Dimitris Papastergiou, Greece’s Minister of Digital Governance responsible for technology, digital policy and innovation, said the country must maintain an active presence in space through credible programmes, highlighting the strong progress of the national micro-satellite initiative during an interview with Athens-Macedonian News Agency on the sidelines of the “Kleisthenis” conference.
Papastergiou said Greece had already launched its first nano- and micro-satellites, noting that two operational micro-satellites developed by ICEYE were already in orbit. Additional nano-satellites included the MICE satellite developed by Prisma Electronics as well as satellites produced by the Democritus University of Thrace.
He added that, weather permitting, four nano-satellites from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, one from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and one from Planetek were scheduled for launch. Four operational micro-satellites developed by OroraTech were expected to launch in late April, followed by optical micro-satellites from Open Cosmos during the summer.
Papastergiou described the satellite ecosystem as a major opportunity for Greece, noting that around 90 companies had already gained visibility and experience through participation in the programme. He also confirmed that discussions were ongoing regarding a large military satellite project, with the Hellenic Ministry of National Defence exploring technical approaches and potential funding options, including European financing tools such as SAFE.
The minister emphasised that space infrastructure extended beyond satellites in orbit to include ground stations and optical systems located at observatories across Greece, strengthening the broader technological ecosystem.
Papastergiou highlighted the strategic importance of space for security, communications and environmental monitoring, noting that Greece had doubled its contribution to the European Space Agency. He also referred to the participation of Adrianos Golemis in astronaut training programmes, stressing that continued investment could eventually enable Greece to send an astronaut into space.
He noted that such initiatives inspired younger generations, demonstrating that careers in advanced scientific fields could become achievable goals.
Papastergiou also highlighted the economic impact of the New Space sector, explaining that each euro invested in space could generate a return of approximately 5.5 euros for a national economy. He emphasised the importance of utilising funding sources such as the Recovery and Resilience Facility to support Greece’s space programme, while also exploring additional available financial resources.
He concluded that the main challenge remained fiscal capacity, but stressed that Greece aimed to maximise available European funding to support continued development of the national space sector.
greekcitytimes.com.
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