Getting to space: Europe's rocket challenge

Rockets and satellites get the headlines. But what makes them work? Here are five technologies you've probably never heard of, but they're set to have a big impact on how rockets work and, even, on your electricity bill. We'll hear from the founders of companies working on: the pressure vessels inside every rocket and satellite; a green propellant to replace hydrazine, which can be stored for ten years and restarted in under thirty seconds; the aerospike engine, theoretically superior for sixty years and never yet demonstrated in flight; onboard software that lets satellites decide for themselves what to photograph; satellite data that helps power lines carry more electricity.Five technologies. None of them famous. All of them essential. Subscribe to Invested by Europe so you don't miss episodes like this one. From the team that brought you Climate Solutions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Satellites have become the invisible backbone of modern life, as essential as electricity or running water, yet almost entirely unnoticed. We explore how the next generation of satellite infrastructure is being built in Europe, connecting space to the phone in your pocket or the Internet of Things devices used by farmers in their fields. Featuring company founders and the institutions backing them, this is the story of how pressing a button in a small office in a European village changes the direction of a satellite in. space. From the team that brought you Climate Solutions. Subscribe to Invested by Europe so you don't miss any of the other episodes in our space and deep tech series. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Come with us to the factory floor of PLD Space in Spain, where hundreds of engineers and technicians are putting together a rocket in a building that used to make shoes. We look at Europe's plan to launch more of its own rockets in a market now dominated by the US and meet the companies who aim to get that job done. From the team that brought you Climate Solutions. Subscribe to Invested by Europe for all our bonus episodes, including interviews with the people who run Europe's space companies. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When Elon Musk founded SpaceX, he set off a chain reaction that reshaped the global space industry. A former SpaceX engineer turned European investor, a rocket founder in a converted shoe factory in Spain, a banker at the European Investment Bank and the Inspector-General of the European Space Agency explain how Europe is responding. From the team that brought you Climate Solutions. Subscribe to Invested by Europe for more like this. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Europe owns two of the world's most advanced space systems, Galileo and Copernicus, but it spends just 10% of what the US invests in space. Experts from the European Space Agency and the European Commission explain how satellites shape daily life in ways most people never notice. We also look at how Russia's invasion of Ukraine exposed Europe's dependence on foreign rockets, and why closing the investment gap is a strategic imperative. Subscribe to Invested by Europe for the rest of our series on space. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Euros in Space is the latest season of Invested by Europe, from the European Investment Bank. It explores the people, the companies, and the money behind Europe's space economy. 30 episodes that follow the rocket builders, satellite makers, investors, and institutions working to secure Europe's place in the new space race. Subscribe so you don’t miss any of them. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Deep tech is often described as the opposite of conventional or “shallow” technology. Rather than focusing on incremental improvements in software or business models, deep tech is driven by scientific breakthroughs aimed at solving real-world problems that persist over time. In this episode of Invested by Europe, Jussi Hätönen, head of European Innovation Council Fund investments at the European Investment Bank, explains: what deep tech really means how it differs from traditional tech innovation why it takes longer and costs more to develop why getting deep tech right is essential for Europe’s competitiveness, resilience and sovereignty.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gasoline prices are rising, and while drivers can switch to electric cars, other sectors face fewer alternatives. Aviation, shipping and heavy transport still rely on liquid fuels — and electrification is not yet a realistic option for many of these fleets.  In this episode of Invested by Europe, Tiago Lopes, a senior engineer at the European Investment Bank, explains: what sustainable liquid fuels are why they are critical for aviation and maritime transport what is preventing them from being produced at scale in Europe what is at stake for Europe’s energy security and strategic autonomy.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cleantech is no longer a niche sector. It is at the heart of a full‑scale industrial transformation, shaping how Europe produces energy, decarbonises industry and builds a more resilient economy. In this episode of Invested by Europe, Sofia Viola, an investment officer at the European Investment Bank, explains: What cleantech is today — a clue: it’s more than just renewable energy Why energy storage is critical to balancing renewable supply and demand Why batteries are crucial to stabilising the power system Why industrial decarbonisation is essential for competitiveness How the EIC Fund supports cleantech startups and scale‑ups Why access to long‑term capital remains a key challenge in Europe What makes her optimistic about the future of cleantech The conversation also explores why cleantech represents a major economic opportunity — and why scaling these technologies will be decisive for Europe’s energy transition.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Biotechnology is one of Europe’s most important — and most challenging — innovation sectors. From vaccines and drugs to medical devices and digital medicine, biotech underpins Europe’s health systems, competitiveness and economic sovereignty. In this episode of Invested by Europe, Antoine de Lachaux, head of the life science and biotech unit at the European Investment Bank, explains: What biotech means — from pharmaceuticals and vaccines to medical devices and digital health Why life sciences are strategically important for Europe Why biotech innovation takes time, carries high risk and requires patient capital How Europe’s fragmented market makes scaling more difficult than in the United States What the proposed Biotech Act could change for European companies How the EIB supports the sector, including its early investment in BioNTech Why artificial intelligence is set to accelerate drug development, diagnostics and regulatory processes The conversation also looks at why Europe needs a truly European investment ecosystem to help biotech companies grow to global scale — and why this is a sector Europe cannot afford to outsource. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.