The European Space Forum will return to Brussels in June 2024, once again bringing together key industry leaders, policymakers, and experts for 2 full days of face-to-face debate. With the release of the EU Space Law proposal expected in the first half of 2024, the conference will provide a platform for multi-stakeholder discussions around this and the work towards an EU Single Market for Space; as well as focussing more broadly on strategic pillars such as sustainability, resilience, competitiveness, economic security and on ensuring long-term autonomous access to space.
Sessions throughout the event will be discussion-based and interactive, with speakers and audience members encouraged to speak freely, challenge each other and pool ideas.
European efforts continue to unlock the boundless possibilities of space and its capacity to drive progress and improve well-being for people and communities globally. Be part of the discussions on the path ahead and on shaping a strong and sustainable European space ecosystem for the benefit of all.
2019-present
Executive Vice-President for A Europe Fit for the Digital Age and Competition,
European Commission
2014-2019
European commissioner for Competit
2011-2014
Minister for Economic Affairs and the Interior
2011-2014
Political leader of the Social Liberal Party
2001-2014
Member of Parliament (Frederiksborg County constituency, then North Zealand
greater constituency)
2007-2011
Political leader of the Social Liberal Party and Chairwoman of the parliamentary
group
2000-2001
Minister for Education
1998-2000
Minister for Education and Minister for Ecclesiastical Affairs
1997-1998
Head of secretariat with the Agency for Financial Management and Administrative
Affairs
1995-1997
Special consultant with the Agency for Financial Management and Administrative
Affairs
1993-1995
Head of section at the Ministry of Finance
1993
Master of Science in Economics, University of Copenhagen
Executive Vice President - A Europe Fit for the Digital Age
European Commission
Thierry Breton has been the European Commissioner for the Internal Market since 2019. He is responsible for industry, digital, defence and space, as well as tourism, services and audiovisual. From 2009 to 2019 Mr Breton was CEO of a major European digital technology company, chairing in parallel the French National Research and Technology Association. In 2008-2009, he taught governance in Boston, USA, at Harvard Business School. In 2005, he was appointed Minister for Economic Affairs, Finance and Industry of France, a post which he held until 2007. Prior to this, he ran a number of large companies in the IT and telco sector.
An engineer in computer science, Thierry Breton began his career as a tech entrepreneur.
European Commissioner for Internal Market
European Commission
Josef Aschbacher, of Austrian nationality, is a geophysicist by education. He joined ESA in 1990. Throughout his career he held various positions in different locations. He also worked for the European Union. In 2016 he became ESA’s Director of Earth Observation, and in 2021 he took office as ESA’s Director General.
Director General
European Space Agency (ESA)
On 16 October 2020, Rodrigo da Costa took up his duties as Executive Director of the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA), formerly the European GNSS Agency (GSA). Prior to this, he was the Galileo Services Programme Manager from March 2017.
Before joining the GSA, Rodrigo da Costa held several senior project management, business development, and institutional key account management positions in the space industry, in the areas of human space flight, exploration, launchers and R&D.
Rodrigo da Costa holds a degree in Aerospace Engineering from the “Instituto Superior Tecnico” in Lisbon, a Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Delft, and an MBA from the EuroMBA consortium of Business Schools.”
Executive Director
European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA)
Miguel Belló is the Commissioner for Aerospace Recovery Plan at the Ministry of Science and Innovation of Spain, with responsibility of a 4,5 B€ program for the sector and the implementation ofthe Spanish Space Agency. He was also CEO of the Atlantic International Research Centre (AIR Centre), international non-profit organization to develop scientific and technological applications in the Atlantic region with Headquarters in Azores Islands (Portugal). Miguel has been entrepreneur in the European Space sector involved in the management of International Space Programs and Institutions with 40 years of experience in the space sector. Promoter of the DEIMOS 1 (launch 2009) and DEIMOS 2 (launch2014) Earth Observation satellites and responsible of its operations and downstream applications.
Miguel was founder and CEO of all companies in DEIMOS Group in Spain, Portugal, United Kingdom, Romania and Italy. He is expert in Space Systems Engineering, Earth Observation systems and applications, Mission Analysis, Flight Dynamics, Interplanetary Mission Design and Space Debris.
Miguel holds a PhD in Aerospace Engineering at the Flugmechanik Institut, Zentrum fur Luft- und Raumfahrttechnik, Technische Universität Braunschweig (Germany), in 1993, a M.S. Degree in Aeronautical Engineering, at Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, in 1983, with end of Studies Honour Award and a General Management Programme (MBA), in 2000-2001, at IESE (Madrid).
Miguel is member of the Board of Trustees and Full Member for Section 2 (Engineering Sciences) of the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA), Member of the Astrodynamics Committee of the International Astronautical Federation (IAF), Chairman of the Mission and Constellation Design Session of the IAC Astrodynamics Symposium and member of the Space Traffic Management Committee of the IAA. Miguel was also Member of the European Space Agency Space Debris Advisory Group (SDAG) and Invited Professor on Space Debris Environment at the Universidad Politécnica in Madrid and Celestial Mechanics at La Sapienza University in Rome.
Director General of the Spanish Space Agency – AEE and Commissioner of the Aerospace
Spain
Martin Kupka was born in Jilemnice, where he graduated the local grammar school. He continued his studies at the Faculty of Social Sciences at Charles University, in the field of Journalism and Mass Communication. During his studies, he was already working as an editor and presenter of Czech Radio 3 – the Vltava station. Between 2000 and 2002 he worked as a spokesperson for the City of Prague.
After a year-long break in the private sector, he returned to work in public administration as the spokesperson for the Central Bohemian Region, where he was responsible for communication with the public as well as presentation of the region in terms of tourism. In 2009 he was the primary spokesperson and manager of the Communication Department of the Ministry of Transport. As the manager of the media section and spokesperson for ODS, he took part in their 2010 parliamentary election campaign. He was also involved in all the following campaigns.
In June of 2010 he became the spokesperson of the Czech Government. After the victory of ODS in the local elections in 2010, he took on the role of mayor of the Líbeznice municipality. He defended his mandate in the 2014 and 2018 elections. After success in the regional elections in 2016, he worked for a year in the Council of the Central Bohemian Region. He was responsible for the area of healthcare. In 2020 he returned to the Council of the Central Bohemian Region in the role of Statutory Deputy Governor for Road Transport. In the autumn of 2017 he was elected a Member of Parliament of the Czech Republic. He defended the seat in the 2021 elections.
In January 2014, he was elected by delegates of the 24th Congress of ODS as a deputy leader; he defended this position at the 25th, 26th and 27th Congresses in 2016, 2018 and 2020, respectively.
Martin Kupka is married and has two children. He speaks English and his hobbies include books, music and tourism.
Minister of Transport
Czech Republic
Mrs Evi PAPANTONIOU is Director for Space (acting) in the European Commission – Directorate-General for Defence Industry and Space (DEFIS). Ms Papantoniou is in charge of EU Space Policy and EU space flagships, Copernicus and Galileo /EGNOS. She is responsible in particular for actions supporting the EU aerospace ecosystem, as well as for relations with the European Space Agency (ESA) and the EU Space Programme Agency (EUSPA).
Until December 2019, she was the Head of Unit in the Directorate-General for the Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs (DG GROW) responsible for legal and inter-institutional aspects of Galileo/EGNOS, the EU satellite navigation programme. Previously, she contributed in setting-up the EU Defence Fund and dealt with the shaping of EU response on countering hybrid threats.
Ms Papantoniou has also worked in the European Commission Task Force for Greece. In that capacity, she supported Greece’s structural reform efforts under the economic adjustment programme in the area of business environment and justice reform.
As competition lawyer by training, she worked for several years in DG Competition of the European Commission on competition enforcement in anti-trust, but also state aid control.
Before joining the European Commission, she worked in the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg and as a competition lawyer in Paris.
She holds a Master of Laws (LLM) in EU law from the College of Europe in Bruges.
