Greece is making a serious push into the global space industry. The government unveiled HELLAS-SPACE 2.0, a national spa...

Greece is making a serious push into the global space industry. The government unveiled HELLAS-SPACE 2.0, a national space program backed by 350 million euros from the EU Recovery Fund, and announced that Finnish satellite company ICEYE plans to build its largest production facility anywhere in the world right in Greece. The planned factory will cover more than 5,000 square meters and is designed to produce up to 150 satellites per year, creating over 250 highly specialized jobs. ICEYE's Greece head, Vassilis Chaloulakos, said the goal is to make Greece a major hub for space production, research, development, and innovation serving ICEYE's global fleet. If the facility is completed as planned, it will rank among the largest satellite manufacturing installations in all of Europe. ICEYE already has ties to Greece through its role in developing and launching the country's first SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) microsatellites. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis noted at the launch event that just a few years ago, almost no one would have believed Greece would have satellites in orbit, a growing space startup ecosystem, and 350 million euros secured for the sector. The program runs across the next four years. Beyond the factory, HELLAS-SPACE 2.0 targets real-world applications including border surveillance, maritime monitoring, disaster prevention, precision agriculture, and secure communications. Digital Governance Minister Dimitris Papastergiou said the country is moving from building infrastructure to building actual, sustainable national capabilities. The program also includes an educational component, giving middle and high school students across Greece the chance to design and build small satellites as part of a nationwide student space initiative. ICEYE plans to expand partnerships with Greek universities, research centers, and startups, and Chaloulakos specifically mentioned attracting talented Greeks currently working abroad to return home. #Greece #SpaceIndustry #HELLAS