ESA
ESA was created in 1964 and Pierre Auger and Edoardo Amaldi were its founders.
The movement started in Europe and the headquarters are located in Paris, France.
ESA’s job is to draw up the European space programme and carry it through. ESA's programmes are designed to find out more about Earth, its immediate space environment, our Solar System and the Universe, as well as to develop satellite-based technologies and services, and to promote European industries. ESA also works closely with space organisations outside Europe.
On November 14th 2000 Portugal became an ESA member state, establishing an important landmark for the development of a competitive space sector in Portugal. During this 10 year period, more than 1000 space projects, involving a budget surpassing 90 million €, have been awarded to Portuguese companies and academia under the umbrella of ESA space programmes. The overall return of the public investment has reached by the end of 2009 a value very close to 100%, after a swift rise since early 2000s.
To celebrate the 10th Anniversary of Portugal's membership in ESA, the Portuguese Delegation is organizing the 4th Portuguese Space Forum, a joint initiative of the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (through its FCT Space Office) and the Agência Ciência Viva, with the important support of the European Space Agency.
This will be a perfect opportunity to present an Impact Study of the Portuguese participation in ESA. As has been the case in past editions, the Portuguese Space Forum target raising the awareness for space activities in Portugal and in Europe, while offering an opportunity for networking and discussion of specific topics during a set of workshops promoted by the Portuguese Delegation an ESA's Executive.