Response to interpellation 2025/26:461 on measures for the Swedish space industry
Translated from Swedish by AI; the translation may contain errors. The Swedish text is the original.
Summary AI, written in advance
The debate concerned investments for the Swedish space industry and Sweden's role within ESA. L argues that the government is making the largest space investments ever through increased appropriations to the Swedish Space Agency, a new research school, and investments in Esrange 1 2 3 4. L emphasizes that the investments in ESA are part of a whole where domestic investments and defense-related projects are also important 2 3 4. S argues that Sweden is reducing its relative ambition within ESA and is falling behind Nordic neighboring countries 5 6 7. S warns that Sweden will lose competitiveness and innovation if ambitions for participation in ESA's most important programs are not raised 5 6 7.
Written by AI in advance and may contain errors. The numbers lead to the speech a statement builds on; check against the text below.
Gymnasie-, högskole- och forskningsministern Lotta Edholm (L)
Mr. Speaker! Mats Wiking has asked me how I and the government view the fact that we are one of only three countries out of ESA's 23 member countries that have reduced their contribution to ESA and that we now lie far below our GNP share and behind our Nordic neighboring countries, and if I intend to take any measures on this occasion.
He has also asked me what I and the government want to do to strengthen the Swedish space industry's position in Europe.
The Government proposed in the budget bill for 2026 (2025/26:1) that the Swedish Space Agency's appropriations should increase by 100 million kronor annually specifically for participation in ESA. Sweden's annual space budget to ESA thus amounts to approximately 1 billion kronor, of which a significant part will be shared with the Swedish space sector through ESA's so-called georeturn principle.
Since many other countries also increased their contributions to ESA at the ministerial meeting in November 2025, Sweden's relative share in ESA's voluntary programs decreased. However, that other countries were able to increase their funding is good for European and, in the long run, Swedish space capability, and it provides business opportunities for Swedish space companies.
The Government is working hard to strengthen the Swedish space industry's conditions and position in Europe, and the Government has made significant investments in the space area in recent years.
Cooperation in the space area is included in several of Sweden's strategic innovation partnerships with important partner countries in Europe – France and Germany. Through the strategic innovation partnerships, Swedish companies and other actors in the space industry are connected with counterparts in these partner countries, which can create new business opportunities.
The Government already decided in 2024 on a historically large research and innovation bill (2024/25:60) which the Riksdag approved a year ago. In it, we make the largest space investment ever in such a bill. The investments are made via the Swedish Space Agency, and in total, the appropriations are increased by 208 million kronor annually from and including 2028 via a step-up in 2025, 2026, and 2027.
Three national programs are established: a satellite program, a dual-use space technology program, and a space data program. Swedish companies are given opportunities to contribute to the development of these programs, which can also provide higher competitiveness in international contexts.
Furthermore, a research school with a focus on space is now being established – with a focus on Sweden's needs within the space area.
The Government recently proposed investments in the autumn budget where the state-owned company SSC Space AB is granted a capital injection of 386 million kronor during 2026 for the development of the space base Esrange, and the Swedish Space Agency is proposed to receive 14 million kronor in increased funds during 2026 to enable an increased and legally secure processing of permit cases for space.
Mats Wiking (S)
Mr. Speaker! Thank you, Minister, for the answer!
I want to start by saying that it is good that the government is making investments in the space area. The investments in Esrange, the research school, and the national programs are important and welcome. But at the same time, the fundamental question remains.
Despite the investments, Sweden is still one of only three member countries within ESA that is reducing its relative ambition. We continue to be far below our bni-share, and we are falling behind our Nordic neighboring countries now that Europe is significantly strengthening its investments in space.
It is not just about relative figures. Yes, Sweden's share decreases partly because other countries are increasing their investments, but Sweden is also reducing its actual contribution. Sweden's total commitment went from 313 million euro at the ministerial meeting in 2022 to 305 million euro in 2025.
