The increasing demand from market and society for satellite applications and space technology is leading to an increasing demand for people who can contribute to the development of this technology and the associated applications. This means that, besides policy aimed at obtaining a market share that is as large as possible, efforts must also be taken to develop the required human capital.
Furthermore, the space missions of the Dutch astronaut André Kuipers demonstrated how spaceflight captures the imagination of both young and old alike. This makes spaceflight a perfect subject to encourage interest in science and technology.
For primary and secondary education, ESERO (European Space Education Resource Office), which is under the management of Science Museum NEMO on behalf of ESA and NSO, develops and manages a large collection of lesson plans focused on current items and a multitude of subjects related to space flight.
ESERO organises special teacher conferences several times per year. On behalf of NSO, ESERO has recently published a certified Physics, Life and Technology module about Earth observation and satellites for more able pupils in the senior classes of secondary school. ESERO also organises the CanSat competition on behalf of NSO, in which pupils make and launch their own soft-drink-can-sized satellite. For primary schools, there is the Mission X project.
These activities are financed from the space education budget of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science.