Have Your Say on Skills and Training Needs in the Downstream Space Sector

The downstream space sector continues to evolve, and many organisations are reassessing the skills they need to work effectively with space-based data. To support this effort, SpaceSUITE has developed  two short EU surveys to collect input from professionals who use Earth observation, GNSS, SatCom or related data in their daily work.

SpaceSUITE is an EU-funded Erasmus+ project (GA-101140269). SpaceSUITE is an Alliance for Sectoral Cooperation on Skills aimed to build a skilled workforce and provide concrete solutions for skills development in the labor market. The main objectives of the project are: 

• Identifying skills gaps and mismatches, and defining a mid- and long-term strategy to bridge the gap between the supply and this continuously changing demand in the downstream space-related sectors.
• Designing and delivering new curricula and training programmes for higher education and vocational education and training for the development of advanced skills in space-related fields and the provision of education and training activities.
• Enhancing collaboration, exchange of knowledge and practises within the downstream space ecosystems.

Both surveys are open until the end of January 2026 and are fully anonymous. We are very curious to learn your organisation’s needs. Your input will help us to achieve the project’s objectives and provide a clear view on real market needs.  

Survey 1: Skills, Trends and Training Needs in the Space Downstream Sector

Link: https://ec.europa.eu/eusurvey/runner/training_needs_in_space_downstream

This survey focuses on the skills landscape in the downstream sector. It asks respondents to identify:
• Skills that are difficult to find among new recruits and staff
• Areas where current training offers do not match actual needs
• Technical or sectoral developments that influence daily work
• Additional competencies that would benefit teams or organisations

The survey takes about five minutes to complete.

Survey 2: Assessing Education and Training Services in the Space Downstream Sector

Link: https://ec.europa.eu/eusurvey/runner/education_and_training_services_in_space_downstream

This survey examines how organisations provide or access training. It includes questions on:
• Availability of training opportunities for staff
• Budgets for professional development
• Preferred formats for learning
• Awareness of micro credentials
• Interest in the services SpaceSUITE plans to offer

This survey takes about ten minutes to complete.

How your contribution will be used

Organisations across Europe report different challenges when it comes to recruiting and training staff. Some require more specialised technical profiles, others need stronger digital or analytical skills, and others point to gaps in project management, regulation or interdisciplinary knowledge.

By sharing your experience, you help create a clearer overview of the situation across industry, academia, public agencies and research. This information will inform upcoming training materials, expert support services and guidance tools produced within SpaceSUITE.
The aim is to ensure that these resources reflect real conditions rather than assumptions.

We thank you for your cooperation!

Featured Image: Freepik