On 10 November 2026, VITO (Belgium), NLR (the Netherlands) and LIST (Luxembourg) signed a letter of intent to strengthen Benelux cooperation in space research and innovation. By sharing knowledge and simplifying access to test facilities, creating innovation together and exchanging expertise, the three research institutes aim to accelerate space innovation. The signing took place during the Benelux Top in Maastricht, in the presence of Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever, Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten and Luxembourg Prime Minister Luc Frieden.
Pictured above: Bart De Wever, Rob Jetten, Luc Frieden. Pictured below: Rudi Torfs, Tineke van der Veen, Jurgen Joossens. Photo credit: Rijksvoorlichtingsdienst
Collaboration
Space has become indispensable to the economy, security and resilience. As a result, there is growing demand for technology and knowledge that can accelerate innovation. The Benelux region possesses the expertise and specialised test facilities to make a structural and valuable contribution in this regard. “For countries of the Benelux, cooperation is not simply an opportunity. It is a necessity,” says Inge Neven, CEO of VITO. “By combining our complementary expertise, infrastructure and capabilities, we can achieve the critical mass that none of us can build alone, while avoiding unnecessary duplication.”
Together, VITO, NLR and LIST cover space hardware and systems, testing and qualification, Earth observation, data processing and satellite-based applications. They will share knowledge, simplify access to test facilities and develop innovations jointly, from hardware to data and services. “With the signing of this letter of intent, we are making our shared ambition real: combine our complementary expertise to strengthen Benelux and European space innovation,” says Tineke van der Veen, CEO of NLR. “Our next step is to turn this ambition into concrete joint initiatives that make a real difference for Europe.”
Letter of Intent
The three parties have set out their ambition to establish a structured Space Research and Innovation Partnership, with practical links between the organisations and joint activities where cooperation clearly delivers added value. The institutes will also investigate which practical barriers stand in the way of cross-border research and innovation, so that these can be raised jointly with governments. “At LIST, we are proud to deepen our collaboration with VITO and NLR through this letter of intent,” says Jurgen Joossens, Deputy CEO of LIST. “By bringing together complementary expertise across borders, we can create new opportunities to accelerate space innovation and develop capabilities in support of Europe’s technological sovereignty, resilience, and security.”
Next steps
The letter of intent is a first step. In the coming period, the institutes will determine concrete joint activities for research, technology development and innovation, together with opportunities to involve the industry and other research organisations. In this way, VITO, NLR and LIST are building, step by step, a strong partnership that will create value for Benelux and strengthen the European space market.
