REVIEW OF INDUSTRY ESA BUSINESS PRACTICES WITHIN THE SCIENTIFIC PROGRAM - THE INDUSTRIAL WORKSHOPS

This article reviews the background to the joint ESA/Industry dialogue that has been taking place in recent years with a view to further imp roving the contractual and managerial interfaces within the ESA Scient ific Programme. It describes the main events in this continuing dialog ue and summarises Industry's and the Agency's perspectives on the majo r topics addressed in the various working groups. Particular emphasis is placed on the outcome of the joint Workshop held last October, whic h was a concluding milestone of the initial phase in the ESA/Industry exchange.