Back in May, we reported that the European Space Agency (ESA) had selected Poland to host a new centre dedicated to space security and dual-use technologies. While the host country had already been confirmed, one key question remained unanswered: which Polish city would become its home?

Now, that decision has been made.

Warsaw Wins the Race

The European Space Agency has officially announced that its new technology centre in Poland will be located in Warsaw, ending months of competition between several major Polish cities, including Kraków, Wrocław, Gdańsk and Rzeszów.

The new facility will play a strategic role in strengthening Europe’s security capabilities in space. Rather than duplicating the work of existing ESA centres, it will focus on developing new competencies in security, resilience and dual-use technologies, solutions that can serve both civilian and defence purposes.

Announcing the decision during a conference at the Copernicus Science Centre in Warsaw, ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher said:

“The aim was to establish an ESA Centre in Poland that would work for the benefit of Polish industry and defence. It is therefore with great pleasure that I announce that we have jointly chosen Warsaw as the location for this centre.”

He also highlighted the historical significance of the decision:

“ESA currently employs around 6,500 people and operates centres across Europe. However, the Polish centre will be the first ESA facility established outside the group of countries that signed the ESA Convention in 1975. Poland is therefore the first of ESA’s newer member states to host such a centre.”

Why Warsaw?

According to ESA and the Polish government, Warsaw was selected thanks to its unique combination of scientific excellence, technological infrastructure and strategic importance.

The capital is home to Poland’s key institutions responsible for national security, crisis management and the development of advanced technologies. It also hosts the Space Research Centre of the Polish Academy of Sciences, one of the country’s leading research institutions in the field of space technologies.

Warsaw additionally offers the largest concentration of modern data centres in Central and Eastern Europe, together with advanced digital infrastructure essential for processing satellite data and supporting projects related to space security.

Another important advantage is the presence of companies developing dual-use technologies, artificial intelligence solutions, advanced electronics, cybersecurity and data analytics.

The city also has extensive experience in hosting international institutions and experts. Warsaw is already home to organisations such as Frontex and the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), making it an attractive destination for specialists from across Europe.

A Joint Effort: Warsaw and Mazovia

The selection follows months of preparations by the city and regional authorities. Warsaw assessed several potential locations for the future centre while ensuring that all infrastructure requirements could be met.

The city has also declared its full readiness to cooperate with ESA during the preparation, adaptation and launch of the new facility.

One month before the final decision, representatives of the City of Warsaw, the Mazovian regional government, research institutions and the Polish space sector signed a joint declaration supporting Warsaw’s bid.

Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski welcomed the announcement:

“Warsaw has been selected as the location of the new European Space Agency technology centre. The capital will host an institution of strategic importance for the security of Europe. This is an important decision for the development of Poland’s space sector, future technologies and new jobs. I would like to thank everyone from the space community in Warsaw and the Mazovia region for their joint efforts to bring the ESA centre to Warsaw.”

Mazovia Marshal Adam Struzik also emphasised the region’s strengths:

“Warsaw and Mazovia possess a unique scientific and technological base that will support the further growth of the space industry. The Space Research Centre of the Polish Academy of Sciences is located here, while local companies have unique know-how in space technologies, IT, electronics and defence technologies.”

Strengthening Europe’s Space Security

The new ESA Centre marks a new chapter in the Agency’s development. According to the Polish Ministry of Finance and Economy, its role will be to strengthen ESA’s capabilities by developing innovative and specialised areas of activity rather than replicating existing programmes.

Finance and Economy Minister Andrzej Domański stressed that the selection process was conducted according to transparent criteria established jointly with ESA:

“Over the past weeks we held intensive discussions and detailed analyses with representatives of many Polish cities and regions. The process of selecting the location for the ESA Centre in Poland was carried out according to clearly defined criteria presented by the European Space Agency.”

He added that the decision is part of a broader strategy:

“Given today’s geopolitical realities, we place particular emphasis on strengthening Europe’s resilience through space and supporting its competitiveness. Today’s decision identifies the location of the new ESA centre, but it is also part of a much broader strategy. Our ambition is for the development of the space sector to become a growth engine for many cities and regions across Poland.”

ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher underlined the wider European dimension of the investment:

“The new ESA Centre opens a new chapter in the Agency’s history and represents an important step for Poland, which has rapidly become one of the driving forces of the European space sector. At a time when Europe continues to strengthen its resilience in an increasingly challenging geopolitical environment, the Centre will help build the capabilities needed to protect our interests, support citizens and respond decisively to emerging threats. The new ESA Centre in Warsaw will contribute to these ambitions while building on Poland’s growing expertise and commitment to space technologies.”

Focus Areas

The Warsaw centre will specialise in security, resilience and dual-use technologies. According to ESA, its activities will focus on increasing Europe’s ability to anticipate, respond to and recover from contemporary threats.

Its core areas of activity will include:

• developing innovative crisis management and civil protection solutions;
• conducting advanced orbital operations and mission simulations;
• monitoring satellite services and analysing disruptions affecting their performance;
• supporting the development and validation of next-generation secure satellite communications.

The facility will also serve as a platform bringing together public administration, industry, research organisations and international partners, accelerating innovation and new research and development projects across the European space sector.

Economic Impact

The establishment of the ESA Centre is expected to create highly qualified jobs, strengthen Poland’s innovation ecosystem and attract further international investment.

The facility will serve all 22 ESA member states and employ experts from across Europe. Its presence is also expected to reinforce Warsaw’s position as one of Europe’s emerging technology and innovation hubs.

Poland’s Growing Role in ESA

Poland has been an ESA member since 2012 and has consistently expanded its involvement in the Agency’s activities. The country’s commitment was recently confirmed by a €731 million contribution for the 2026–2028 period, representing one of the largest investments in the history of Poland’s space sector.

Prime Minister Donald Tusk linked the decision to Poland’s broader ambitions:

“Europe cannot afford to fall behind the United States and China in the new space race. The establishment of the European Space Agency Centre in Poland confirms both our ambitions and our capabilities. One of our long-term goals is to build the first Polish spacecraft.”

Minister Domański also announced further support for the sector:

“The IGNIS mission was not the finish line—it was only the beginning. The potential created by Polish cities and research institutions must now be fully utilised. We will therefore create a nationwide network integrating and developing Poland’s space infrastructure. Companies within the Polish Development Fund Group, particularly Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego, will soon establish a dedicated investment fund worth approximately PLN 500 million to support companies operating in the space sector.”

According to current ESA plans, the Warsaw centre is expected to begin operations in 2027, initially focusing on technology development before gradually expanding into a testing and validation centre for advanced space security solutions, including secure next-generation satellite communications.

The decision marks another milestone in Poland’s rapidly growing role within the European space ecosystem and confirms the country’s ambitions to become one of Europe’s leading hubs for space technologies and security innovation.

Read More: www.esa.int

Main Photo Source: www.gov.pl