Director for Space (Acting), DG DEFIS
European Commission
Niklas Nienass is Member of the European Parliament for The Greens/EFA, where he is responsible for space policy. A strong supporter of the European new space economy, he is committed to establish a European space law and set international standards for space traffic management. He has a seat in the European Parliament’s Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE), where he negotiates space related legislative files on behalf of the Greens/EFA group. In 2020 he graduated with a Master’s degree on Good Governance with a thesis on international space law. In addition, Niklas is also member of the Committees on Regional Development
(REGI), Culture and Education (CULT) and Constitutional Affairs (AFCO). He is co-
founder of the Cultural Creators Friendship Group, the RUMRA & Smart Village Intergroup and the Youth Interest Group. Last but not least, he is also a member of the European Parliament Delegations for Central Asia and Mongolia and Afghanistan.
Member
European Parliament
Christophe Grudler is a French Member of the European Parliament (MEP), member of the Renew Europe group.
Historian and journalist by training, his political commitment started at an early stage of his career. He is particularly involved at the local level in his hometown, Belfort, where he has been elected as a local representative several times.
Within the European Parliament, he is Vice-Coordinator of the ITRE Committee (Industry, research and energy) for the Renew Europe group. He is also a member of the Foreign Affairs (AFET) and Security and Defence (SEDE) committees. Furthermore, he is Vice President of the Sky & Space Intergroup of the European
Parliament.
MEP Grudler is particularly involved on energy and industry related topics, as well as on space and defence policies. He has been appointed as rapporteur for the European Parliament on the Initiative report on Energy System Integration and recently on the future European secure connectivity. He is also shadow rapporteur for his group on the European Industrial Strategy, the revision of the Renewable Energy Directive (RED) and on the European Space Programme.
Rapporteur on the EU Secure Connectivity Initiative
European Parliament
Marc Serres is the Chief Executive Officer of the Luxembourg Space Agency. He heads the Luxembourg Delegation at the European Space Agency (ESA) and represents Luxembourg in the Council of ESA. He is Member of the International Academy of Astronautics.
He has been Director of Space Affairs at the Ministry of the Economy of Luxembourg since January 2014. Before joining the Ministry of the Economy, Marc Serres managed Luxembourg’s relations with ESA at the Ministry of Higher Education and Research as an industrial policy officer for 8 years. Prior to becoming a civil servant, he spent 5 years in the satellite communications antenna manufacturing industry within the company HITEC Luxembourg S.A., first as a Project Engineer and finally as Chief Engineer for satcom products development.
Marc Serres holds a PhD in optoelectronics and a Master in electrical engineering with specialty in microwave frequencies, both from the Université catholique de Louvain in Belgium.
CEO
Luxembourg Space Agency
Angus Lapsley became NATO Assistant Secretary General for Defence Policy and Planning in September 2022. Within NATO’s International Staff, Angus leads the team responsible for the Alliance’s capability and force planning, posture, plans, and a range of defence policy questions, including nuclear issues.
After studying English Language and Literature at the University of Oxford, Angus spent over 30 years as a diplomat for the UK. He served as Director General Strategy & International in the Ministry of Defence, as Ambassador to the European Union’s Political and Security Committee, and worked in the private offices of two Prime Ministers.
He is married with two adult children.
Assistant Secretary General for Defence Policy and Planning
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
Isabelle Mauro is Director General of the Global Satellite Operators Association (GSOA) that represents the interests of 29 global and regional satellite operators. She reports directly to their Chief Executives.
Under Isabelle’s leadership, GSOA and its member CEOs lead the effort to showcase the benefits of satellite communications for a more inclusive and secure society – vital to bridging the world’s digital divide, achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and realizing the 5G ecosystem.
Isabelle has 25 years experience in the Telecoms and Technology sector, starting at the GSMA, where she was responsible for government and international Affairs. In 2015 she moved to New York to join the World Economic Forum as Head of Information, Communications and Technology Industries, managing the portfolio for 60+ Tech companies globally and leading initiatives on inclusive and sustainable digital transformation.
Isabelle is passionate about inclusion and sustainability. She is Chair of the High-Level Advisory Board of the DigitalGoesGreen Foundation. She also sits on the Advisory Board of Women in Tech and is a member of the UNESCO Advisory Group for the Declaration on Connectivity for Education.
Isabelle holds an MSc in European Politics and Policy from the London School of Economics. She is fluent in French, English, Italian and Spanish.
Director General
Global Satellite Operators Association (GSOA)
Luigi Pasquali has been the Coordinator of Leonardo Space Activities and Telespazio Chief Executive Officer since February 2013.
Graduated in Electronic Engineering, Luigi attended courses in Finance and Business Management. He also served the Italian Army as Officer in the Technical Corps, in charge of Telecommunications.
He began his career in Selenia as a System Engineer being involved in several international projects. Then he moved to Stet/Telecom dealing with Development and International Strategies. After a period spent as Director of Business Development in Atlanet, Telefonica group, he was appointed Director of Telecommunications in Alenia Spazio (now Thales Alenia Space) with prominence and increasing responsibilities. Luigi joined Telespazio as Chief Operating Officer and, after a while, he returned to run Thales Alenia Space Italia as Chairman and CEO as well as Deputy CEO of Thales Alenia Space Group.
Luigi is currently member of the Board of Directors of Thales Alenia Space and AVIO, Chairman of Thales
Alenia Space Italy as well as member of the Board of AIAD (Federation of Italian Industries for Aerospace, Defence and Security) and Member of the Council of Eurospace and ESOA.
He is registered in the Roll of Engineers of the Province of Rome, Italy.
CEO
Telespazio
Massimo Claudio Comparini, former CEO at eGeos since 2016 and Director Line of Business Geo Information at Telespazio, has a long and proven track record in the space industry, from technology to services, and in the earth observation domain.
Massimo holds a Master Degree in Electrical Engineering, Remote Sensing and Radar Systems, University of Rome La Sapienza (Italy), and a Degree in Strategy from Graduate School of Business, Stanford University, CA (USA). He started his career in 1983 at Selenia Spazio (later Alenia Spazio), holding various management positions, up to the role of Chief Technology Officer.
In 2013 he was appointed CTO of Telespazio, a joint venture between Leonardo (67%) and Thales (33%). In 2016 he became the CEO of eGeos, an ASI (20%) and Telespazio (80%) company, an established international leader in the Earth Observation and Geo-Spatial Information, and, in his role, Chairman of GAF and EarthLab Luxembourg.
He is also an expert member on the Advisory Board of the Centre for Advanced Studies, Research and Development in Sardinia (CSR4).
CEO
Thales Alenia Space
Marco Folino is the CEO of Spaceopal Gmbh since June 2020.
Graduated in Electronic Engineering with a Master of Science in Electronic Engineering, he began his professional career in 1985 as an analyst/programmer.
In 1987 he joined Datamat Spa. After fulfilling a number of strategic operational and managerial roles in different market domains, in 1998 he was appointed as Head of Meteorology & Environment Unit.
From 2004-2010, under Datamat before and Elsag Datamat then, he was the Head of a number of business units for Space & Environment (including Director of Dataspazio SpA and Elsag Datamat Space Business Unit).
As in 2011 Elsag Datamat Space Business Unit was merged into Telespazio SpA, he took up the position of Head of Satellite Systems & Applications Italian Business Unit.
In 2013 was appointed as Director of Satellite Systems and Applications Business Unit with responsibilities at transnational level.
In January 2017 was nominated CEO of Telespazio UK.
CEO
Spaceopal
Koen Willems holds the position of VP EU Programs and Government Relations at ST Engineering iDirect Europe, a market leader in satellite communication technologies. Koen provides his expertise in EU government programs through the Belgian legal entity (proxy) organisation ST Engineering iDirect (Europe) CY NV leveraging the EU footprint and installed base in ground segment satellite networks (www.idirect.net/st-engineering-idirect-europe). On top of his EU activities, Koen defines and develops ST Engineering iDirect’s global strategy for the government and defense market.
Koen Willems has more than 25 years’ experience working in the technology industry. Before joining ST Engineering iDirect in 2008 he was Product Marketing Manager for Europe at the electronics giant TOSHIBA.
Koen has a master’s degree in English and Scandinavian Languages from Ghent University and a master’s degree in Marketing Strategy and Management from Vlekho Business School.
His expertise in the government and defense satellite market has grown through the involvement in different large (EU) programs as well as frequent interactions with the end-user community and a range of topic-related degrees such as the ‘High Studies in Security and Defence’ degree at the Belgian Royal Higher Institute for Defence, the ‘European Session for Armament Officials’ degree at the French National Institute of Higher Defense and the ‘European Advanced Strategy Course on Security and Defense’ degree at the Egmont Institute, IHEDN and BAKS.
