Thales Alenia Space has continued its European expansion strategy establishing a new subsidiary in Poland.
Based in Warsaw, Thales Alenia Space Polska will work with the newly opened Polish Space Agency as well as local research centres and industry to…
Thales Alenia Space has continued its European expansion strategy establishing a new subsidiary in Poland.
Based in Warsaw, Thales Alenia Space Polska will work with the newly opened Polish Space Agency as well as local research centres and industry to support Poland in the construction of its own space programme.
The country recently joined the European Space Agency (ESA), a key driver to Thales’ decision to set up an operation there. The satellite manufacturer has already signed several agreements with Polish companies for ESA study programmes
Andrzej Banasiak, general manager of Thales Alenia Space Polska, commented: “Thales Alenia Space’s expansion to Poland, a country that decided to invest heavily to develop its space industry, means excellent opportunities for Thales Alenia Space. At the same time, I believe that the entry of a company with global experience and a huge technological base in the space sector into the Polish market will contribute to the development of local industry.”
Over the past couple of years Thales has been quick to expand its presence into European countries whose governments are looking to invest in space, especially if tied to ESA. Last year, the group established a UK base at the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus (HISC) in Oxfordshire, a regional technology hub set up by the government to bolster the UK space industry.
The move came at the same time as the UK government committed to increase its investment in the industry, including an increased contribution to the ESA. This led to the UK securing a significant share of the Neosat programme, a project in which Thales is playing an integral part.
In 2011, Thales set up a similar subsidiary in Germany, while it has expanded its Belgium operations by constructing a new facility in Leuven.