Even more concerning, Mr. Speaker, is the development within ESA's voluntary program, that is, the program that is most important for the Swedish space industry. There, Sweden's participation decreased from 180 million euro to 138 million euro. That is actually a decrease of 24 percent. It is difficult to see that this would be good for Swedish space companies, Swedish research, or Swedish competitiveness.
Mr. Speaker! The Space Agency itself describes the situation very clearly in its budget basis for 2027–2029. There, the agency states: "Sweden's participation in ESA is currently at a comparatively low level relative to comparable countries. Sweden's space industry is therefore not developing at the same pace." The Space Agency therefore proposes that Sweden's participation in ESA should gradually increase, with an initial 477 million kronor already in 2027. The agency also writes: "With today's relatively low participation level, the Swedish actors, industry, and academia will not be able to participate in ESA's programs in proportion to their competence and capacity."
These are quite serious messages from the responsible expert authority. It is, therefore, the Swedish Space Agency, our most important body when it comes to space activities, that is writing this.
Mr. Speaker! Space is today about much more than just research. It is about innovation, climate monitoring, security, communication, AI and Europe's strategic autonomy.
Sweden has fantastic opportunities through Esrange – that is true – and advanced technology companies and strong research. Then we should be involved in leading the development and not accept that we lose ground.
My question to the Minister is therefore: When both Swedish industry and the Swedish Space Agency warn that Sweden's low participation risks weakening our competitiveness and innovation capacity, why is the government not prepared to raise the ambitions for Sweden's participation in ESA's most important programs?
Gymnasie-, högskole- och forskningsministern Lotta Edholm (L)
Mr. Speaker! I thank you for the interesting questions.
Space is becoming increasingly interesting for us here on Earth as well. When we drive cars, satellites are crucial. They are crucial when it comes to getting good weather forecasts. In the world we live in today, it is becoming increasingly apparent that space plays an enormously important role for our security.
In this situation, Sweden is making the largest investments ever in space. ESA is one part, where we are investing 100 million more now than we did previously. But we are also making large space investments in other areas. We are investing, for example, in a research school so that we can produce more researchers in Sweden who have these competencies. The research school is, moreover, led by our former astronaut Christer Fuglesang. We are making investments in what is usually called dual-use, that is, investments that are of benefit to both the civilian and the military. It is important to point out that investments in space are also made through the so-called space billion, which is the defense's investments in space.
So, a lot is being done in this area, and the investments in ESA are only one part.
One might wonder something regarding this. If Sweden invests more money and other countries that also give money to ESA invest a little less, one might wonder: Would Mats Wiking have been satisfied if Sweden had invested 100 million more, as we are doing now, and the other countries had invested less? Then our share would have become larger, but it would not have given a single krona more to ESA.
I think we should have high ambitions in this area. But it is important to see the space investments collectively, what we do in total, and not just look at what we do within ESA.
I am glad that there are now more countries investing in ESA and not just Sweden. It will also benefit Sweden that a development takes place within ESA. But we must also see the other major investments, for example, that within a few years we will be able to launch satellites from Esrange. Sweden will then be the only country within the EU that can do so from its own land in Europe.
Mats Wiking (S)
Mr. Speaker! I thank you for the answer from the Minister.
I actually believe that we share the view that space is becoming increasingly important – for research, innovation, security and competitiveness.
I welcome the initiatives that the government is actually making – that is what I said in my previous speech. But there is still a clear contradiction in the government's policy. On one hand, the government describes space as strategically crucial for Sweden's future. On the other hand, one accepts that Sweden is losing ground within ESA compared to almost all of the rest of Europe.
It is that which is so difficult to understand, Mr. Speaker. We now see how European countries are making large investments because they realize that space is no longer a peripheral issue. Satellites and space data are crucial for climate monitoring, communication, navigation, defense, and crisis preparedness. It is also about technological development that spills over into other parts of the industry and strengthens Europe's independence in an uneasy world.
In this restless world, it is important that Europe builds strong roots together, and in that regard, ESA is a very important body. It is not enough for Sweden to stay behind while others run past. As I said earlier, Sweden's relative position is decreasing even though the government has increased the appropriations in kronor. Within ESA, it is precisely the relative position that matters, because the investments affect which missions and what competence are built up in each respective country. This is therefore not just a question of prestige or international comparisons – it is about where the jobs, research, and investments of the future end up.