You may know Koen as a GovDef satcom technology evangelist through his regular appearance in editorials in satellite focused publications, white papers and speaking slots at conferences around the world.
VP EU Programs & Government Relations
ST Engineering iDirect
Chiara Manfletti is the Director and Chief Operating Officer at Neuraspace and the Professor of Space Propulsion and Mobility at the Technical University of Munich. At the early stage of her career, she worked for the German Aerospace Center, DLR, as a research engineer and later joined the European Space Agency (ESA), where she was the Programme Advisor to the Director General at the agency’s headquarters in Paris. She was nominated as the first President of the then just founded Portuguese national space agency, Portugal Space. During her professional tenure, Chiara later headed the Policy and Programmes Coordination department at the ESA prior to joining Neuraspace.
Chiara is an eminent speaker and was a part of some of the most sought-after global space conferences:
She is bestowed with the title of the “Mother of the Space Safety and Security Programmatic Pillar of ESA” and the “Creator of EuRoC.”
Chiara has a Doctorate (Dr. -Ing) degree in Engineering from RWTH Aachen University, Germany, a Master’s Degree in Space Studies (MSS) from International Space University (ISU), Strasbourg, France, and holds a Master of Engineering (MEng) in Aeronautical Engineering from Imperial College of Science, Technology & Medicine, London, UK.
Chiara Manfletti has dual Italian and German nationality and loves hiking high mountains, photography, beekeeping, ornithology, and constructing IoT devices. Connect with her on LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube
CEO
Neuraspace
Antonio Abad (Almería, Spain, 1963) holds a Master of Sciences in Aeronautical Engineering from the Polytechnic University of Madrid and graduated in Senior Management in the ‘General Management Program (GMP)’ and in ‘Digital Transformation’ from IESE Business School. He completed his training with different Leadership, Talent Development, and Organization and People Empowerment courses, also at IESE, Navarra University.
In addition, he has been professionally recognized becoming an academician at the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA) and the Academie de l’Air and l‘Espace (AAS). He is also a senior member of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) and the Institute of Electric and Electronic Engineers (IEEE).
After initiating his professional activities at Telefónica Sistemas in 1989, from 1991 up to date he has developed his career at HISPASAT in different engineering and management responsibilities. Since 2003 he is the Chief Technical Officer of HISPASAT, being responsible for the definition and implementation of satellite systems, launchers, control centers, and ground stations, as well as their operation and control. In 2019, he also took over the responsibilities for the development of the future space infrastructure of HISPASAT, analyzing from High Altitude Platforms to Cubesats, Software Defined Satellites, and Constellations. Since 2020 he is promoting the development of Space Quantum Communications, with the first application in Quantum Key Distribution, and the development of a Common Lunar Communications infrastructure.
He has been a speaker at numerous conferences and seminars, including Washington Satellite and World Satellite Business Week in Paris. He has been the Director of the 9 editions of the ‘HISPASAT Summit on Space Telecommunications’ in the ‘Menéndez Pelayo International University’.
CTO
Hispasat
Ms. Holla-Maini has nineteen years’ experience in the aerospace industry, starting at Daimler-Benz Aerospace (now Airbus Defense & Space) in Germany. She moved to Brussels in 2000 to represent former Astrium in the Galileo Industries joint venture towards European institutions on the European satellite navigation system Galileo, working on the development of the public-private partnership scheme and other management aspects of the Galileo programme. Since her MBA she has organized workshops on negotiation skills for young managers and remains an active alumnus of HEC.
Ms. Holla-Maini holds a Masters of Business Administration from HEC, France & Stern Business School, NY, USA. She qualified as Solicitor of the Supreme Court in the UK in 1995, holding a LLB Hons Law with German Law degree from King’s College, University of London & the University of Passau, Germany. Aarti lives in Brussels, has 3 children and speaks 5 languages.
Director
UNOOSA
Olivier has a long-standing experience and a strong network in the European space policy sector, at the crossroads of the private and the public sector.
He has been part of the Belgian delegation to the ESA Council and also advising the Belgian Permanent Representation on space matters, under the authority of E. Beka, High representative of Belgium for space policy. Olivier then moved to Eurospace, as Head of the Brussels Office until 2014, when he has been hired by Thales Alenia Space as director for EU affairs.
Secretary General
Eurospace
If you are interested in speaking, sponsorship and visibility opportunities, please contact Karolina Stankiewicz at space@forum-europe.com / +44 (0) 2920 780 070.
Note: All timings are in Central European Summer Time (CEST).
The space economy is evolving like never before. An unprecedented amount of public and private investment is going into new constellations leading to a renewed space race, and, causing concern for governments the world over about the sustainability of space for future generations. The boom in satellites being launched into space was arguably foreseeable a decade ago. This led to the adoption of the Long-Term Sustainability Guidelines by the UN in 2019. Yet the world remains far from agreeing on a binding set of norms and regulations that are vitally needed if the risks resulting from congestion in space are truly to be mitigated. Voluntary initiatives such as Codes of Conduct, Charters and Sustainability Ratings continue to emerge but risk falling short of making a tangible difference. The European Union however is pioneering an approach that could put Europe at the forefront of binding regulation. The EU Space Law (EUSL) is due to emerge in 2025, providing a potentially binding framework for sustainable activities in space.
The retirement of Ariane 5 in July 2023 coupled with delays to Ariane 6 and Vega-C left Europe with a temporary loss of independent access to space. Europe has since navigated these hurdles to regain its autonomous launch capabilities, but in the interim period, was required to seek alternative launch solutions, including contracting SpaceX to deploy European satellites and missions. With space recognised as a strategically crucial sector, relying on non-European actors for launches undermines Europe’s ability to assert its strategic autonomy. This session will look at lessons learnt from this situation and from current and past launchers programmes, and at measures that put in place to ensure long term and permanent autonomous access to space for Europe going forward. It will look at how policy is evolving and at the important role that a more competitive launcher ecosystem and the introduction of new space players can play as part of this solution.
In today’s dynamic and competitive global landscape, the European space sector faces not only technological challenges but also intensifying global competition. As space becomes increasingly commercialised and accessible, other nations are rapidly investing in their space programs, accelerating the pace of innovation and driving down costs. This heightened global competition calls into question the sustainability of Europe’s economic security on the global stage and its ability to maintain a leading position in the space industry. Moreover, the reliance on external suppliers for essential components and materials leaves Europe vulnerable to disruptions and bottlenecks in the supply chain, as was seen during the Covid pandemic. This session will look at the path that needs to be taken to sustain the long-term future of the European space industry. It will explore the importance of fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration among European space companies, ensuring a steady flow of investment into cutting-edge technologies, and streamlining regulatory processes to accelerate the development and deployment of new space capabilities. As we navigate the complexities of an emerging space race, the European space industry stands at a crossroads. How can we ensure that we take the right path and ensure a secure, sustainable, and self-reliant European Space Supply Chain that continues to support our economic prosperity, societal well-being, and global leadership?
Space data provides a unique viewpoint to understand the Earth and the accelerating change we’re experiencing in a variety of different areas – climate, biodiversity, infrastructure, land use and more. It is a central part of how we manage climate change and mitigate its effects on our planet and human life, as well as how we increase resilience in areas such as disaster management, risk prevention, civil protection. These are all areas in which Europe has been at the forefront of through its Copernicus programme. One area in which the potential of space data is arguably still to be realised however is the development of the private market. Whilst some examples are being seen of space data contributing to digitalisation across vertical sectors such as automotive and maritime, the explosion of use cases and vast commercialisation of space data to deliver economic growth that was hoped has arguably not yet been delivered. This session will explore the long term future of space data and what needs to be done to harness the huge value that it offers across both the public and private sectors. It will look at the impact that it has already made in helping to tackle climate change and increase resilience, and at the work that still remains to be done in order to push growth in the private market for space data and more broadly to maximise the vast economic and societal potential that exists.
As the demand for space services explodes, policymakers and industry representatives face the critical challenge of reconciling this growth with the urgent need to protect our planet and the atmosphere around us. This session will discuss the challenges ahead, and look at the different policy and technology solutions that are available to ‘green’ space activities and reduce the environmental footprint of launches, constellations, and satellite operations. It will look at how advancements in areas such as resource-efficient materials, cleaner fuels, and debris mitigation strategies are being used to help solve the problems, and at how Europe can work alongside like-minded international partners to ensure the realisation of our space objectives while minimizing the impact on the planet.
