The European space industry is entering a period of unprecedented growth in 2026, driven by billion‑euro investments in defence, Earth observation and communications programmes, which creates a historic opportunity for Polish companies to secure a key position in the European supply chain for space technologies.
The European space sector is undergoing a profound transformation in 2026, driven by three main factors. Growing defence needs of member states in response to the war in Ukraine and geopolitical tensions, the European Union’s drive for strategic technological autonomy, and the dynamic development of commercial space markets such as Earth observation and satellite communications are creating a new quality in European space policy. Poland, which for the first years of its membership in the European Space Agency since 2012 did not fully exploit its potential, is finally beginning to play a role commensurate with its ambitions and economic capabilities. For Polish entrepreneurs and engineers, this means the opening of doors to projects that only a few years ago they could only dream of.
European context, billion‑euro investments and strategic shift
The largest and most significant European space project is IRIS² (Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity and Security by Satellite), a multi‑billion euro initiative of the European Union to build a sovereign, multi‑orbital constellation of communications satellites for civilian, governmental and military purposes. The total value of the project is estimated at around EUR 10.6 billion, and it is ultimately intended to place 272 satellites in low Earth orbit and 18 satellites in medium Earth orbit. IRIS² is intended to give Europe independent access to secure satellite communications, making it independent of services such as the US‑based Starlink.
As early as 2026, the critical project review phase began and production of the first batch of satellites commenced. According to industry reports, existing European suppliers of satellite components are mostly small companies that need support to adapt to IRIS² requirements. This creates an opportunity for Polish companies to supply components, subsystems and services for this giant project. Alongside IRIS², the European Space Agency is implementing a number of other key programmes, including Earth observation missions (Copernicus), satellite navigation (Galileo), exploration of the Moon and Mars, and the development of new technologies such as in‑orbit satellite servicing and advanced propulsion systems.
Poland in the European Space Agency
Poland has been a member of the European Space Agency since 2012, but it is only in recent years that the country has begun to fully exploit the potential of this membership. In 2025, Poland took the strategic decision to significantly increase its contribution to the ESA budget. The total value of the contribution for the years 2026–2028 is EUR 731 million, a significant increase compared to previous periods. For comparison, in the previous budget cycle Poland’s contribution was about USD 218 million, and the new amount of about USD 823 million represents an almost four‑fold increase in financial commitment.
Of this amount, nearly EUR 550 million will go to optional ESA programmes – i.e. those in which Poland voluntarily participates and from which Polish companies can benefit directly. These funds will go to projects related to lunar exploration, Earth observation, secure communications, space transportation, in‑orbit satellite servicing and the development of technologies for future missions. Poland has also increased its involvement in international exploration initiatives, including joining the Artemis Accords, which govern the rules of cooperation on lunar exploration. This means that Polish companies and scientific institutions now have the full right to bid for contracts under the US programme to return humans to the Moon.
Leading Polish space companies
The Polish space sector is much more mature today than it was five or six years ago. The total value of the Polish space sector in the broad sense exceeds PLN 12 billion, while strictly space technologies are valued at about PLN 5.3 billion. The Polish space industry currently brings together about 60 companies, some of which have already achieved success on the international stage.
Creotech Instruments is undoubtedly the largest and most advanced Polish space company. The company, listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange, is the largest Polish integrator of space missions and one of ESA’s key contractors in Central Europe. In December 2025, Creotech signed a contract with ESA for the implementation of phase A of the Twardowski mission – the first fully European lunar mission in over 20 years. In this project, Creotech acts as the prime contractor and leader of the entire consortium. The mission involves placing a satellite based on the proprietary HyperSat platform into low lunar orbit to map the lunar surface in the visible and mid‑infrared ranges. The collected data will be used to identify lunar resources and analyse potential landing sites for international exploration programmes, including Artemis.
In May 2026, Creotech announced its development strategy for 2026–2029, which assumes increasing production capacity from about 10 to more than 40 satellites per year and expanding its offer from micro and mini satellites to satellites weighing up to 500 kilograms. The company’s goal is to join the ranks of the four leading space mission integrators in Europe. To realise these ambitious plans, Creotech plans to raise around EUR 100 million through a public offering to expand production capacity, develop new satellite platforms and make potential acquisitions and strategic partnerships. In February 2026, Creotech also signed a strategic partnership with the French satellite operator Eutelsat, under which the Polish company will adapt its satellite platforms to the requirements of the IRIS² programme, and its subsidiary Creotech Quantum will contribute quantum cryptography technologies.
Eycore is another Polish company that has achieved significant success in the space market. In May 2026, Eycore launched its first Earth observation satellite, Eycore‑1, equipped with proprietary synthetic aperture radar (SAR) technology. With this, Eycore became the second private company in Europe to have its own SAR satellite. Synthetic aperture radar technology enables imaging of the Earth’s surface regardless of weather conditions and time of day, which is of key importance for military and civilian applications. Eycore is also developing SAR satellites for the POLSARIS military constellation, which is to provide the Polish army with independent observation capabilities. The company plans to invest approximately PLN 50 million to expand its production capacity, including building a new radar technology factory in Gdynia.
Scanway is a specialist in advanced optical systems and satellite image processing. The company was selected by ESA to process images of the lunar surface as part of a joint mission with the US company Intuitive Machines. The contract, worth EUR 500,000, provides for the delivery of both an optical instrument to image thousands of square kilometres of lunar terrain and a full satellite data processing system. This is the first commercial European lunar image processing system.
