The European Space Policy Institute will create a virtual network of think tanks that will federate their know-how and skills in order to conduct comprehensive space policy research. The tasks of the Institute are multidisciplinary, building up know-how and knowledge to provide comprehensive and independent policy research to space players in Europe.
The ceremony at which the ESPI Statutes were signed was held in the presence of the Vice Chancellor and Federal Minister for Transport, Innovation and Technology of the Republic of Austria, Hubert Gorbach, the ESA Director of Strategy and External Relations, Jean-Pol Poncelet, and the Managing Director of ASA, Klaus Pseiner.
The ESPI will be located in Vienna and legally represented by a Secretary General. Any national space administration, intergovernmental research organisation, university, institute or other national or international, governmental or non-governmental entity or any other natural or legal person with a particular interest in taking part in ESPI activities may become a member of the Institute.
The host country Austria, a truly European and international location for the ESPI (amongst other international organisations, the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs is in Vienna), will thus play a significant role in enhancing space policy issues. Austria and its scientific and industrial space players have always been reliable partners of the European Space Agency, contributing high-tech space technology to various European space programmes.