SpaceSUITE: Bridging the Gap Between the Supply and Demand of Skills in the Downstream Space Sector

The rapid development of the space sector, resulting from widely increased capabilities of satellites, brings new challenges for the space downstream sector and the need to adapt and take full advantage of such new space technologies. This recent disruption of the market generated a new demand for development of skills, reskilling and upskilling of the current and future space workforce, which has also been identified as essential to ensure the competitiveness and innovation of the space sector of the EU. Addressing the challenge of matching the supply and demand of skills through the development of innovative resources for education and training of the space workforce, a new Erasmus+ Blueprint project, SpaceSUITE, was launched in 2024. The expected outcome of the SpaceSUITE project is therefore conceiving and fomenting a skills intelligence approach to address skills mismatches, identify emerging and new skills and devise a skill development strategy. A comprehensive assessment of the existing skills and gaps identification is of utmost importance for the efficient preparation of new curricula for higher education (HE) and vocational education and training (VET) providers. Considering the aforementioned, the project is targeting professionals, graduates and students, central for the EU Space Programme and for the further expansion of the downstream space sector. The diverse SpaceSUITE consortium, consisting of the expertise from Academia, VET providers, associations of governments, clusters and representatives of industry companies, is aiming at creating a lasting impact on education and training by designing, developing and delivering new curricula and training programmes for HE and VET, as well as by enhancing collaboration and exchange of knowledge and practises within the downstream space ecosystems. The presentation of the SpaceSUITE project will highlight the importance and methods of skills development, upskilling and reskilling of the current and future space workforce, and contribute to the visibility of the project. Namely, the first step for a skilled space sector is to inform aspiring talents about training and job opportunities in the space sector, hence attracting and training the future space workforce, as it has been noted that the level of awareness of such opportunities is quite low. The presentation will then focus on the expected innovative outcomes of the project, including the development of a repository consisting of education and training resources. It will conclude by emphasising the project’s lasting impact within the duration of the project in the next four years and longer.