ESA_Lab@UCLan: Assessing the public value of ESA programmes [Apr/2021]
As the world is confronted with challenges from a triple crisis (health, economic and climate), the past years of progress to reduce social inequality and improve global cooperation are threatened. Now, more than ever, international organisation have a strong mandate to design missions addressing the human needs of citizens living in a risk society.
As part of a research project conducted within the ESA_Lab@UCLan, the University of Central Lancashire undertook an analysis aimed at measuring the public value from ESA programmes as perceived by European citizens. Based on a conceptual framework that draws upon a distinctive synthesis of theories of public value, human values and needs, the project participated in the development and implementation of an innovative measure of the public value. The approach centres upon the perception of an organisation by reasonable, informed citizens assessed against a comprehensive and inclusive set of human value categories.
The human values assessed within the framework were spread across four broad categories:
- Openness to change: values that emphasise independence of thought, action and feelings, and readiness for change (i.e. self-direction, stimulation)
- Self-Enhancement: values that emphasise the pursuit of one's own interests and relative success and dominance over others (i.e. achievement, power)
- Self-Transcendence: values that emphasise concern for the welfare and interest of others (i.e. benevolence, universalism)
- Conservation: values that emphasise order, safety, self-denial, preservation of the past and resistance to change (i.e. tradition, conformity)
The results revealed a positive contribution of ESA programmes to the common good:
- The external analysis (2 campaigns with a total 400 responses) shows significant level of ESA perceived value contribution to the public sphere.
- The internal responses show a lower perception of ESA performance than externally, except for human values comprised in the self-enhancement category.
- Using the European Social Survey, a quantitative analysis was performed to confront ESA results with the public value priorities of the citizens. Results show ESA is contributing to openness to change and self-enhancement, and performing slightly under for conservation/self-transcendence values.
Overall, the outcomes of this research helped highlight how ESA may position itself as a public value organisation and provides recommendations on ESA communication and overall strategy. An empirical study of this type, based on original data, is rare in public value research and this project has been breaking new ground in the acquisition and analysis of human values in the public value management process. Moreover, it enabled the development of a portable and scalable Public Value framework. Given the democratic nature of Space for Earth activities, and the importance of the public perception of ESA value among funders and stakeholders, this research gives a complementary appreciation of the overall value of ESA and space activities.
The next steps of this collaboration will be to reach a deeper understanding and use of public value management tools. Using public value and the risk society framework to unlock the potential of satellite imagery and information, additional research will aim at showing how the impact of ESA Space for Earth missions may be optimised in terms of human values. This research will further give insights for action and communication essential to mobilise citizens in the co-production of solutions to mankind most pressing problems.
For more information, please contact: Rick Wylie (rwylie@uclan.ac.uk), Gianluigi Baldesi (Gianluigi.baldesi@esa.int) or Estelle Godard (Estelle.godard@esa.int
More articles of the category: Articles in news section
ESA CM22 Economic Impact Report
ESA FutureEO - Foundation for Europe's innovation and resear...
ESA Report on the Space Economy 2025
ESA Discovery - Understanding the impact of ESA early R&D on...
ECSECO Space Economy Days 2025
Space Benefits for Earth - Preparing ESA Ministerial Council...
U.S. BEA publishes updates on the U.S. space economy’s contr...
Eurospace publishes the 2024 update of its facts & figures s...
Copernicus Summer Series - Wildfire Management in Greece
Copernicus Summer Series - Irrigation Detection & Mapping in...
Copernicus Summer Series - Oil Spill in the Mediterranean
Copernicus Summer Series - Golf Course monitoring in Italy
Space Economy activities to support ESA Council at Ministeri...
ESA Space Economy – Understanding data on the space sector’s...
ESA Technology Transfer Success Story - A new perspective: s...
When space technologies improve day-to-day life on Earth
Exports: an imperative for the European Space Industry? - A...
NASA Economic Impact Report 2024
ECSECO, the European Centre for Space Economy and Commerce
ESA HQ welcomes the 1st Edition of the ECSECO Space Economy...
ESA Space Economy – Partnering with CERN to share best pract...
ESA Space Economy – Partnering with Eurostat and the Europea...
