Telespazio Ibérica, a subsidiary in Spain of the Italian defense company Leonardo, and CEiiA, a Portuguese center for engineering and product development, have closed a long-term cooperation alliance aimed at strengthening the space industry in Spain and Portugal. The agreement, signed in Italy, also contemplates the possibility of extending this collaboration to other countries in the future.
CEiiA, responsible for the largest space program included in Portugal's Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR), known as the 'Agenda New Space Portugal', and Telespazio Ibérica will join forces in areas such as the design of services and applications supported by Earth observation data, as well as in joint participation in the development and operation of satellite constellations, including the Canary Islands Constellation and the Atlantic Constellation.
The pact also foresees the definition of an Iberian operational framework for satellite operations, cooperation in the commercial promotion of these capabilities, and joint bidding for European institutional programs related to space.
The governance of the agreement will fall to a joint steering committee, responsible for overseeing the evolution of the alliance, coordinating strategy, preparing monitoring reports, and studying different legal and financial structure alternatives to support the collaboration.
"This agreement represents a strategic milestone in our growth trajectory in the Iberian Peninsula and beyond. By joining forces with CEiiA, we are laying the foundations for a solid and integrated space ecosystem capable of competing on a European and global scale, while reinforcing Telespazio's role as a key player in satellite operations and Earth observation services for institutions and companies," stated the CEO of Telespazio Ibérica, Carlos Fernández de la Peña.
"This cooperation between CEiiA and Telespazio Ibérica represents a concrete step towards the integration of Southern European space ecosystems. Leveraging the momentum of the Atlantic Constellation, together we will shape a shared vision for the future of Earth observation in Europe and expand the role of national space capabilities as catalysts for strengthening European strategic autonomy," highlighted the CEO of CEiiA, José Rui Felizardo.