In this talk, Daniel Vrankar, PhD candidate at TU Dresden, will examine how innovation and commercialisation are transforming the space sector. Once dominated by state agencies and a few large contractors, space is increasingly shaped by startups, venture capital, and new business models built on reusable launchers, small satellites, and space based data services. The talk will explore how new technologies move from research to market, which role public institutions play as customers, funders, and regulators, and how Europe’s space ecosystem compares to those of the United States and China. We will discuss the opportunities and risks of a growing space economy and ask what it takes for Europe to turn technological excellence into commercial success and strategic strength.