The satellite-powered Direct-to-Device (D2D) market is emerging as one of the next big things for the telecommunications sector and is seen as offering huge potential opportunities for the satellite industry. Under this new model of converged connectivity model, a satellite operator would partner with a terrestrial mobile operator to provide connectivity services directly to an off-the-shelf mobile device in areas where the terrestrial carrier lacks coverage. This session will look at the potential that D2D and hybrid connectivity offers, the market that is developing and the opportunities that it could offer for European players. It will examine the technological and regulatory challenges that need to be addressed are being seen in areas such as spectrum access and licencing, and at what needs to be done in order to overcome these and ensure that the potential of this new integration of multi-orbit satellite with terrestrial networks is realised.
As the newest flagship of the European space programme, IRIS² is a vital cog in Europe’s broader space strategy. Its mission to establish secure, resilient, and self-reliant connectivity across Europe is crucial for European autonomy and prosperity. Now that the consortium for IRIS² has been finalised, this session will examine how the program is taking shape as we progress towards full operational capability by 2027. Throughout the procurement process, sustainability has been a central tenet of the IRIS² program, showcasing Europe’s capacity to effectively execute public-private partnerships that foster sustainable practices in space, on Earth, across the industrial supply chain, and throughout industry. This session will explore how, by maintaining this commitment to environmental, economic, and social sustainability, IRIS² can serve as a model for a competitive and collaborative European space sector that contributes to a more secure, sustainable, and prosperous future for all Europeans.
There is no security on Earth without space. With space becoming a key strategic element of national and European security and defence policy, the European Council adopted the Commission’s conclusions on the first EU Space Strategy for Security and Defence in November 2023. The conclusions aim to secure European sovereignty through the application of space-enabled systems, whilst establishing responsible norms and behaviours to ensure responsible and long-term space sustainability. We see the importance of space-enabled communications and intelligence in the ongoing conflicts, including Ukraine and Gaza, a crucial element of military capability but also ensuring truths are reported and misinformation challenged. Enhancing resilient space-enabled systems enables the EU to establish itself as a global space power, protecting its citizens and institutions, whilst capitalising on the associated economic and technological benefits that it brings to European competitiveness and growth. This session will look at how all players can contribute to securing Europe and meet and implement the strategies’ conclusions.
Europe has always been at the forefront of advocating for best practices in various critical aspects of space activities, notably in areas such as safety, security, sustainability, and collaboration. In the current, increasingly complex environment both in space and on Earth, promoting these core values and principles is not only essential for fostering responsible space exploration but can also be a key element in promoting Europe as a credible leader in the global space ecosystem. Against the backdrop of the EUSL but also looking more broadly at the way in which Galileo and Copernicus have developed as global benchmarks and are used by international partners all over the world, and at how ESA has collaborated with international partners in multiple areas, including in space exploration and scientific missions; this session will look at key European strengths, and at how these can be leveraged to foster international partnerships and position Europe as a global partner in the international space field.
The space economy is evolving like never before. An unprecedented amount of public and private investment is going into new constellations leading to a renewed space race, and, causing concern for governments the world over about the sustainability of space for future generations. The boom in satellites being launched into space was arguably foreseeable a decade ago. This led to the adoption of the Long-Term Sustainability Guidelines by the UN in 2019. Yet the world remains far from agreeing on a binding set of norms and regulations that are vitally needed if the risks resulting from congestion in space are truly to be mitigated. Voluntary initiatives such as Codes of Conduct, Charters and Sustainability Ratings continue to emerge but risk falling short of making a tangible difference. The European Union however is pioneering an approach that could put Europe at the forefront of binding regulation. The EU Space Law (EUSL) is due to emerge in 2025, providing a potentially binding framework for sustainable activities in space.
The retirement of Ariane 5 in July 2023 coupled with delays to Ariane 6 and Vega-C left Europe with a temporary loss of independent access to space. Europe has since navigated these hurdles to regain its autonomous launch capabilities, but in the interim period, was required to seek alternative launch solutions, including contracting SpaceX to deploy European satellites and missions. With space recognised as a strategically crucial sector, relying on non-European actors for launches undermines Europe’s ability to assert its strategic autonomy. This session will look at lessons learnt from this situation and from current and past launchers programmes, and at measures that put in place to ensure long term and permanent autonomous access to space for Europe going forward. It will look at how policy is evolving and at the important role that a more competitive launcher ecosystem and the introduction of new space players can play as part of this solution.
In today’s dynamic and competitive global landscape, the European space sector faces not only technological challenges but also intensifying global competition. As space becomes increasingly commercialised and accessible, other nations are rapidly investing in their space programs, accelerating the pace of innovation and driving down costs. This heightened global competition calls into question the sustainability of Europe’s economic security on the global stage and its ability to maintain a leading position in the space industry. Moreover, the reliance on external suppliers for essential components and materials leaves Europe vulnerable to disruptions and bottlenecks in the supply chain, as was seen during the Covid pandemic. This session will look at the path that needs to be taken to sustain the long-term future of the European space industry. It will explore the importance of fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration among European space companies, ensuring a steady flow of investment into cutting-edge technologies, and streamlining regulatory processes to accelerate the development and deployment of new space capabilities. As we navigate the complexities of an emerging space race, the European space industry stands at a crossroads. How can we ensure that we take the right path and ensure a secure, sustainable, and self-reliant European Space Supply Chain that continues to support our economic prosperity, societal well-being, and global leadership?
Space data provides a unique viewpoint to understand the Earth and the accelerating change we’re experiencing in a variety of different areas – climate, biodiversity, infrastructure, land use and more. It is a central part of how we manage climate change and mitigate its effects on our planet and human life, as well as how we increase resilience in areas such as disaster management, risk prevention, civil protection. These are all areas in which Europe has been at the forefront of through its Copernicus programme. One area in which the potential of space data is arguably still to be realised however is the development of the private market. Whilst some examples are being seen of space data contributing to digitalisation across vertical sectors such as automotive and maritime, the explosion of use cases and vast commercialisation of space data to deliver economic growth that was hoped has arguably not yet been delivered. This session will explore the long term future of space data and what needs to be done to harness the huge value that it offers across both the public and private sectors. It will look at the impact that it has already made in helping to tackle climate change and increase resilience, and at the work that still remains to be done in order to push growth in the private market for space data and more broadly to maximise the vast economic and societal potential that exists.
As the demand for space services explodes, policymakers and industry representatives face the critical challenge of reconciling this growth with the urgent need to protect our planet and the atmosphere around us. This session will discuss the challenges ahead, and look at the different policy and technology solutions that are available to ‘green’ space activities and reduce the environmental footprint of launches, constellations, and satellite operations. It will look at how advancements in areas such as resource-efficient materials, cleaner fuels, and debris mitigation strategies are being used to help solve the problems, and at how Europe can work alongside like-minded international partners to ensure the realisation of our space objectives while minimizing the impact on the planet.
The satellite-powered Direct-to-Device (D2D) market is emerging as one of the next big things for the telecommunications sector and is seen as offering huge potential opportunities for the satellite industry. Under this new model of converged connectivity model, a satellite operator would partner with a terrestrial mobile operator to provide connectivity services directly to an off-the-shelf mobile device in areas where the terrestrial carrier lacks coverage. This session will look at the potential that D2D and hybrid connectivity offers, the market that is developing and the opportunities that it could offer for European players. It will examine the technological and regulatory challenges that need to be addressed are being seen in areas such as spectrum access and licencing, and at what needs to be done in order to overcome these and ensure that the potential of this new integration of multi-orbit satellite with terrestrial networks is realised.
As the newest flagship of the European space programme, IRIS² is a vital cog in Europe’s broader space strategy. Its mission to establish secure, resilient, and self-reliant connectivity across Europe is crucial for European autonomy and prosperity. Now that the consortium for IRIS² has been finalised, this session will examine how the program is taking shape as we progress towards full operational capability by 2027. Throughout the procurement process, sustainability has been a central tenet of the IRIS² program, showcasing Europe’s capacity to effectively execute public-private partnerships that foster sustainable practices in space, on Earth, across the industrial supply chain, and throughout industry. This session will explore how, by maintaining this commitment to environmental, economic, and social sustainability, IRIS² can serve as a model for a competitive and collaborative European space sector that contributes to a more secure, sustainable, and prosperous future for all Europeans.