ESA Space Economy – Partnering with the OECD to develop inte...
ESA ARTES Partnership Projects, providing the satcom industr...
European Human Space Transportation: Technological, Social a...
Upcoming event: ECSECO Space Economy Days
EUSPA publishes the 2nd Issue of its EO and GNSS Market Repo...
The OECD publishes the 2nd Edition of its flagship publicati...
Space Forum for Green Energy, an upcoming event from the ESA...
ESPI publishes its annual report on the private investment i...
FutureEO, critical enabler of EO benefits for the European e...
The OECD publishes the 2nd Edition of the Handbook on Measur...
Terrae Novae: from inspiring Europe’s generations to support...
ESA TIA ARTES programme’s continuous boost to the commercial...
Exploiting the remarkable potential of space technology tran...
Technology developments for ESA science missions empowering...
ESA Space Economy Team presents a paper on “Statistic and th...
European Centre for Space Economy and Commerce (ECSECO) pres...
ESPI Yearbook 2021 – Space Policies, Issues, and Trends of t...
ESA Science Core Technology Development Success Story - Broa...
ESA Science Core Technology Development Success Story - Game...
ESA Science Core Technology Development Success Story - Grou...
ESA Science Core Technology Development Success Story - Fost...
ESA Science Core Technology Development Success Story - Crit...
ESA Science Core Technology Development Success Story - Unri...
ESA Science Core Technology Development Success Story - Firs...
ESA Technology Transfer Success Story - From space debris to...
ESA Technology Transfer Success Story - Dry electrodes to mo...
ESA Technology Transfer Success Story - Closing the loop: ho...
ESA Technology Transfer Success Story - Uncovering the secre...
ESA Technology Transfer Success Story - Landing zone assessm...
ESA Technology Transfer Success Story - Space at home: using...
Space-based Solar Power: Contributing to achieving Net Zero...
ESA Space Operations and Space Safety activities: supporting...
Europe decides to increase ESA’s budget by 17% compared to t...
European Centre for Space Economy and Commerce (ECSECO) conc...
Seven Benefit Case Studies of ESA's Space Safety programme
OECD Policy Paper: How the War in Ukraine is affecting Spac...
Beyond Borders: Satellite Applications for Humanitarian Emer...
“Earth’s Orbits at Risk”, 2022 OECD report on the Economics...
ESA Technology Transfer Success Story - The missing layer: h...
ESA Technology Transfer Success Story - Powering a village f...
ESA Technology Transfer Success Story - No such thing as a w...
Eurospace releases its annual Facts & Figures Report: The Eu...
“International Space Station (ISS) Benefits for Humanity”; 2...
Valuing the benefits of ESA Aeolus missions to European deci...
European Centre for Space Economy and Commerce (ECSECO) offi...
ESPI Space Venture 2021 – Entrepreneurship and Investment in...
ESPI Space Venture 2022 – Investment in the European and Glo...
ECSECO open for membership registration on its official webs...
ESA Centre to develop Europe’s Space Economy and promote com...
The OECD Space Forum launches second phase of research oppor...
EARSC showcasing Copernicus uses for Environmental Complianc...
Creation of the European Centre for Space Economy and Commer...
ESA-Eurostat workshop on a European Space Economy Satellite...
EUSPA publishes EO and GNSS Market Report 2022
BEA’s “Estimating the United States Space Economy Using Inpu...
The Economics of Big Science: Examining Socio-Economic Impac...
Eurospace releases its annual Facts & Figures Report: The Eu...
The European Commission publishes the 2021 Edition of its Be...
ESPI Yearbook 2020 – Monitoring the development of the Europ...
ESA Technology Transfer Success Story - Using space heritage...
EARSC workshop showcasing 24 Copernicus Sentinel value case...
The Canadian Space Agency publishes the 2021 & 2022 State of...
OECD’s examination of Space Technology Transfers and their C...
PwC’s ‘Lunar market assessment: market trends and challenges...
ESA Technology Transfer Success Story - Space-style control...
ESA Technology Transfer Success Story - Cities as Spaceships...
ESA joins the Universeh inaugural conference to address the...
