Capability C11
Chips, solar cells and critical raw materials
Space-grade electronics, solar cells and the raw materials they require.
⚑ Draft assessment — requires reviewConfidence: Low
Recommended approach
Ally + Build
Last reviewed 9 Nov 2026
Rationale (analytical judgement)
Diversify through trusted partners and build European capacity for the most critical components.
Reviewers can adjust this recommendation after signing in.
Three main questions
- How critical?
- High — Supply interruptions would delay all European space programmes.
- Pressure risk
- High — could an external provider use the dependency as political or economic pressure?
- Alternative in 24 months?
- No
Current position
- European capability
- Not yet assessed with sources.
- External dependencies
- Supply chains are global; specific dependencies are not yet documented.
- Main external actors
- Not yet identified
Additional factors
Factors without a recorded assessment are shown as not yet assessed.
- Cost of developing European capacity
- Likely high; not yet assessed.
- Time to operational readiness
- Not yet assessed
- Availability of trusted partners
- Diversification with trusted partners is a plausible route; to be documented.
- Market concentration
- Not yet assessed
- Technological maturity
- Not yet assessed
- Impact on innovation and competitiveness
- Not yet assessed
- Security and resilience
- Not yet assessed
Recommendation history
Manual adjustments with their documented explanation.
No adjustments yet
The draft recommendation has not been changed.
Relevant KPIs
- KPI 05 Foreign buyers in acquisitions of European space companies
Foreign acquisitions may affect component suppliers.
⚑ Suggested link — not validated
Related risks
- R1 Ambition versus capacity
Component supply limits industrial capacity.
⚑ Suggested link — not validated
- R5 US dependency
Component supply may be affected by export controls.
⚑ Suggested link — not validated