Governing Bodies

SPACE AISBL and the Partnership operate under governance models designed to ensure transparency, inclusivity, and effective collaboration. These frameworks enable coordinated efforts between industry, academia, SMEs, and policymakers to achieve shared goals for innovation and competitiveness in the European space sector.

Further details on the governance structures of both SPACE AISBL and the Partnership can be found below.

SPACE AISBL

Space Partnership Association for the Competitiveness of Europe

General Assembly

The General Assembly is composed of each Member, represented by a delegate (whether Founding, Full or Associate). The General Assembly is chaired by the President of The Association. In the absence of the President, the General assembly shall designate a meeting chair among its members.

Steering Board

The Steering Board is composed of a total of 20 delegates nominated by the Founding Members, and ratified by the General Assembly (Founding Members are encouraged to promote gender diversity in Steering Board membership). The Steering Board is composed as follows:

Industry represented by Eurospace: 10 seats;
Research and technology Organisations represented by EASTRO: 2 seats;
Research and technology Organisations represented by ESRE: 3 seats;
SMEs represented by SME4Space: 4 seats
Academia represented by EASN: 1 seat.

Each Steering Board member is given one vote. Each Steering Board member can hold an unlimited number of proxies from other Steering Board members.

Steering Board members shall:

Be nominated for three years, renewable without limits;
Be an active employee or affiliate of any member of The Association (Founding, Full or Associate);
In the event that this criterion is not met anymore, the Board member shall resign from its Board Member position with immediate action;
Be knowledgeable of space systems RDT & innovation;
Be knowledgeable of European space RDT & innovation policies and programmes;
Commit to act in good faith and in line with The Association’s objectives and policies;
Commit to act in good faith and in line with its representation mandate from its nominating body (the relevant founding member).

The Steering board composition shall be ratified by the annual General Assembly. In case it is not, Founding Members are invited to propose other nominees.

Each member of the Steering Board may resign from his/her mandate through a written notification sent to the President and to the other Steering Board members. Resignation will be effective only after a replacement has been nominated by the relevant Founding Member.

A member of the Steering Board may be dismissed at any time by simple decision of its nominating Founding Member. Dismissal will be effective only after a replacement has been nominated by the relevant Founding Member.

In case of vacancy, the relevant Steering member shall swiftly nominate a replacement, whose nomination will be then ratified at the earliest General Assembly Meeting.

President (and Executive Director)

The President appointment is proposed by the Steering Board to the General Assembly.

The President shall:

Be appointed for three years, renewable without limits;
Be an active employee or affiliate of a founding member – in the event that this criterion is not met anymore, the President shall resign from its position with immediate action;
Be knowledgeable of space systems RDT & innovation;
Be knowledgeable of European space RDT & innovation policies and programmes;
Demonstrate management and administration qualities;
Commit to act in good faith and in line with the Association’s objectives and policies; Exercise neutrality.

Partnership Governing Board

Composed of European Union and SPACE AISBL representatives

The Partnership Board is the main body for steering the European Partnership, with the ultimate purpose of implementing the MoU, and achieving the partnership objectives set out in the MoU and its Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA). It is responsible for taking decisions for the European Partnership, including the approval of results and proposals from the high-level meetings on strategic issues foreseen in the Memorandum of Understanding.

The Partnership Board ensures that the annual planning of activities from both sides steers towards the high-level objectives, including through regular monitoring and assessment.

The Association which signed the Memorandum of Understanding, and which represents the Partners other than the Union, nominates its Partnership Board Members, selected among its/their constituent entities. The Association tries to ensure an adequate representation of all stakeholders, an adequate geographical balance as well as an adequate gender balance among its nominated Partnership Board Members.

The Members from the Partners other than the Union will consist of up to 5 representatives with adequate representation from each TYPE of partner. In case of absence of a Board Member, they may appoint a substitute, provided that the substitute is from the same TYPE of partner.

The European Commission lead service(s) in charge of the European Partnership nominates the European Commission’s Partnership Board Members. These Members will consist of up to 2 representatives. In case of absence of a Board Member, the European Commission lead service(s) can nominate a substitute member.

State Representative Group

Composed of Horizon Europe Member States representatives

The States Representatives Group consists of representatives of each Member State and of each country associated with the European Commission’s Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (Horizon Europe). The SRG representatives may provide SRG advisory recommendations on the Partnership Board agenda as seen relevant.