ESA announces winners of the Global Space Markets Challenge
SPAC and the Space Industry
G20 Space Economy Leaders Meeting 2021
Top 12 companies selected in Global Space Markets Challenge
Global Space Markets Challenge: Longlists announced
Measuring how space creates jobs and prosperity on Earth
The Size & Health of the UK Space industry in 2019
Copernicus Sentinel data supporting the pulp and paper indus...
Entrepreneurship and private investment trends in the Europe...
Global Space Markets Challenge Competition
Metalysis–ESA Grand Challenge: team Malt wins first phase
The International, North American and European Statistical C...
OECD’s approach to space sustainability and the economics of...
China’s Space Sector: Commercialisation with Chinese Charact...
Space Architecture: Economic impacts, future developments an...
Call for participants: OECD's initiative on the value and su...
Big Science in the 21st Century – a new e-book published by...
Financing SMEs: options for SMEs and Midcaps in Europe
The socio-economic value of satellite Earth observations: hu...
Copernicus Sentinel Data supporting wine making in France
ESA_Lab@Kozminski: A new bird in the nest of ESA_Lab
ESA_Lab@PoliBa: De’ remi facemmo ali
OECD's analysis of the impacts of Covid-19 on the Space indu...
Post-crisis scenarios for the space industry
Resilience of the space sector to the Covid-19 crisis
Financing space: options for SMEs and midcaps in Europe
Discussing impact assessment of Big Science projects during...
ESA and Metalysis Organised the First Grand Challenge Midter...
Watch again the GSEW Online
Non-space business? We want to hear from you
Join the Third Online Global Space Economic Workshop
Join the Second Online Global Space Economic Workshop
Join the First Online Global Space Economic Workshop
Watch again the GSEF 19
Interview with Eric Morel de Westgaver on Europe's space eco...
Global Space Economic Forum: Space Creates Value
Kick off of Metalysis – ESA Grand Challenge: the Race to Min...
ESA at the New Space Economy European Expoforum
Advancing the understanding and measurement of the societal...
ESA Space Economy Brochure
Space cybersecurity for smart cities
Space workshops to power urban innovation
Building and powering by disruptive innovation
Challenges of future urban settlements on the Moon and Mars
ESA at the New Space Economy European Expoforum
Two Teams Competing for a Half-million Prize
Creating value
ESA and Metalysis decide to suspend temporarily the Grand Ch...
Value created by ESA Telecommunication Partnership Projects
Value created by ESA's Future Earth Observation Pillar
Value created by ESA Science Programme
Value created by ESA's Ground Systems Engineering and Operat...
The socio-economic impact of space activities
Measuring the Space Economy
Value created by ESA's Clean Space Initiative
The Covid Crisis: for European SMEs, this could be a breakth...
Why it is important to keep investing in space during and af...
What is the Space Economy?
A closer look at the latest Earth Observation Services Indus...
ESA Global Space Economic Forum
Welcome to the Global Space Economic Workshop
The benefits of Copernicus’ Sentinel data to society, enviro...
ESA announces first Global Space Economic Forum
Global Space Economic Workshop
Discussing solutions at the Global Space Economic Workshop
Building cybersecurity at the Global Space Economic Workshop
Global Space Economic Workshop
Interview with Vincent Bastide on construction
A closer look at OECD’s methodology for assessing the scient...
Interview with Guglielmo Baeli on the oil and gas sector
Interview with Giulia Pastorella on cybersecurity
Last chance to join the competition
OECD’s analysis of the impacts of Covid-19 on the space indu...
ESA at Station F: looking for applications to the first Gran...
Compete in a lunar economy
The Moon Race: Pioneering Sustainable Lunar Exploration
Value created by ESA's Space Systems for Safety and Security...
Metalysis–ESA Grand Challenge launched
A closer look at the European Commission’s Guide to Cost-Ben...
Value created by ESA's planetary defence initiative and Hera...
A community of innovation at the Farnborough Airshow and ESA
Join us at Le Bourget to discuss space for commercial purpos...
Game changers for the ESA Grand Challenge
Setting the stage
Fuel the future by joining the Innovation Exchange
ESA Grand Challenge rewards solutions to complex problems