Mr. Speaker! Sweden also has particularly good conditions. We have Esrange, as the Minister mentioned. We have advanced technology companies. We have world-class research. We have geographical and technical advantages that many other countries lack. Therefore, Sweden should be a country that drives development forward, not a country that successively falls behind.
Mr. Speaker! I am also concerned about what signals are being sent to the industry. Companies that want to invest long-term need to know that the state has ambitions and a clear direction. Universities and research environments need stable conditions to be able to build competence over time. If other countries show greater long-term perspective and willingness, investments and competence risk seeking out there instead.
Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I want to ask the Minister: What is actually the government's long-term ambition for Sweden's role within ESA and the European space sector? Is the goal for Sweden to be a leading space nation in Europe, or does the government accept that we are gradually getting a less significant role as other countries ramp up their investments?
Gymnasie-, högskole- och forskningsministern Lotta Edholm (L)
Mr. Speaker! Sweden's ambition is not that we should become a leading space nation. Sweden is a leading space nation today.
As I described in my previous post, our efforts are not only directed towards ESA, but we also have the largest investments ever in space domestically in Sweden. We are investing in, among other things, the space school, and we are making large investments in Esrange so that they will have a capacity now that we expect there will be more applications than before to conduct operations from Esrange and Kiruna.
We are therefore making major investments in this area that are not only about ESA but also about domestic investments. I think it is important to point that out, because this is a whole. We have a space industry in Sweden that is still quite small relatively speaking, but it is advanced and is actually growing. As recently as a couple of months ago, OHB Sweden, for example, received a large order for satellites, the largest satellite order for the Swedish space industry ever, which shows that Sweden is already today a leading space nation. That is what we shall naturally remain.
Mats Wiking (S)
Mr. Speaker! Thank you for the answer, Minister!
I want to conclude by saying once again that it is positive that the government is making certain investments in the space area. There are parts that are important and welcome, just as the minister has spoken about. At the same time, the central question in the interpellation remains: Why does the government accept that Sweden loses relative position within ESA when the rest of Europe is gearing up?
This is ultimately about what kind of future nation Sweden wants to be. Space is no longer a narrow technical area alongside other things. It is about climate data, communication, security, total defense, research, and advanced industrial development. It is about Europe's ability to stand strong and independently in an uncertain world. Then Sweden must dare to have higher ambitions.
Mr. Speaker! Sweden has fantastic opportunities. We have Esrange, which the Minister has mentioned several times, strong research, and innovative companies with high competence. That is where the concern lies: that we do not take advantage of the innovative companies that are responsible for top-technology development when it comes to the space area.
We all have the prerequisites to have a leading role in European space development, but that also requires the state to show long-term vision and clear will. As I said earlier: If other countries continue to invest more and build stronger positions while Sweden falls behind relatively, we risk losing both competence, investments, and future jobs. It would be unfortunate, not just for the space sector but for Swedish competitiveness in general.
I therefore want to add that I hope that the government is prepared to raise ambitions further in the future so that Sweden not only participates in Europe's space cooperation but also takes part in leading the development forward.
Gymnasie-, högskole- och forskningsministern Lotta Edholm (L)
Mr. Speaker! I would like to thank you for an interesting discussion and say that I am very pleased that there is a consensus here in the chamber that investments in space are crucial, both for Sweden's competitiveness and for our security.
During this discussion, I have tried to show that Sweden's space initiatives are not just about us now investing an additional 100 million in ESA, but that we are also making a number of different initiatives in the area to strengthen Sweden as a space nation. It is important for the future.
We cannot look at the funding for ESA in isolation. There are a number of other areas, not least within the defense sector where we have now, for the first time, just a couple of weeks ago, sent up satellites.
These are important issues, but I do not believe it can only be about the financing of ESA.
Source: The Swedish Parliament. The speeches come from the open data of the Riksdag, translated into English by AI, which may contain errors.