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Project Bromo: Europe’s Answer to Starlink

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

December 4, 2024

Airbus, Thales, and Leonardo have initiated talks to establish a joint satellite venture, codenamed Project Bromo, aimed at challenging Elon Musk’s Starlink. Inspired by the success of MBDA, a multinational missile manufacturing consortium, the project aspires to unify Europe’s fragmented satellite industry into a formidable global player.

Key Facts about Project Bromo

MBDA Model Inspiration: The project draws parallels with MBDA, a successful missile manufacturing alliance co-owned by Airbus, Leonardo, and BAE Systems. MBDA’s structure has been a benchmark for collaborative ventures across borders.
A Long-Awaited Partnership: While a potential collaboration among Europe’s satellite makers has been hinted at for years, Project Bromo represents a tangible step towards achieving a unified approach to revitalising the struggling sector.
Competing with Starlink: With Starlink dominating low Earth orbit using low-cost small satellites, Bromo seeks to shift the focus of Europe’s satellite makers from high-cost geostationary satellites to the competitive low Earth orbit market.
Pooling Resources: Rather than a buyout of assets, the joint venture plans to combine the satellite operations of the three companies into a single entity, leveraging collective expertise and resources.

Amid the optimism surrounding Project Bromo, Airbus faces significant internal challenges. The company announced plans to cut 2,500 jobs, approximately 7% of its Defence and Space division, by mid-2026. The cuts are expected to disproportionately affect its €2 billion space systems business, particularly in France, Germany, and potentially the UK and Spain. Thales, meanwhile, is planning to eliminate 1,300 space-related roles.

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Despite these setbacks, the companies insist these measures will be achieved through voluntary redundancies.

The collaboration among Airbus, Thales, and Leonardo reflects a growing urgency to unify Europe’s aerospace sector. Roberto Cingolani, CEO of Leonardo and former Italian Minister of Environmental Transition, acknowledged in July that the companies were striving to build a cohesive European space alliance.

Project Bromo isn’t Europe’s only effort to counter Starlink. In 2022, satellite internet operators OneWeb and Eutelsat announced a merger, creating another potential challenger to Musk’s dominance in satellite internet.

While Project Bromo signifies a bold step forward, the journey to establish a European satellite champion will be lengthy. Decades of stalled efforts to consolidate Europe’s satellite industry have highlighted the complexities of governance, competition, and resource sharing. Still, the ambition of Project Bromo offers a glimmer of hope for Europe’s space sector, promising to transform its competitive landscape and assert its presence in the global satellite market.

Egypt’s Suez Canal Economic Zone Draws $8.1B In Investments Through 255 Projects

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

February 4, 2025

Egypt’s Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZone) has secured an impressive $8.1 billion in investments across 255 projects in the last 30 months, according to an official announcement on Monday.

Major Investment Boost For SCZone

The General Authority for the SCZone has successfully attracted 251 projects in its industrial zones and ports, accumulating $6.2 billion in capital investments, which has resulted in around 28,000 new jobs, as stated by SCZone Chairman Walid Gamal El-Din.

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Additionally, four new projects have brought in $1.8 billion in investments, boosting the total capital inflows within the zone. These developments were discussed in a meeting with Mohamed Zaki El Sewedy, Chairman of the Federation of Egyptian Industries (FEI), and other officials from various chambers of commerce.

Strengthening Industrial Ties And Opportunities

The meeting focused on expanding investment prospects, fostering collaboration, and addressing challenges faced by industrial firms with strong export potential. A key objective was to encourage businesses to scale up their operations within the SCZone, leveraging its prime location, advanced infrastructure, and investor-friendly policies.

El-Din stressed the importance of the SCZone in driving Egypt’s economic growth and industrial transformation, citing the Ain Sokhna Integrated Industrial Zone as a flagship example of development. This zone is a testament to Egypt’s growing presence as a competitive global manufacturing hub.

The continued partnership between the SCZone and the private sector, El-Din noted, plays a pivotal role in building a strong ‘Made in Egypt’ brand, supporting local industrial development, and boosting innovation to improve Egypt’s position in global markets.

Acknowledging Achievements And Future Collaboration

El Sewedy praised the SCZone for its efforts in creating a robust investment climate, offering comprehensive services, incentives, and cutting-edge infrastructure. This meeting marked the beginning of a deeper collaboration between the SCZone and FEI, setting the stage for future joint initiatives.

Egypt’s Economic Outlook

Egypt’s economy is projected to grow by 4% in the year leading up to June, bolstered by supportive measures from the IMF, according to a Reuters poll conducted in January 2025. The poll also forecasts a GDP growth acceleration to 4.7% in 2025-26 and 5% in 2026-27.

However, the country’s GDP growth slowed to 2.4% in 2023-24, down from 3.8% in the previous year, primarily due to the ongoing currency crisis and the geopolitical impact of the war in neighboring Gaza, according to the Central Bank of Egypt.