The European Space Agency’s Earth-observation satellites – such as the Metop-SG-B weather satellite illustrated here – could in future also be equipped with sensors for military applications. | Photo: Keystone

“A small revolution is coming to the EU’s flagship research and innovation programme, Horizon Europe”, wrote the online magazine Science Business in late 2025. “It will no longer be limited to civilian projects”. In collaboration with start-ups and SMEs, the EU aims to promote the development of technologies that can also have military applications – so-called ‛dual-use’ research.

The European Space Agency (ESA) is also busy redefining its role. It wants to expand the dual-use capability of future Earth-observation satellites. The data they generate will be used for not only civilian purposes, e.g., protecting the environment, but also military surveillance. To this end, ESA’s Member States have increased its three-year budget from EUR 17 million to a historic record of EUR 22 billion. Switzerland belongs to ESA and resumed its association with Horizon Europe in 2025.