Space sector of Slovak Republic is on an upward trajectory, with increasing involvement in various space-related activities. Slovakia has more than 45 companies actively involved in the space sector. Although more than half of them are focused on the upstream segment, the majority of the space-related revenue is concentrated in software applications using Earth observation or positioning data.
KEY ORGANIZATIONS
1. The Ministry of Education, Research, Development and Youth of the Slovak Republic
Is responsible for the overall coordination of space activities by inter-ministerial political coordination (at national and international levels), for space budget, and multilateral and bilateral intergovernmental
cooperation.
• More Information: About the Ministry | Ministerstvo školstva, výskumu, vývoja a mládeže Slovenskej republiky
Other Ministries supporting space sector and activities:
Ministry of Transport and Construction of the Slovak Republic – Implementation of Galileo/EGNOS and Public, Regulated Service (PRS)
Ministry of Environment of the Slovak Republic – Copernicus Programme cooperation
Ministry of Economy of the Slovak Republic (Inclusive Slovak Space Office – Space Industry Department)
Ministry of Interior of the Slovak republic – GovSatCom Programme cooperation
Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic – International legal and security policy aspects of
exploitation and use of outer space
2. Slovak Investment and Trade Development Agency
SARIO covers the implementation part of the agenda, especially developing the space ecosystem and helping new companies and startups participate in it, and supporting local and international partnership creation. The Industrial Branch of the Slovak Space Office is a contact point for international cooperation for the space agencies, offices, associations, businesses, and research entities. It aims to support Slovak entrepreneurs and researchers in integrating into European industrial structures and participating in international projects.
• More Information:| SARIO, Slovak Investment and Trade Development Agency
3. Slovak Space Office
Serving as the official national contact point for international cooperation, the Slovak Space Office supports entrepreneurs and researchers in integrating into European industrial structures and participating in international projects.
• More Information: About Us – Slovak Space Office Slovak Space Office
5. Slovak Academy of Science (SAV)
Institute of Experimental Physics SAS – Direct participation in international space missions including Rosetta, BepiColombo, JUICE, and JEM-EUSO. Main focus on cosmic rays and space weather science. The institute has contracted multiple ESA projects
Institute of Materials and Machine Mechanics – Development of materials for space use, participation in ESA GRADECET project. The institute has contracted multiple ESA projects
Astronomical Institute – Representing Slovakia in two large European projects focused on the research of our Sun: the European Solar Telescope (EST) and the Solar Activity Monitor Network (SAMNet).
6. Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava (STU)
Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology – Participation in several international projects including manned Mars mission simulation. Currently launching National Center for Space Engineering and a Space Engineering study programme. The faculty has contracted multiple ESA projects.
Advanced Technologies Research Institute – Author of successful ESA PECS projects.
7. Technical University of Košice (TUKE)
Faculty of Aeronautics – Participation in several local and international projects including cubesats skCUBE and GRBAlfa. The first Slovak university to include a full space engineering programme into its curriculum. The first Slovak member of International Astronautical Federation and a university of four astronauts. The faculty has contracted multiple ESA projects
8. East Slovak Space Cluster – established by Pavol Jozef Šafarik University in Košice, Institute of Experimental Physics SAS, Deutsche Telekom IT Solutions Slovakia, Slovak Space Office.
The cluster drives innovation in space technologies in eastern Slovakia by connecting academia and industry. It fosters international collaboration, including with ESA, while attracting talent through specialized education. Additionally, it supports startups and businesses to seize opportunities in this growing sector.
9. Comenius University in Bratislava
Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics – Space debris research and development of space surveillance and tracking technologies. Dynamical and chemical analysis of asteroids, meteoroids and meteorites. Study of the interaction of cosmic rays with material objects. The faculty has contracted multiple ESA projects.
10. University of Žilina
Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology – The university is a leading technological institution in the northern central Slovakia recently taking its first steps in the space sector including active participation in the Spaceport_SK incubation programme. One succesfull ESA PECS project focused on space hardware development involving local and foreign industry.
11. Slovak Organisation for Space Activities (SOSA)
A non-governmental organization based in Bratislava, SOSA promotes space-related research and technologies nationally. Notably, SOSA developed skCUBE, the first Slovak satellite, and organizes events to promote space-related research and industry.
• More Information: Slovak Organisation for Space Activities – Slovenská organizácia pre vesmírne aktivity
12. Slovak Space Policy Association (SSPA)
A non-governmental organization dealing principally with space policy, governance, law, and European space integration on an expert level, SSPA serves as the National Point of Contact for the European Centre for Space Law in Slovakia.
• More Information: Slovenská spoločnosť pre vesmírnu politiku (SSPA) – Providing Expert Advice to Slovak Space Community
13. Conference Výťah.Conf
VytahSpace Conference brings together international speakers and over 300 delegates plus companies to push the boundaries of current space technology. It is a community-driven conference to explore the future of space exploration persistently. Space experts willpresent their vision of the space industry. The panelists include top entrepreneurs, aerospace executives, and leading investment firms todiscuss how to invest in the next breakout space industry.
• More Information: VýťahConf.
SPACE RELATED GRANTS
1. Program Slovensko – SK – EFRR/KF/FST/ESF+
The Ministry of Education has announced a new demand-driven call under the Slovakia SPACE program – “Top Research and Development from Idea to Product.” The allocated funding from the European Union amounts to €10 million. The call focuses on research across all defined RIS3+ areas with a connection to space.
• More Information: SPACE – Špičkový výskum a vývoj od myšlienky k produktu (výskum vo všetkých definovaných oblastiach RIS3+ s prienikom na vesmír) | ITMS21+ Verejná časť
Other important links:
Slovak space portal – Slovak space portal – Slovenský kozmický portál
The presented article was prepared as part of the pilot project “Space for V4,” within the ecosystem mapping segment conducted in each V4 country. The project aims to create a platform for fostering collaboration among various stakeholders in the space industry, research, and business across the V4 region.
TEXT: Anna Čaplovičová
FOTO: pixabay.com