Driving Sustainable Change in European Logistics
The European Space Agency has unveiled the “Space for Logistics and Resilient Infrastructure” Task Force, a groundbreaking initiative designed to help European industries harness space technologies to address real sustainability, efficiency and resilience challenges in logistics. The official announcement took place at the Leaders in Logistics Summit in Brussels on 18 March, 2026.
At a time when logistics operators face increasing regulatory pressure to decarbonise, while also ensuring operational continuity amidst climate and geopolitical risks, space-enabled data and services offer a unique and scalable way to strengthen decision-making and infrastructure resilience.
ESA Business Applications and Space Solutions (BASS) has long identified the logistics sector as a priority for space applications, engaging with several stakeholders to develop innovative space-based solutions that promote the green transition and the adoption of space and non-space technologies. These efforts have culminated in the creation of this Task Force, which already boasts key European partners including ALICE (Alliance for Logistics Innovation through Collaboration in Europe), ITS Norway, Limowa, Logistics in Wallonia, Vil, and the Fundación Valenciaport, with further organisations expected to join.
The Task Force will address several challenges, where space applications can be instrumental. These include the digitalisation and optimisation of the tracking and monitoring of goods, the delivery efficiency for last mile deliveries, the development of autonomous solutions, the planning of sustainable infrastructures, and the resilience of transport networks and supply chains. The Task Force will consolidate the needs and requirements of stakeholders, and will promote through ESA BASS funding the development of innovative and commercially sustainable solutions that highlight social, economic and environmental benefits for members and the overall logistics sector. Collaboration amongst Task Force members will also support enhanced sustainability and resilience within the sector’s infrastructure, drawing from the collective expertise and discussions between participants.
International regulations will serve as a guiding framework for new applications and services, and the Task Force will also leverage the guidance and experience of ALICE as European Technology Platform (ETP) for logistics innovation. Safety, resilience and security of critical infrastructure – including supply chains - will remain a central theme, with the Task Force also working to promote cross-industry dialogue and to provide a platform to scale up sustainable solutions powered by space data and technology.
ESA’s overarching goal for the Task Force is to support the green transition of the sector into a sustainable future. This will include promoting innovation and the uptake of new operational and close-to-market solutions which integrate space and non-space data, as well as positioning the Task Force as a catalyst for improving the logistics sector and making it greener.
Enrico Spinelli, Applications Engineer at ESA who is leading the initiative, said: “The Task Force represents a unique opportunity to showcase the vital role of space assets in the digital and sustainable transformation of the logistics sector. By promoting, with our partners, the development and validation of new and operational solutions based on space technologies, we can support innovation and collaboration at the core of this transformation. Embracing new technologies and adapting to evolving regulations will shape the future of logistics throughout Europe.”
Dr. Fernando Liesa, the Secretary General of ALICE, said: “ALICE is proud to have instrumentally contributed to the establishment of this Task Force, leveraging our network and that of our members, including ports as well as regional and national clusters. Space-based assets and technologies offer a significant opportunity to develop solutions that address the sector’s challenges, needs and emerging opportunities. By aligning space-enabled applications across ports and hubs, transport networks and wider supply chain operations, this initiative lays a strong foundation to support the sector’s green and digital transition. We look forward to welcoming partners who wish to share their needs and opportunities, as well as those developing space-based solutions.”