Polish cities compete for European Space Agency technology centre location

Polish regional and municipal leaders, including Warsaw mayor Rafał Trzaskowski and Mazovia voivodeship marshal Adam Struzik, signed a declaration supporting Warsaw as the site for the European Space Agency (ESA) Technology Centre. They highlighted the region’s scientific, technological and institutional assets, such as the Polish Academy of Sciences’ Space Research Centre, the Military University of Technology and a dense network of satellite‑technology firms.

At the same time, the Ministry of Development and Technology confirmed that seven Polish cities – Warsaw, Kraków, Gdańsk, Wrocław, Katowice, Łódź and Poznań – have submitted detailed proposals. Minister of Finance and Economy Andrzej Domański indicated that the final decision, originally expected by the end of May, will be made in the coming weeks after intensive negotiations with ESA. Selection criteria focus on research capacity, logistics, proximity to ESA partner sites in France, Germany and Italy, as well as living standards for incoming specialists. Current indications suggest Warsaw and Kraków are the front‑runners.