There is no security on Earth without space. With space becoming a key strategic element of national and European security and defence policy, the European Council adopted the Commission’s conclusions on the first EU Space Strategy for Security and Defence in November 2023. The conclusions aim to secure European sovereignty through the application of space-enabled systems, whilst establishing responsible norms and behaviours to ensure responsible and long-term space sustainability. We see the importance of space-enabled communications and intelligence in the ongoing conflicts, including Ukraine and Gaza, a crucial element of military capability but also ensuring truths are reported and misinformation challenged. Enhancing resilient space-enabled systems enables the EU to establish itself as a global space power, protecting its citizens and institutions, whilst capitalising on the associated economic and technological benefits that it brings to European competitiveness and growth. This session will look at how all players can contribute to securing Europe and meet and implement the strategies’ conclusions.
Europe has always been at the forefront of advocating for best practices in various critical aspects of space activities, notably in areas such as safety, security, sustainability, and collaboration. In the current, increasingly complex environment both in space and on Earth, promoting these core values and principles is not only essential for fostering responsible space exploration but can also be a key element in promoting Europe as a credible leader in the global space ecosystem. Against the backdrop of the EUSL but also looking more broadly at the way in which Galileo and Copernicus have developed as global benchmarks and are used by international partners all over the world, and at how ESA has collaborated with international partners in multiple areas, including in space exploration and scientific missions; this session will look at key European strengths, and at how these can be leveraged to foster international partnerships and position Europe as a global partner in the international space field.
2023 Finalists
2023 Finalists
The ‘Innovation in Space Award‘ and ‘Sustainability in Space Award‘ celebrates European projects and organisations which are at the forefront of innovation and sustainable developments within the space and space technology sectors. Awarded on an annual basis and open to companies and projects of all kinds, the award seeks to recognise the contribution and impact that an organisation or project has had on the space industry and on society more broadly.
The winner of the awards was selected by a panel of expert judges (including representatives from the European Commission, ESA and leading space and satellites trade associations), with participants at The European Space Forum also getting a say through an audience vote. Nominees were judged on the unique and innovative nature of their service offerings, but also on the impact that they have made on the sector and broader society, their long-term feasibility and scalability; and the potential that they may have for inspiring future actors within the sector.
2019-present
Executive Vice-President for A Europe Fit for the Digital Age and Competition,
European Commission
2014-2019
European commissioner for Competit
2011-2014
Minister for Economic Affairs and the Interior
2011-2014
Political leader of the Social Liberal Party
2001-2014
Member of Parliament (Frederiksborg County constituency, then North Zealand
greater constituency)
2007-2011
Political leader of the Social Liberal Party and Chairwoman of the parliamentary
group
2000-2001
Minister for Education
1998-2000
Minister for Education and Minister for Ecclesiastical Affairs
1997-1998
Head of secretariat with the Agency for Financial Management and Administrative
Affairs
1995-1997
Special consultant with the Agency for Financial Management and Administrative
Affairs
1993-1995
Head of section at the Ministry of Finance
1993
Master of Science in Economics, University of Copenhagen
Executive Vice President - A Europe Fit for the Digital Age
European Commission
Thierry Breton has been the European Commissioner for the Internal Market since 2019. He is responsible for industry, digital, defence and space, as well as tourism, services and audiovisual. From 2009 to 2019 Mr Breton was CEO of a major European digital technology company, chairing in parallel the French National Research and Technology Association. In 2008-2009, he taught governance in Boston, USA, at Harvard Business School. In 2005, he was appointed Minister for Economic Affairs, Finance and Industry of France, a post which he held until 2007. Prior to this, he ran a number of large companies in the IT and telco sector.
An engineer in computer science, Thierry Breton began his career as a tech entrepreneur.
European Commissioner for Internal Market
European Commission
Josef Aschbacher, of Austrian nationality, is a geophysicist by education. He joined ESA in 1990. Throughout his career he held various positions in different locations. He also worked for the European Union. In 2016 he became ESA’s Director of Earth Observation, and in 2021 he took office as ESA’s Director General.
Director General
European Space Agency (ESA)
On 16 October 2020, Rodrigo da Costa took up his duties as Executive Director of the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA), formerly the European GNSS Agency (GSA). Prior to this, he was the Galileo Services Programme Manager from March 2017.
Before joining the GSA, Rodrigo da Costa held several senior project management, business development, and institutional key account management positions in the space industry, in the areas of human space flight, exploration, launchers and R&D.
Rodrigo da Costa holds a degree in Aerospace Engineering from the “Instituto Superior Tecnico” in Lisbon, a Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Delft, and an MBA from the EuroMBA consortium of Business Schools.”
Executive Director
European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA)
Miguel Belló is the Commissioner for Aerospace Recovery Plan at the Ministry of Science and Innovation of Spain, with responsibility of a 4,5 B€ program for the sector and the implementation ofthe Spanish Space Agency. He was also CEO of the Atlantic International Research Centre (AIR Centre), international non-profit organization to develop scientific and technological applications in the Atlantic region with Headquarters in Azores Islands (Portugal). Miguel has been entrepreneur in the European Space sector involved in the management of International Space Programs and Institutions with 40 years of experience in the space sector. Promoter of the DEIMOS 1 (launch 2009) and DEIMOS 2 (launch2014) Earth Observation satellites and responsible of its operations and downstream applications.
Miguel was founder and CEO of all companies in DEIMOS Group in Spain, Portugal, United Kingdom, Romania and Italy. He is expert in Space Systems Engineering, Earth Observation systems and applications, Mission Analysis, Flight Dynamics, Interplanetary Mission Design and Space Debris.
Miguel holds a PhD in Aerospace Engineering at the Flugmechanik Institut, Zentrum fur Luft- und Raumfahrttechnik, Technische Universität Braunschweig (Germany), in 1993, a M.S. Degree in Aeronautical Engineering, at Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, in 1983, with end of Studies Honour Award and a General Management Programme (MBA), in 2000-2001, at IESE (Madrid).
Miguel is member of the Board of Trustees and Full Member for Section 2 (Engineering Sciences) of the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA), Member of the Astrodynamics Committee of the International Astronautical Federation (IAF), Chairman of the Mission and Constellation Design Session of the IAC Astrodynamics Symposium and member of the Space Traffic Management Committee of the IAA. Miguel was also Member of the European Space Agency Space Debris Advisory Group (SDAG) and Invited Professor on Space Debris Environment at the Universidad Politécnica in Madrid and Celestial Mechanics at La Sapienza University in Rome.
Director General of the Spanish Space Agency – AEE and Commissioner of the Aerospace
Spain
Martin Kupka was born in Jilemnice, where he graduated the local grammar school. He continued his studies at the Faculty of Social Sciences at Charles University, in the field of Journalism and Mass Communication. During his studies, he was already working as an editor and presenter of Czech Radio 3 – the Vltava station. Between 2000 and 2002 he worked as a spokesperson for the City of Prague.
After a year-long break in the private sector, he returned to work in public administration as the spokesperson for the Central Bohemian Region, where he was responsible for communication with the public as well as presentation of the region in terms of tourism. In 2009 he was the primary spokesperson and manager of the Communication Department of the Ministry of Transport. As the manager of the media section and spokesperson for ODS, he took part in their 2010 parliamentary election campaign. He was also involved in all the following campaigns.
In June of 2010 he became the spokesperson of the Czech Government. After the victory of ODS in the local elections in 2010, he took on the role of mayor of the Líbeznice municipality. He defended his mandate in the 2014 and 2018 elections. After success in the regional elections in 2016, he worked for a year in the Council of the Central Bohemian Region. He was responsible for the area of healthcare. In 2020 he returned to the Council of the Central Bohemian Region in the role of Statutory Deputy Governor for Road Transport. In the autumn of 2017 he was elected a Member of Parliament of the Czech Republic. He defended the seat in the 2021 elections.
In January 2014, he was elected by delegates of the 24th Congress of ODS as a deputy leader; he defended this position at the 25th, 26th and 27th Congresses in 2016, 2018 and 2020, respectively.
Martin Kupka is married and has two children. He speaks English and his hobbies include books, music and tourism.
