With the establishment of a National Point of Contact for Space Law in Austria the European Centre for Space Law (ECSL) has filled another “black spot” on the European map with colour and life.

For many years Austria has shown great commitment to contribute to the space sector, both through high technology companies and the traditionally strong involvement in the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space. In addition, Austrian representatives have been playing important roles in the area of space law for the last decades. Thus, it was only a question of time that the ECSL National Point of Contact for Space Law Austria was established at the University of Graz in 2001 under the academic leadership of Prof Christian Brünner.

In November 2008, the NPOC Austria moved to the University of Vienna, and Prof Irmgard Marboe at the Department of European, International and Comparative Law took over the position as head of the NPOC.