ArianeGroup, HEC Paris, and the European Space Agency (ESA) are establishing an applied research initiative to identify and study long-term trends in the space sector.
The launch ceremony was attended by André-Hubert Roussel, CEO of ArianeGroup, Johann-DietrichWörner, ESA’s Director General, and Peter Todd, Dean of HEC Paris, a leading business school in Europe. With this undertaking, ArianeGroup, an Airbus–Safran joint venture, intends to promote innovation and the development of new solutions for access to space, and Earth-to-orbit/return-to-Earth transport in order to continue to contribute to Europe’s competitiveness in a rapidly evolving space economy.
This collaborative venture will direct and oversee research projects focusing on value-creation in the space sector, high-potential macroeconomic models,and sector trends. The projects will include research work with an international dimension and generate rated publications within the framework of ESALab@HEC Paris. Etienne Krieger and Patrick Legland, both Affiliated Professors at HEC Paris, have been appointed co-directors of this nitiative.
ArianeGroup CEO André-Hubert Roussel said the space economy is changing rapidly and the company must continuously anticipate new market trends. This joint initiative will provide input for the company for on-going missions and maintaining independent access to space for Europe, remaining a leader in the commercial market and staying at the forefront of technological innovation.
Johann-Dietrich Wörner, ESA Director General, remarked that this initiative is part of the ESA_Lab@ project and responds to ESA’s objective of fostering a globally competitive European space sector, by supporting research, innovation, entrepreneurship for growth and jobs, seizing larger shares of global markets,and allowing European industry to occupy a leader position in the international space sector.
Peter Todd, the Dean of HEC Paris, added that one of HEC Paris’ main missions is to contribute to thinking about the world of tomorrow. Exploring the possible futures of the space economy together with scientific colleagues from ESA and ArianeGroup is an exciting prospect for HEC Paris, as entrepreneurial spirit and capacity for innovation have always been part of the HEC Paris DNA. This is an original collaboration with a multi-disciplinary approach and carries a strong potential for innovation to meet the space challenges of tomorrow as well as to build on the excellence of the European model in a highly strategic sector.
Etienne Krieger and Patrick Legland, co-directors of the project, reported that there is one area where the only limit is imagination — space — as it involves a entire host of scientific, technical, political, economic,and environmental issues. The space sector is a fertile ground for entrepreneurs and innovators: It is natural that HEC Paris should leverage its expertise for the benefit of this sector which already employs many former students. To foster the emergence of technically and economically viable innovations, this project will develop a series of forward-looking workshops with students, teachers and partners from ESA and ArianeGroup. They will combine rigorous methods with creative sessions to help shape the space industry’s future.