SME4SPACE is a Panel of Space SMEs Associations of the ESA Member States and ESA cooperating States. SME4SPACE was founded in 2007 and officially launched on 19 June 2007 at the International Paris Air Show, Le Bourget. On that day ESA Director General J.J. Dordain signed a Memorandum of Agreement formalising cooperation between ESA and SME4SPACE, represented by the former President Giovanni Sylos Labini.
The aim of this new organisation is to voice Space SMEs’ viewpoint in an organised and coordinated way and to facilitate the access of SMEs to space activities in general and to ESA programmes in particular.
More in detail the organisation pursues the following not for profit purposes:

• defining and defending common positions, representing the SMEs with public authorities i.e. the European Space Agency, the European Union and its related agencies;
• organising seminars and information sessions;
• organising a network of SMEs in order to increase the possibilities for cooperation and related activities;
• carrying out research projects, participating at National, European and International calls in space and related activities.

The founders of SME4SPACE are AIPAS (Italian Space SMEs Association) and ASTOS (Association of Specialist Technical Organisations for Space), UK.

On June 29th, 2011 SME4SPACE has been incorporated as a not for profit organisation under the Belgian Law in Leuven.