Case Study of Andalusia space ecosystem: Unlocking regional potential through dual use and defence industry

Carmen Sillero Illanes (), Melanie Durth, Raul González, Juan C. Castilla Barea and Esperanza Caro Gómez
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Carmen Sillero Illanes: European Commission - JRC, https://joint-research-centre.ec.europa.eu/index_en

No JRC143531, JRC Research Reports from Joint Research Centre

Abstract: This report documents the findings of a review of the space ecosystem of Andalusia (Spain), carried out in 2025 within the framework of REGDUALOSA (Regions, Dual Use, Open Strategic Autonomy), an exploratory research initiative of the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission. The review was developed in partnership with the Regional Ministry of Industry, Energy and Mining and explores some of the policy pathways Andalusia might take to develop the space domain as a dual-use industry, thereby boosting regional competitiveness and contributing to European strategic autonomy. The analysis adapts the POINT methodology developed by the JRC, combining documentary research, expert interviews, and stakeholder consultations. The study positions Andalusia within a volatile global landscape in which competitiveness, security, defence, and preparedness have emerged as central priorities of the European Union. Recent geostrategic tensions and the imperative of enhancing European defence capabilities, as underscored in the White Paper on European Defence Readiness 2030 and the Readiness 2030 initiative, highlight the urgency of consolidating the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base (EDTIB). Andalusia, home to Spain’s second-largest aerospace cluster, aspires to develop its space domain, while diversifying beyond its traditional reliance on aerostructures. The report advances seven lines of action: scaling up the industry through defence integration and international expansion; streamlining access to finance; reinforcing industrial competitiveness; strengthening multi-level governance; fostering demand-driven innovation; and addressing talent shortages. Furthermore, it incorporates preparedness as a driver of transformative innovation and explores its interlinkages with dual-use technologies, promoting policy experimentation to address responses to climate-related disasters and hybrid threats. The report thus provides a timely foundation for Andalusia’s forthcoming steps. The participation of the Regional Government of Andalusia in the Experimentation Journey on Territorial Preparedness, under the Preparatory Action Innovation for Place-Based Transformation led by the Joint Research Centre and financed by the European Parliament, constitutes a unique opportunity to translate the insights of this report into new initiatives in cooperation with other European territories.

Date: 2025-12
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