European space tech has data to sell — but where are the buyers?

The European space industry is experiencing a boom, but it faces a significant challenge in finding commercial buyers for its valuable data output. At the Living Planet Symposium 2025 in Vienna, the European Space Agency (ESA) and private sector leaders discussed the industry's bold ambitions and the need for increased cooperation to address this commercial gap. ESA's director general, Josef Aschbacher, emphasized that Earth observation is a major priority for the agency. ESA has had recent successful missions, such as the miniature satellite Φsat-2, which has started transmitting high-definition images back to Earth. However, the industry is struggling to translate this technological progress into commercial success. The article suggests that while the European space industry is thriving, it needs to find effective strategies to monetize its data and attract more commercial buyers. This will require a concerted effort from both the public and private sectors to address the underlying challenges and capitalize on the industry's potential.