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About

HEC Paris and ESA Launch Joint Initiative to Explore Outer Space for Peaceful and Sustainable Business Projects

The European Space Agency and HEC Paris have signed a joint accord centered on the creation of ESA_LAB@HEC Paris.

ESA - HEC Paris

ESA_LAB@HEC Paris will develop joint academic programs and projects involving new technical and business orientations for Space 4.0. This initiative will also intensify research, and organize joint conferences and seminars on sustainable business projects involving the exploration of outer space. The groundbreaking ESA_LAB@HEC Paris Memorandum of Cooperation was signed on Thursday June 22, 2017 by the Dean of HEC Paris Peter Todd, and Johann-Dietrich Wörner, ESA Director General, at ESA’s pavilion at Le Bourget.

This agreement between the two Paris-based institutions seeks to enhance the attention of the general public to the space business. 

Supporting inspiration via Space 4.0

As part of moving towards Space 4.0, ESA is strengthening its ties with new and long-standing innovation partners. ESA_LAB@HEC Paris is a new ESA initiative that creates links between academia and ESA, intensifying research, development and outreach without exchange of funds.

ESA will open up, by partnering with universities and research entities, allowing for work on disruptive, future-oriented solutions that can be developed and brought to visible results as new applications and services for citizens.

ESA_LAB@HEC Paris will contribute to supporting inspiration, European identity and cohesion and the integration of space into the European society and economy.

ESALabHEC: An ESA & HEC Paris joint initiative signing ceremony

Why HEC Paris?

HEC Paris has significant impact on the aerospace sector through teaching (Académie, Double degree with ISAE-SUPAERO, Executive Advanced Certificate in space sector) and research. HEC Paris has the willingness to strengthen excellence and complementarity between Engineers and Managers. HEC Paris is ESA_Lab@’s first academic partner.

ESA and HEC share a common interest in pursuing the highest quality standard in education in subjects related to the peaceful exploration and use of outer space.

ESA_LAB@HEC Paris will be embedded in HEC Paris’ Society and Organizations, S&O, an inter-disciplinary center whose members research on, and teach about, the contemporary challenges that organizations face and how these organizations (companies, NGOs, rating agencies, regulators, etc.) mold society. SnO's action is based on 3 levers: a Think tank, a Teach tank and an Action Tank supported by numerous actors.

For its part, ESA will embed the platform as part of its ESA_Lab@ initiative. This aims at collaborations enabling other European space actors, including the European space industry, to contribute.

“The space agency will benefit from HEC’s research on sustainability, data analytics, business models in aerospace, managing dual objectives and transfers of technology,”  said Peter Todd. “Through ESA_LAB@HEC Paris, experienced executives will also contribute to making space more visible in Europe, inspiring present and future generations of investors.”