Investing in space technology now may be similar to buying Microsoft shares two decades ago: highly profitable. It seems the next industry area to experience an economic boom will be the exploration of space and space tourism.

Last month, the first ESA Investment Forum took place at the European Space Research and Technology Centre in the Netherlands. More than 100 participants from all over the world showed up and expressed an interest for investments in the field.

"The focus of the Investment Forum is to highlight the commercial benefits of satellite and space technology in applications on Earth and to give potential investors an opportunity to meet with a number of start-up companies using spin-offs from space technology," explained Frank M. Salzgeber, acting Head of the TTP office.

Many new companies are developing space related products and services, proving that space will be the next big attraction for people who want to invest in something new, or simply don't know what to do with all the money.

New projects from a broad spectrum of technologies look really promising, like sensors, navigation data, satellite communication and imaging technology. Many of these technologies have already been transferred to applications on Earth where they have generated countless business opportunities.

So if you have some money and you have not decided yet how to invest, or if you simply want a more futuristic alternative, this looks like the right spot. The are many industrial sectors who will greatly benefit from applications developed in and for the outer space, such as the automotive, medical, offshore, security, energy, sports and transport industries.

Space tourism is a refreshing alternative and even if for the moment the pioneers paid around $20 million for a trip to the International Space Station, future trips will get more affordable, so in a few decades, travel agencies around the world could advertise "space tours" and who knows, maybe even on the Moon.