Author: Danko Kocis

In order to help European Space SMEs in this very complex and hard situation, SME4SPACE decided to open the present section.

In this section, all the support measures and initiatives in favour of European Space SMEs from ESA, EC and Member States are listed and/or described, with also a brief report of the survey conducted by SME4SPACE on urgent actions/needs and concerns of European Space SMEs.

Moreover, you can find below direct links to the relative COVID-19 sections of SME4SPACE Working Members.

SME4SPACE first results and propositions from COVID-19 survey proposed to ESA, European Commission and relative Member States

Hereafter, SME4SPACE presents a summary of the results of a rapid survey on urgent actions/needs and concerns of the European Space SMEs.
The survey was conducted from 20 to 24 March 2020.
The survey was distributed to all SME4SPACE Members and to our broader mailing list and also posted on SME4SPACE website as well as on LinkedIn and Twitter.

The survey was distributed to all SME4SPACE Members and to our broader mailing list and also posted on SME4SPACE website as well as on LinkedIn and Twitter.

The survey received 113 replies from 18 European (both ESA and EC Member States) Countries with also Canada.

Among the major problems that European Space SMEs are facing, we find:

1. Cash flow constrain
2. Workforce availability
3. Supply problem

Among the proposed urgent actions, we highlight:

• Advance payment increasing (even at milestone level and after the project start)
• Flexibility
  • stick on the schedule vs postponement of deadlines/milestones (without any eventual penalty)
  • To extend projects duration in order to complete the activity
  • Enable CCNs in ESA projects related to additional costs caused by the current situation
  • Anticipate payments, review Milestone Payments Plans, fractionating milestones
  • Neutralization of contractual penalties

• Financial support:
  • Space Dedicated Venture Capital
  • Short term loans and R&D grants;
  • give SME access to credits
  • Enable full tax deduction for capital increase by current shareholder(s)
  • Intervention of Government and European Institution in support to SME in term of Funds.
  • Funding support to maintain economic viability
  • Financial support to help start-ups/SME’s cover staff costs following contract cancellation and delayed investments.
  • EC to keep level of budget allowed to Space for next years. Decisions have been taken based on this. A reduction of the budget allowed would be a disaster for our business.
  • ESA and EC can easily release payments on already implemented grants / contracts / project milestones early

Download the full presentation with the results of our survey

SME4SPACE link to COVID-19 survey

Tweets by SME4SPACE

ESA and European Commission measures

We have just sent to ESA and European Commission the results of our survey and we expect that these will be taken in consideration.

For the time beeing, the following measures have been already adopted:

• ESA COVID-19 Measures to ensure business continuity in the European Space industry

• European Commission Coronavirus response

SME4SPACE Working Members’ COVID-19 sections