Denmark unveils record space investment to bolster Europe's autonomy

Denmark plans to invest 2.7 billion Danish kroner (about 420 million U.S. dollars) in space initiatives from 2026 to 2029, its largest public space commitment to date, the Ministry of Higher Education and Science announced Monday, reported Xinhua.

The record outlay aims to strengthen Europe's independent access to critical space infrastructure and reduce vulnerabilities amid a changing geopolitical landscape. The package would deepen Denmark's participation in the European Space Agency (ESA), including entry into ESA's new European Launcher Challenge, an effort to develop a "robust and economically sustainable" European launch capability.

The proposal also allocates 400 million kroner to a strategic Innovation Fund program supporting space-related research, talent development and high-impact innovation projects.

"Space has quickly become a very important political area, and from both a Danish and European perspective, there is no doubt that we need to do more on our own," said Higher Education and Science Minister Christina Egelund.

The ministry emphasized that satellites are vital to daily life, from navigation and weather forecasting to security, climate monitoring, agriculture, and transportation, but Europe's dependence on space systems also creates risks if disrupted.

Under the plan, Denmark would raise its voluntary ESA contribution to 1.2 billion kroner for 2026-2028. The initiative builds on a national space research strategy launched last year and will feed into a broader research and innovation package to be unveiled soon, the ministry said.