Belgium wants to earmark part of defence budget for space industry
The Belgian government wants to devote part of the country's defence budget to the space sector, Science minister Vanessa Matz said on Thursday during a visit to Liège-based aerospace company Safran Aero Boosters.
The aerospace company develops and produces parts for aircraft and space engines. During the visit, alongside Defence minister Theo Francken, Matz announced her intention to invest in the space sector. Part of the money will come from the defence budget, she said. Certain technologies could then be used for both public and military purposes.
"When we think of defence, we immediately think of heavy weapons. But it is also about strategic independence, for example through satellites and communication networks," she said.
"When we think of defence, we immediately think of heavy weapons. But it is also about strategic independence"
She also wants to maintain Belgium's yearly investment of 300 million in the European Space Agency, in order "not to lose the competitive advantage", and to avoid cuts in the space sector "as much as possible". Last month, the Flemish space industry expressed concern about the federal government's announcement of 40 million euros in cuts to the sector.
At the time, the sector expressed the hope that the cuts would be compensated by an alternative source of funding, such as the Flemish government or defence.
© BELGA PHOTO ERIC LALMAND
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