Agreement between Agencja Rozwoju Przemysłu S.A. and the Polish Space Agency
Technology transfer from the space sector to other sectors, training of personnel, creation of new companies, and building an ecosystem that will ensure the rapid development and promotion of the Polish space sector in Europe and around the world - these are the main assumptions of the Cooperation of Agreement signed on September 15 this year between the ARP S.A. ( the Industrial Development Agency JSC) and the Polish Space Agency. The agreement expands the scope of existing activities in already implemented and planned joint programmes and projects.
The following ARP representatives signed the agreement: Cezariusz Lesisz, ARP president, and Sebastian Dąbski, Vice-President. The Polish Space Agency was represented by its president, prof. Grzegorz Wrochna.
“The ARP's strategy looks to the future and, in line with the assumption that innovation in industry is key, focuses on modernising the economy. Its activities cover robotisation, digitalisation, renewable energies and space technologies. The agency carries out a number of activities to develop and promote the space industry. For instance, the trainee programme "Developing human resources for the space sector”, which is carried out in cooperation with the space sector employers’ association. ARP S.A. also participates as an investor in the development of the space sector. Since 2014, the company has been a co-owner of Creotech Instruments S.A. from Piaseczno, which, among other things, deals with the construction of microsatellites, the development of advanced electronic systems for space instruments and the acquisition and processing of satellite data. In 2019. ARP S.A. acquired 44 per cent of the shares in PIAP Space, which was founded by the Industrial Institute of Automation and Measurements PIAP," explains Cezariusz Lesisz, president of ARP.
Cooperation in the mentioned areas includes active participation of both institutions in projects such as the “Polish Space Fellowship Programme”, a series of ARP Space Academy training courses, the POLSA Best Thesis Competition, the Space Conference for students, a strategic partnership in the establishment of a European Space Agency Incubator in Poland (ESA BIC Poland) or the joint organisation of events to promote the Polish space sector abroad.
POLSA's statutory mission is to support organisations and companies that promote favourable conditions for scientific research and development work in the field of space utilisation. The ARP, in turn, has been implementing the comprehensive support programme for the space sector in Poland since 2016.
“In the 10 years that Poland has been represented in ESA, many companies have been established and scientific institutes and universities have been built. There are now 400 Polish companies listed in ESA's databases, of which around 150 have already won tenders. Over 100 different technologies have been developed within the framework of these projects. Polish equipment has participated in 80 missions, and we currently have 11 Polish satellites in orbit. Our potential is constantly growing. Together we want to build competent, well-trained personnel for the Polish space industry," said POLSA President Grzegorz Wrochna.
The signing of the agreement was preceded by successful cooperation on many events and projects, such as: the creation of a catalogue of test infrastructures for the space industry in Poland, the Startup Poland Kosmos 2022 Foundation report, the ARP strategic partnership in the implementation of the EU SST (Space Surveillance and Tracking) "Human Resources Development Programme for National Space Situational Awareness" or joint stands at foreign trade fairs.