Minister of Transport
Czech Republic
Mrs Evi PAPANTONIOU is Director for Space (acting) in the European Commission – Directorate-General for Defence Industry and Space (DEFIS). Ms Papantoniou is in charge of EU Space Policy and EU space flagships, Copernicus and Galileo /EGNOS. She is responsible in particular for actions supporting the EU aerospace ecosystem, as well as for relations with the European Space Agency (ESA) and the EU Space Programme Agency (EUSPA).
Until December 2019, she was the Head of Unit in the Directorate-General for the Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs (DG GROW) responsible for legal and inter-institutional aspects of Galileo/EGNOS, the EU satellite navigation programme. Previously, she contributed in setting-up the EU Defence Fund and dealt with the shaping of EU response on countering hybrid threats.
Ms Papantoniou has also worked in the European Commission Task Force for Greece. In that capacity, she supported Greece’s structural reform efforts under the economic adjustment programme in the area of business environment and justice reform.
As competition lawyer by training, she worked for several years in DG Competition of the European Commission on competition enforcement in anti-trust, but also state aid control.
Before joining the European Commission, she worked in the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg and as a competition lawyer in Paris.
She holds a Master of Laws (LLM) in EU law from the College of Europe in Bruges.
Director for Space (Acting), DG DEFIS
European Commission
Niklas Nienass is Member of the European Parliament for The Greens/EFA, where he is responsible for space policy. A strong supporter of the European new space economy, he is committed to establish a European space law and set international standards for space traffic management. He has a seat in the European Parliament’s Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE), where he negotiates space related legislative files on behalf of the Greens/EFA group. In 2020 he graduated with a Master’s degree on Good Governance with a thesis on international space law. In addition, Niklas is also member of the Committees on Regional Development
(REGI), Culture and Education (CULT) and Constitutional Affairs (AFCO). He is co-
founder of the Cultural Creators Friendship Group, the RUMRA & Smart Village Intergroup and the Youth Interest Group. Last but not least, he is also a member of the European Parliament Delegations for Central Asia and Mongolia and Afghanistan.
Member
European Parliament
Christophe Grudler is a French Member of the European Parliament (MEP), member of the Renew Europe group.
Historian and journalist by training, his political commitment started at an early stage of his career. He is particularly involved at the local level in his hometown, Belfort, where he has been elected as a local representative several times.
Within the European Parliament, he is Vice-Coordinator of the ITRE Committee (Industry, research and energy) for the Renew Europe group. He is also a member of the Foreign Affairs (AFET) and Security and Defence (SEDE) committees. Furthermore, he is Vice President of the Sky & Space Intergroup of the European
Parliament.
MEP Grudler is particularly involved on energy and industry related topics, as well as on space and defence policies. He has been appointed as rapporteur for the European Parliament on the Initiative report on Energy System Integration and recently on the future European secure connectivity. He is also shadow rapporteur for his group on the European Industrial Strategy, the revision of the Renewable Energy Directive (RED) and on the European Space Programme.
Rapporteur on the EU Secure Connectivity Initiative
European Parliament
Marc Serres is the Chief Executive Officer of the Luxembourg Space Agency. He heads the Luxembourg Delegation at the European Space Agency (ESA) and represents Luxembourg in the Council of ESA. He is Member of the International Academy of Astronautics.
He has been Director of Space Affairs at the Ministry of the Economy of Luxembourg since January 2014. Before joining the Ministry of the Economy, Marc Serres managed Luxembourg’s relations with ESA at the Ministry of Higher Education and Research as an industrial policy officer for 8 years. Prior to becoming a civil servant, he spent 5 years in the satellite communications antenna manufacturing industry within the company HITEC Luxembourg S.A., first as a Project Engineer and finally as Chief Engineer for satcom products development.
Marc Serres holds a PhD in optoelectronics and a Master in electrical engineering with specialty in microwave frequencies, both from the Université catholique de Louvain in Belgium.
CEO
Luxembourg Space Agency
Angus Lapsley became NATO Assistant Secretary General for Defence Policy and Planning in September 2022. Within NATO’s International Staff, Angus leads the team responsible for the Alliance’s capability and force planning, posture, plans, and a range of defence policy questions, including nuclear issues.
After studying English Language and Literature at the University of Oxford, Angus spent over 30 years as a diplomat for the UK. He served as Director General Strategy & International in the Ministry of Defence, as Ambassador to the European Union’s Political and Security Committee, and worked in the private offices of two Prime Ministers.
He is married with two adult children.
Assistant Secretary General for Defence Policy and Planning
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
Isabelle Mauro is Director General of the Global Satellite Operators Association (GSOA) that represents the interests of 29 global and regional satellite operators. She reports directly to their Chief Executives.
Under Isabelle’s leadership, GSOA and its member CEOs lead the effort to showcase the benefits of satellite communications for a more inclusive and secure society – vital to bridging the world’s digital divide, achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and realizing the 5G ecosystem.
Isabelle has 25 years experience in the Telecoms and Technology sector, starting at the GSMA, where she was responsible for government and international Affairs. In 2015 she moved to New York to join the World Economic Forum as Head of Information, Communications and Technology Industries, managing the portfolio for 60+ Tech companies globally and leading initiatives on inclusive and sustainable digital transformation.
Isabelle is passionate about inclusion and sustainability. She is Chair of the High-Level Advisory Board of the DigitalGoesGreen Foundation. She also sits on the Advisory Board of Women in Tech and is a member of the UNESCO Advisory Group for the Declaration on Connectivity for Education.
Isabelle holds an MSc in European Politics and Policy from the London School of Economics. She is fluent in French, English, Italian and Spanish.
Director General
Global Satellite Operators Association (GSOA)
Luigi Pasquali has been the Coordinator of Leonardo Space Activities and Telespazio Chief Executive Officer since February 2013.
Graduated in Electronic Engineering, Luigi attended courses in Finance and Business Management. He also served the Italian Army as Officer in the Technical Corps, in charge of Telecommunications.
He began his career in Selenia as a System Engineer being involved in several international projects. Then he moved to Stet/Telecom dealing with Development and International Strategies. After a period spent as Director of Business Development in Atlanet, Telefonica group, he was appointed Director of Telecommunications in Alenia Spazio (now Thales Alenia Space) with prominence and increasing responsibilities. Luigi joined Telespazio as Chief Operating Officer and, after a while, he returned to run Thales Alenia Space Italia as Chairman and CEO as well as Deputy CEO of Thales Alenia Space Group.
Luigi is currently member of the Board of Directors of Thales Alenia Space and AVIO, Chairman of Thales
Alenia Space Italy as well as member of the Board of AIAD (Federation of Italian Industries for Aerospace, Defence and Security) and Member of the Council of Eurospace and ESOA.
He is registered in the Roll of Engineers of the Province of Rome, Italy.
CEO
Telespazio
Massimo Claudio Comparini, former CEO at eGeos since 2016 and Director Line of Business Geo Information at Telespazio, has a long and proven track record in the space industry, from technology to services, and in the earth observation domain.
Massimo holds a Master Degree in Electrical Engineering, Remote Sensing and Radar Systems, University of Rome La Sapienza (Italy), and a Degree in Strategy from Graduate School of Business, Stanford University, CA (USA). He started his career in 1983 at Selenia Spazio (later Alenia Spazio), holding various management positions, up to the role of Chief Technology Officer.
In 2013 he was appointed CTO of Telespazio, a joint venture between Leonardo (67%) and Thales (33%). In 2016 he became the CEO of eGeos, an ASI (20%) and Telespazio (80%) company, an established international leader in the Earth Observation and Geo-Spatial Information, and, in his role, Chairman of GAF and EarthLab Luxembourg.
He is also an expert member on the Advisory Board of the Centre for Advanced Studies, Research and Development in Sardinia (CSR4).
CEO
Thales Alenia Space
Marco Folino is the CEO of Spaceopal Gmbh since June 2020.
Graduated in Electronic Engineering with a Master of Science in Electronic Engineering, he began his professional career in 1985 as an analyst/programmer.
In 1987 he joined Datamat Spa. After fulfilling a number of strategic operational and managerial roles in different market domains, in 1998 he was appointed as Head of Meteorology & Environment Unit.
