organisations in the space sector. The visit included meetings with the Latvian Space Office, as well as representatives from industry and research institutions, to review Latvia’s achievements within ESA programmes and explore future cooperation opportunities.
On 19 May, ESA representatives – Stephen Airey, Head of Section New, Cooperating and Associate States, and Karol Brzostowski, ESA Latvia Country Officer – met with members of the Latvian ESA delegation: Head of Delegation and space sector expert Kaspars Karolis, and Senior Expert Ilze Stikāne. The meeting focused on Latvia’s participation in ESA national and optional programmes, as well as future directions for development. ESA representatives offered recommendations on how to boost the competitiveness of Latvian companies and achieve sustainable growth in the European space industry.
At the same time, ESA's Industrial Coordinator for Latvia, Dāvids Štēbelis, together with Luca Spani Molella from OHB Systems, visited several Latvian companies active in the space sector to discuss potential collaboration opportunities. OHB Systems AG is Germany’s leading satellite manufacturer, one of ESA’s key systems integrators in Europe, and is active in telecommunications, navigation, Earth observation, science and space exploration.
Seminar on ESA’s National Programme – Support for Start-ups 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 preparation, RPA structure, funding opportunities, and engagement mechanisms. The RPA programme enables Latvian organisations to compete amongst themselves, making it particularly suitable for entities applying for ESA funding for the first time. This year again, around half of the seminar participants were newcomers, indicating a growing interest among new stakeholders. Following the presentations, companies and research institutions had the opportunity to meet individually with ESA and OHB Systems representatives, as well as with the head of the ESA BIC Latvia business incubation centre.
Here are the presentations used in the seminar. ESA presentations:
OHB Systems presentation is available here.
Technology Demonstrations and Industry Visits
On 21 May, ESA representative Karol Brzostowski, accompanied by the ESA Industrial Coordinator for Latvia, visited several Latvian companies with potential for future cooperation with ESA. The day also featured a technology demonstration by the Latvian company Deep Space Energy, showcasing their work at Technology Readiness Level 3 (TRL 3). During the demonstration the experts simulated the radioisotope heat using electric heaters to represent space-like radiation cooling with water cooler. The demonstration showcased energy conversion into voltage, validating the core concept of RTALIG — a dynamic converter operating with just one piston. The event was attended by representatives from the Ministry of Education and Science, the University of Latvia, and other stakeholders.
About the ESA National Programme in Latvia
Latvia has been an Associate Member of the European Space Agency since 27 July 2020, which grants organisations registered in Latvia access to ESA’s national programme. The aim of the RPA programme is to strengthen the capacity and competitiveness of local organisations by supporting the development of innovative space-related products and services, thereby creating sustainable business opportunities within the space sector.
In the fifth round of Latvia’s ESA national programme, which concluded in 2024, 10 projects were approved, with a total funding of €1,581,267.
The sixth call for proposals under Latvia’s ESA national programme will be officially announced on 2 June 2025 via the ESA portal.
Organisers
The seminar was organised by the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Latvia in cooperation with the European Space Agency, and was implemented within the framework of the ERDF project No. 1.1.1.1/1/24/I/001: “More Efficient Implementation and Management of Latvia's Science Policy”.
