Modele innowacji w sektorze kosmicznym: USA, Chiny, Indie i Unia Europejska

This article compares innovation models in the space sector in the United States, China, the European Union and India. Each region is characterized by different socio-political, technological and economic realities. The findings of the study suggest that the United States stands out for its strong and dynamic private sector, enjoying developed partnerships with the public sector. China, with its growing ambitions, primarily for lunar missions, is showing robust growth in the space technology sector. It is strongly inspired by the central government, nevertheless, a centrally initiated impetus for private sector development is noticeable in the Middle Kingdom, both through government-controlled companies and fully grassroots start-ups. The European Union actively supports startups and space technology transfer. Still, it faces the challenge of coordinating a common market characterized by fragmented policies and space technology development strategies of individual countries and their space agencies. India, on the other hand, is positioning itself as a growing force in the space exploration field, with the low cost of space technology take-offs and reforms of a few years ago working to create a balance between the involvement of government agencies and bottom-up innovation growth driven by the private sector. The development of innovation from the space industry in each region reflects a broader and multifaceted context, consisting of the political system, the organizational culture in the country, technology, differential access to capital and educated human resources. All these factors significantly influence innovation and entrepreneurship in the space industry. The article concludes that the United States has the most effective model to date for fostering innovation, followed respectively by China with its ambitious plans to surpass the leader by 2050, followed by the European Union and India.