From 2004-2010, under Datamat before and Elsag Datamat then, he was the Head of a number of business units for Space & Environment (including Director of Dataspazio SpA and Elsag Datamat Space Business Unit).
As in 2011 Elsag Datamat Space Business Unit was merged into Telespazio SpA, he took up the position of Head of Satellite Systems & Applications Italian Business Unit.
In 2013 was appointed as Director of Satellite Systems and Applications Business Unit with responsibilities at transnational level.
In January 2017 was nominated CEO of Telespazio UK.
CEO
Spaceopal
Koen Willems holds the position of VP EU Programs and Government Relations at ST Engineering iDirect Europe, a market leader in satellite communication technologies. Koen provides his expertise in EU government programs through the Belgian legal entity (proxy) organisation ST Engineering iDirect (Europe) CY NV leveraging the EU footprint and installed base in ground segment satellite networks (www.idirect.net/st-engineering-idirect-europe). On top of his EU activities, Koen defines and develops ST Engineering iDirect’s global strategy for the government and defense market.
Koen Willems has more than 25 years’ experience working in the technology industry. Before joining ST Engineering iDirect in 2008 he was Product Marketing Manager for Europe at the electronics giant TOSHIBA.
Koen has a master’s degree in English and Scandinavian Languages from Ghent University and a master’s degree in Marketing Strategy and Management from Vlekho Business School.
His expertise in the government and defense satellite market has grown through the involvement in different large (EU) programs as well as frequent interactions with the end-user community and a range of topic-related degrees such as the ‘High Studies in Security and Defence’ degree at the Belgian Royal Higher Institute for Defence, the ‘European Session for Armament Officials’ degree at the French National Institute of Higher Defense and the ‘European Advanced Strategy Course on Security and Defense’ degree at the Egmont Institute, IHEDN and BAKS.
You may know Koen as a GovDef satcom technology evangelist through his regular appearance in editorials in satellite focused publications, white papers and speaking slots at conferences around the world.
VP EU Programs & Government Relations
ST Engineering iDirect
Chiara Manfletti is the Director and Chief Operating Officer at Neuraspace and the Professor of Space Propulsion and Mobility at the Technical University of Munich. At the early stage of her career, she worked for the German Aerospace Center, DLR, as a research engineer and later joined the European Space Agency (ESA), where she was the Programme Advisor to the Director General at the agency’s headquarters in Paris. She was nominated as the first President of the then just founded Portuguese national space agency, Portugal Space. During her professional tenure, Chiara later headed the Policy and Programmes Coordination department at the ESA prior to joining Neuraspace.
Chiara is an eminent speaker and was a part of some of the most sought-after global space conferences:
She is bestowed with the title of the “Mother of the Space Safety and Security Programmatic Pillar of ESA” and the “Creator of EuRoC.”
Chiara has a Doctorate (Dr. -Ing) degree in Engineering from RWTH Aachen University, Germany, a Master’s Degree in Space Studies (MSS) from International Space University (ISU), Strasbourg, France, and holds a Master of Engineering (MEng) in Aeronautical Engineering from Imperial College of Science, Technology & Medicine, London, UK.
Chiara Manfletti has dual Italian and German nationality and loves hiking high mountains, photography, beekeeping, ornithology, and constructing IoT devices. Connect with her on LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube
CEO
Neuraspace
Antonio Abad (Almería, Spain, 1963) holds a Master of Sciences in Aeronautical Engineering from the Polytechnic University of Madrid and graduated in Senior Management in the ‘General Management Program (GMP)’ and in ‘Digital Transformation’ from IESE Business School. He completed his training with different Leadership, Talent Development, and Organization and People Empowerment courses, also at IESE, Navarra University.
In addition, he has been professionally recognized becoming an academician at the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA) and the Academie de l’Air and l‘Espace (AAS). He is also a senior member of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) and the Institute of Electric and Electronic Engineers (IEEE).
After initiating his professional activities at Telefónica Sistemas in 1989, from 1991 up to date he has developed his career at HISPASAT in different engineering and management responsibilities. Since 2003 he is the Chief Technical Officer of HISPASAT, being responsible for the definition and implementation of satellite systems, launchers, control centers, and ground stations, as well as their operation and control. In 2019, he also took over the responsibilities for the development of the future space infrastructure of HISPASAT, analyzing from High Altitude Platforms to Cubesats, Software Defined Satellites, and Constellations. Since 2020 he is promoting the development of Space Quantum Communications, with the first application in Quantum Key Distribution, and the development of a Common Lunar Communications infrastructure.
He has been a speaker at numerous conferences and seminars, including Washington Satellite and World Satellite Business Week in Paris. He has been the Director of the 9 editions of the ‘HISPASAT Summit on Space Telecommunications’ in the ‘Menéndez Pelayo International University’.
CTO
Hispasat
Ms. Holla-Maini has nineteen years’ experience in the aerospace industry, starting at Daimler-Benz Aerospace (now Airbus Defense & Space) in Germany. She moved to Brussels in 2000 to represent former Astrium in the Galileo Industries joint venture towards European institutions on the European satellite navigation system Galileo, working on the development of the public-private partnership scheme and other management aspects of the Galileo programme. Since her MBA she has organized workshops on negotiation skills for young managers and remains an active alumnus of HEC.
Ms. Holla-Maini holds a Masters of Business Administration from HEC, France & Stern Business School, NY, USA. She qualified as Solicitor of the Supreme Court in the UK in 1995, holding a LLB Hons Law with German Law degree from King’s College, University of London & the University of Passau, Germany. Aarti lives in Brussels, has 3 children and speaks 5 languages.
Director
UNOOSA
Olivier has a long-standing experience and a strong network in the European space policy sector, at the crossroads of the private and the public sector.
He has been part of the Belgian delegation to the ESA Council and also advising the Belgian Permanent Representation on space matters, under the authority of E. Beka, High representative of Belgium for space policy. Olivier then moved to Eurospace, as Head of the Brussels Office until 2014, when he has been hired by Thales Alenia Space as director for EU affairs.
Secretary General
Eurospace
We have various speaking, sponsor, and wider visibility opportunities available at the event. Should you be interested in becoming involved at the European Space Forum please contact Tom Chinnock on tom.chinnock@forum-europe.com / +44 (0) 7785 795 015.
Exclusive speaking positions | Your organisation can contribute to the discussion.
Engaging and interactive format | Engage in a fully immersive and interactive debate with decision makers, businesses and policymakers.
EU and Global Outreach | Convey your message to a broad and international audience.
Networking opportunities | Networking opportunities will be available to all in person attendees throughout the day.
Visibility opportunities | Ensure maximum visibility through branding in the room, on the event website and marketing activities.
Exhibition and demos area | Showcase your products and solutions or share a position paper with the audience at onsite exhibition booths.
Please kindly note that this is a fully in-person event, taking place at the Hotel nhow Brussels Bloom. There will be no virtual element to this event, so please only register if you are able to physically participate in Brussels.
This is a paid event, please see registration fees for each organisation type in the table below.
***Early Bird prices will apply until midnight on 13 May, 2024***
Standard
Applies to: Corporate, Trade Association, Law Firm/Public affairs firm
€145
€195
Reduced
Applies to: NGO/Not for profit
€120
€160
Academic / Student
Applies to: Academic / Student
€105
€120
Free
Applies to: National Government / Regulator & Diplomatic Mission to the EU, European Commission / Parliament / Council, EU Permanent Representatives, National Space Agencies, Accredited Journalists
FREE
FREE
* Please note that fees do not include Belgian VAT @ 21%, and this amount will be added to the total price when you are invoiced.
Eurospace is the professional association of the European space industry.
As such Eurospace is the reference body for consultation and dialogue within the industry. The main focus of Eurospace is space policy and strategy. The association regularly issues recommendations based on the identification of issues affecting industry as a whole. The association maintains a permanent policy, programmatic, and technology watch through the activities of its working groups and with the support of the Executive team. The knowledge and understanding gained are used to promote a more space conscious Europe.
Activities are carried out within ad hoc working groups. Working groups are composed and chaired by industry representatives. Coordination and support (minutes, invitation, supporting data and documents…) of working group activities is provided by Eurospace Executive.
The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s gateway to space. Its mission is to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.
ESA is an international organisation with 22 Member States. By coordinating the financial and intellectual resources of its members, it can undertake programmes and activities far beyond the scope of any single European country.
