A Fund promoting the integration of sustainable development challenges into space exploration.

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Created in 2017 at the initiative of the family of Professor Jacques François Cox (1898–1972), the Jacques Cox Fund for Future Generations focuses on space research and exploration, as well as on reflecting on humanity’s long-term priorities in this field.

The Fund also uses its financial assets to make investments aimed at supporting future generations, in line with the Foundation’s investment objectives and strategies.

“The challenges of sustainable development in the context of space exploration are currently still underexplored. Finding information, for example on the quantities and types of gaseous emissions from propulsion systems, is extremely difficult. The amount of payload being launched into space is growing exponentially, and this is even more pronounced when it comes to developing commercial activities or undertaking deep-space exploration.

At present, there are plans to establish as many lunar bases as there are countries active in space, although some forms of collaboration are beginning to emerge. We are seeing humanity expand across the solar system without reflecting on how it should organise itself, while some are even considering leaving planet Earth behind.

There is therefore an urgent need to encourage long-term thinking on this issue, with no agenda other than enabling future generations to live and experience freedom.”

Jean-Marc Van Nyperlseer

Founder of the Jacques Cox Fund

The Fund’s activities

The Jacques Cox Fund focuses primarily on space research and exploration, as well as on reflecting on humanity’s priorities in this field, and does so - as Jacques Cox himself put it - “with respect for the balance of our planet, and for the principles of truth and justice.”

In practice, the Fund:

The Jacques Cox Fund can also “support future generations” through investments, in line with the Foundation’s investment objectives and strategies.

In 2020, the Fund invested in the Swiss start-up ClearSpace, which specialises in orbital debris removal, through a convertible loan.

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Who was Jacques Cox?

Jacques Cox pursued an exemplary scientific and academic career, alongside a remarkable commitment to humanist values and the common good. This distinguished astronomer served as Rector of ULB from 1944 to 1947, after helping to safeguard the principles of free inquiry during the Nazi occupation.

He subsequently joined the Royal Air Force, where he worked on guidance systems. He also served as Permanent Secretary of the Royal Academy and founded the National Space Centre, one of the driving forces behind the development of European space policy.

Fund Type and Management Committee

The Jacques Cox Fund is a named flow-through fund hosted by the Foundation for Future Generations.

The Management Committee of the Jacques Cox Fund is composed of:

  • Jean-Marc Van Nypelseer, Founder
  • Benoît Derenne, Director of the Foundation for Future Generations

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