Thorium Space is a Polish deep‑tech company developing satellite communication technologies for the institutional, defence and critical infrastructure sectors. In June 2026, the company announced its development strategy for 2026–2036, based on expanding its own IP, integrated circuits and technologies for the security sector. SpaceForest is a company from Gdynia that signed a contract with EuroSpacePort, a sea spaceport supported by ESA, to carry out an international space flight of the PERUN rocket. KP Labs is another Polish company actively operating in the space sector, whose representatives emphasise that 2026 is shaping up to be one of the most dynamic periods in the history of the Polish space sector.
Key opportunity areas for Polish companies
The most obvious and most advanced area is the production of small satellites and satellite platforms. Poland already has successful references in this area. Creotech is developing its proprietary HyperSat platform for satellites weighing up to 100 kilograms, and under its new strategy plans to develop platforms for satellites weighing up to 500 kilograms, designated SWAN and EMU. Eycore produces SAR satellites, while Scanway supplies advanced optical instruments. The growing demand for small satellites – both for commercial Earth observation and communications constellations and for institutional programmes such as IRIS² and Copernicus – creates huge opportunities for Polish manufacturers. Polish companies can act both as suppliers of components and subsystems to larger integrators such as Airbus or Thales Alenia Space, and as independent manufacturers of entire satellites for smaller and medium‑scale applications.
Even if Polish companies do not build entire satellites, they can supply key components and subsystems for European missions. Potential areas include optical systems and cameras, where Scanway has proven its competence. SAR radar technologies, where Eycore is a leader, will also enjoy growing demand due to their ability to image regardless of weather. Satellite communications systems developed by Thorium Space, power supply and energy management systems, mechanical structures and composite materials, attitude control and navigation systems, onboard computer systems and software, and cryptography and security technologies, including quantum cryptography developed by Creotech Quantum, are further areas where Polish companies already have initial successes.
Polish companies can also operate in the downstream segment, i.e. the processing and commercialisation of satellite data. Demand is growing for services such as environmental monitoring, precision agriculture, crisis management, urban planning and border security. Polish companies can create applications and services based on data from European Copernicus and Galileo satellites and private constellations.
One of the main drivers of the Polish space sector in 2026 is the convergence of the space and defence sectors. The war in Ukraine has highlighted the key importance of satellite capabilities for modern military operations – from reconnaissance and monitoring, through communications, to navigation. Poland, which is significantly increasing its defence spending, is investing in domestic satellite capabilities, including the POLSARIS reconnaissance constellation. Companies such as Creotech and Eycore are direct beneficiaries of these programmes. Dual‑use technologies – which have both civilian and military applications – will be a priority for the Polish government and industry.
IRIS² is a giant project that will require thousands of components, subsystems and services. ESA has already indicated that many European component suppliers are small companies that need support to meet the requirements of this programme. Polish companies are in an ideal position to fill this gap. Creotech has already partnered with Eutelsat on IRIS², and other Polish companies can supply components such as solar panels, batteries, communications systems, onboard computers or mechanical structures.
Support system
The Polish government actively supports the development of the space sector. In March 2026, the Sejm adopted the long‑awaited Act on Space Activities, which aims to increase Poland’s share in European orbital ventures and the use of space technologies in defence. These regulations will ensure the implementation of the Polish Space Strategy and increase the competitiveness of the Polish space sector. The act creates a legal framework for the supervision of national space operations, including a system for licensing and registering satellites.
The Polish government is also considering the establishment of a suborbital spaceport. In December 2025, deputies submitted an inquiry to the Ministry of National Defence, arguing that Poland has a historic opportunity to join the group of countries with their own suborbital launch capabilities. Such a port could serve launches of small suborbital and orbital rockets, which would open up new opportunities for Polish rocket companies such as SpaceForest.
At the European level, Polish companies can benefit from various funding programmes. The European Commission has launched the CASSINI initiative worth EUR 1 billion to support start‑ups and small and medium‑sized enterprises in the space sector. ESA offers business incubation programmes (ESA BIC) that provide funding, mentoring and technical support for space start‑ups. The EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation, Horizon Europe, offers numerous funding opportunities for space projects under the cluster “Digital, Industry and Space”. In 2026, a new work programme for 2026–2027 was published, which includes projects related to strategic autonomy, space infrastructure and services.
Challenges and barriers to the development of the Polish space sector
Despite its huge potential, the Polish space sector faces serious challenges that may limit its growth. First and foremost, there is a shortage of qualified staff. The space sector requires highly specialised engineers, physicists and IT specialists, and the supply of such specialists in Poland is limited. Competition for talent with the IT and financial sectors is huge, and salaries in those industries often exceed what space companies can offer, especially at an early stage of development.
The Polish space industry has not yet reached full maturity, especially compared to established players such as France, Germany or Italy. There is a lack of experience in managing large, complex projects and in delivering certified space components that must meet stringent quality and reliability standards. Certification for the space sector is a lengthy and costly process, which is a barrier to entry for many small companies.
Access to finance remains limited, particularly for start‑ups and small companies. Investing in space technology is expensive and risky, and development cycles are long, often exceeding the horizon of a typical venture capital fund. The Polish venture capital market is relatively underdeveloped, although the situation is gradually improving with the emergence of funds specialising in deep‑tech. Polish companies also have to compete with established European players who have longer histories, more experience and better relationships with institutions.
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