The European Space Agency (ESA) is planning to establish a new security-focused centre in Poland, marking a major milestone in the country’s growing role in the European space sector.

The initiative, discussed during the ESA Ministerial Council in Bremen in November 2025, aims to strengthen Europe’s capabilities in space security, resilience, and crisis response.

ESA Plans a Security Hub in Poland

The proposed centre would complement existing ESA infrastructure, particularly the European Space Security and Education Centre in Belgium, while supporting the development of coherent European security capabilities in space.

As POLSA President Marta Wachowicz stated, the centre would focus on dual-use technologies, systems with both civilian and military applications:

“It would be truly worthwhile for Poland to have such a centre. It would be yet another step in building our position in the European and global space industry — after increasing our contribution to ESA three years ago and sending an astronaut on a mission to the International Space Station.”

Although the exact location and operational details are still under discussion, one thing is already clear: Poland has been chosen as the host country.

ESA and Polish authorities are currently working together on technical requirements, funding models, and organizational details, with further decisions expected to follow in 2026.

Poland as a Member of ESA

The journey of Poland as a member of ESA is not new, as one could have imagined.

Poland has been an ESA member for 13 years and has experienced rapid growth in its space sector. Over this period, the country has significantly expanded its industrial capabilities, increased its financial contributions to ESA tenfold in recent years, and built a network of more than 70 space-related companies.

Importantly, ESA already has a strong footprint in Poland. The country hosts multiple ESA-related initiatives, including Business Incubation Centres and research activities in cities such as Warsaw, Gdańsk, Wrocław, Poznań, and Rzeszów.

We can confidently say that ESA sees Poland as a well-prepared, reliable, and promising partner, capable of taking on a more strategic role in Europe’s space ecosystem.

ESA Director: Poland as an Ambitious, Forward-Looking Member

In an interview with Space24.pl, ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher emphasized that Poland’s selection reflects its rapid transformation and long-term ambition. He noted that Poland is evolving from a relatively new ESA member into a “growing expertise and a strong desire to engage further.”

Aschbacher also praised Poland’s forward-looking and ambitious strategy, highlighting a strong determination to modernize and expand its role in advanced technologies:

“What I particularly appreciate about Poland is its ambitious, forward-looking strategy. There is a clear determination to modernise the country rapidly and decisively.”

According to him, the planned centre is part of a broader trend. Poland is on track to become an “emerging space power,” especially in areas such as resilience, defence, and crisis response. He further stressed that Poland’s growing investments and engagement with ESA are key factors behind the decision.

Cities Compete: Strong Potential Across Poland

While Poland has already been selected, the choice of city remains open, and several candidates are actively competing to host the new ESA centre. Experts point out that the location must combine:

• strong academic and research institutions,
• international accessibility (e.g. major airports),
• a developed technology ecosystem.

Every major city in Poland meets the core criteria required for the ESA centre, but each emphasizes different strengths.

Warsaw highlights its role as the administrative and business hub, offering close proximity to national institutions and key decision-makers. Kraków, on the other hand, points to its strong academic base, large talent pool, and rapidly growing ecosystem of IT and space-tech companies.

Infrastructure also plays a crucial role. Wrocław stresses its advanced research infrastructure and strong international cooperation networks, particularly in connecting science with industry. Meanwhile, Gdańsk and Rzeszów highlight their well-developed engineering sectors, aviation clusters, and close ties with industry.

This competition shows that multiple regions in Poland are well-prepared, each offering a strong mix of talent, infrastructure, and innovation potential.

From Polish Talent to Market Challenges

At the same time, experts highlight a key structural challenge in Poland’s space sector: there is no shortage of talent, but turning that talent into global success remains a work in progress.

Poland has built a strong reputation as a hub for highly skilled IT specialists and engineers. Many of them have gained valuable experience working with international companies and global projects, bringing back knowledge, standards, and networks that strengthen the domestic ecosystem.

Today, the opportunity is to leverage this international expertise to build a distinct national specialization in advanced technologies, including space and dual-use solutions.

In simple terms, Poland already has the technical talent needed to succeed. The real challenge now lies in strengthening commercialisation capabilities and fostering a culture that embraces risk, entrepreneurship, and the scaling of innovation into global products.

A powerful symbol of this transformation is Poland’s astronaut, Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski. He became the second Polish astronaut in history and the first Pole to reach the International Space Station. In 2025, he completed his mission as part of Axiom-4, conducting scientific and technological experiments in orbit.

His achievement demonstrated Poland’s growing technological capabilities, and captured public imagination (especially among younger generations), helping to reinforce the country’s ambition to move beyond being a supplier of talent and become a creator of advanced technologies.

What Are the Next Steps?

While challenges remain, especially in commercialisation, the overall outlook is highly positive: ESA sees Poland as a trusted and capable partner; experts highlight strong human capital and engineering talent; cities across the country demonstrate readiness to host a major international hub.

We will continue to follow developments closely. You will find the latest updates on the ESA Security Centre in Poland at doITinPoland.com.

Read More: www.esa.int

Main Photo Source: www.esa.int