ESA’s 22 Member States are Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
Slovenia, Slovakia, Latvia and Lithuania are Associate Members. Canada takes part in some projects under a cooperation agreement.
Five other EU states have Cooperation Agreements with ESA: Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus and Malta.
Our mission is to enable all countries to benefit from technology on fair terms.
Access Partnership is the world’s leading public policy firm dedicated to opening markets for technology.
We shape national, regional and international policies to ensure a fair, long-lasting environment for technology that drives growth. Our teams in six offices across the globe uniquely mix policy and technical expertise to drive outcomes for clients operating at the intersection of technology, data and connectivity.
We’ve supported company growth, governmental reform and multilateral change for more than 20 years, giving clients a clear view of national regulatory landscapes, laws and policy trends, along with the means to access and influence them.
Aerospacelab is a Belgian scale-up founded in 2018. We are set to enhance efficiency across markets through actionable and affordable geospatial intelligence. Our vertically integrated approach, expertise in upstream and downstream markets, and plans to build two satellite factories in Louvain-La-Neuve and Charleroi, pave the way to become the largest satellite manufacturer in Europe and a leader in satellite-based intelligence. At the moment Aerospacelab employs 140 full time employees, but due to its rapid growth more than 500 positions will open up in the coming years.
We create innovative, effective space and defence solutions and services for our customers, driving our industry forward. We focus on the people we work with and for.
Amazon is guided by four principles: customer obsession rather than competitor focus, passion for invention, commitment to operational excellence, and long-term thinking. We are driven by the excitement of building technologies, inventing products, and providing services that change lives. We embrace new ways of doing things, make decisions quickly, and are not afraid to fail. We have the scope and capabilities of a large company, and the spirit and heart of a small one.
Together, Amazonians research and develop new technologies from Amazon Web Services to Alexa on behalf of our customers: shoppers, sellers, content creators, and developers around the world.
Our mission is to be Earth’s most customer-centric company. Our actions, goals, projects, programs, and inventions begin and end with the customer top of mind.
You’ll also hear us say that at Amazon, it’s always “Day 1.” What do we mean? That our approach remains the same as it was on Amazon’s very first day – to make smart, fast decisions, stay nimble, invent, and focus on delighting our customers.
Astroscale is developing innovative and scalable solutions across the spectrum of on-orbit servicing, including life extension, in situ space situational awareness, end of life, and active debris removal, to create sustainable space systems and mitigate the growing and hazardous build-up of debris in space.
Astroscale is also defining business cases and working with government and commercial stakeholders to develop norms, regulations, and incentives for the responsible use of space.
Founded in 1976, CGI is among the largest IT and business consulting services firms in the world. We are insights-driven and outcomes-based to help accelerate returns on your investments. Across 21 industries in 400 locations worldwide, we provide comprehensive, scalable and sustainable IT and business consulting services that are informed globally and delivered locally.
Navigating the Future.
Providing reliable, safe and secure space services is our daily business – and our passion. We are responsible for managing Europe´s biggest spacecraft constellation: the European Satellite Navigation System GALILEO. On behalf of the European Commission we operate from our headquarters at the Galileo Control Center (GCC-D) in Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany.
The Sky is not the Limit.
Thanks to the technical infrastructure we have implemented, we ensure 99,99% service availability. DLR GfR’s constellation operations services at GCC-D comprise 24/7 routine operations and maintenance the Galileo satellites and of the related ground segment infrastructure.
From GCC-D we organise the operation of the globally distributed Galileo infrastructure, both on-ground and in-orbit, throughout all mission phases. This includes mission planning and flight dynamics services, efficient team training and management, reliable configuration monitoring and global service-level tracking and monitoring.
International and diverse.
With our international team of more than 270 experts, we offer our customers excellent service and navigate the Galileo project with foresight into the future.
ENPULSION is the world’s leading manufacturer of electric propulsion systems for nano- and microsatellites. The company is based in Wiener Neustadt, Austria, and has a business development office in the USA. Its products are based on the company’s proprietary Field-Emission Electric Propulsion (FEEP) technology, behind which are more than 30 years of research and development work in cooperation with the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Research Facility FOTEC.
In its own semi-automated production facility ENPULSION manufactures the ENPULSION MICRO and the ENPULSION NANO Thruster (formerly IFM NANO) families – the only compact, scalable, and modular electric propulsion systems worldwide. The ENPULSION NANO Thruster became the first European electric propulsion thruster to fly on a constellation of satellites.
As of May 2023, there are more than 170+ ENPULSION active thrusters in space with more than 300 units delivered to customers. The company is ISO 9001:2015 quality certified for the development, testing, serial production, and distribution of space propulsion systems.
Indra is one of the leading global technology and consulting companies and the technological partner for core business operations of its customers worldwide. It is a world-leader in providing proprietary solutions in specific segments in Transport and Defence markets, and a leading firm in Digital Transformation and Information Technologies in Spain and Latin America through its affiliate Minsait. Its business model is based on a comprehensive range of proprietary products, with a high-value, end-to-end focus and with a high innovation component. In the 2022 financial year, Indra achieved revenue totaling €3.851 million, with almost 57,000 employees, a local presence in 46 countries and business operations in over 140 countries.
Indra has a strong technological and engineering background and expertise with operations in the space sector for more than 30 years. Indra has played a relevant role in the development of major EU space programs, specifically focusing on the ground segment (command and control, security, antennas, communications, etc.), as the Copernicus Earth observation system and the Galileo global geo-positioning system. It has also deployed the ground segment of Paz, the Spanish Earth observation satellite, and, in partnership with ENAIRE, a company linked to the new space, it has launched Startical, which is working on the development of a constellation with more than 200 small satellites for providing air traffic management services around the globe.
Indra has developed the S3T Surveillance Radar. It is a ground-based radar, based in a close monostatic configuration, operating at L band and capable of providing positional information of orbital objects. The radar provides automatic surveillance and tracking of space objects in Low Earth Orbit (from 200 km to 2000 Km of orbit height above Earth). Currently operated by the Spanish Air and Space Force in the Space Surveillance Operations Center (COVE), it supplies daily data to the European Union Space Surveillance and Tracking Partnership (EU-SST) consortium network, to which it has contributed with a substantial increase in its capacity to detect and aware.
Neuraspace allows satellite operators to reduce operational manpower efforts, in particular for large constellations. The number of false alerts will be fewer, and the time between close approach and manoeuvre decision will be less. Thus, you will save on fuel and time, while collisions and the menace of space debris will be minimized.
Neuraspace provides an end-to-end solution centered around: (1) Data Fusion; (2) AI and Machine Learning; and (3) Manoeuvring Automation.
To contribute to the evolution of spacecraft operations, Neuraspace aims to solve the space debris problem by protecting satellites operators from the losses caused by collisions, liabilities from leaving debris in orbit and allowing insurance companies to better price the risk that each satellite poses.
The continuous increase in space traffic and debris in the last years lead to a significant increase in the amount of information related to conjunction events. This situation poses a very complex challenge to space operators as the conjunction events need a careful “manual” analysis, which is time, cost and effort consuming. AI (specifically ML) algorithms represent an essential technique in the automation of this process, mainly due to its ability to handle big amounts of data.
By using a data driven approach with state of the art Machine Learning techniques, Neuraspace is able to outperform the current methods, while automating the process of collision risk avoidance. Neuraspace enables the timely detection of up to 33% more high-risk collisions that have been so far undetected, thus securing space operations.
OHB SE is a German space and technology group and one of the leading independent forces in the European space industry. With many years of experience in the implementation of demanding projects, OHB SE is excellently positioned to face international competition and can offer its customers a broad portfolio of innovative products in its three business segments SPACE SYSTEMS, AEROSPACE and DIGITAL.
OKAPI:Orbits is an innovative German SaaS startup dedicated to making space travel more sustainable through Collision Avoidance Software for satellites. The OKAPI:Orbits team envisions a safe and sustainable space environment, truly accessible to everyone. We are laser-focused on creating innovative and efficient products to enable safe and secure satellite operations and seamless ground segment integration. As experts in Space Situational Awareness (SSA) and Space Surveillance and Tracking (SST), we offer platform services based on standardized interfaces with a wide range of flexible modules to meet the specific needs of our customers.
PLD SPACE – Opening Space for Everyone
We are an engineering, manufacturing and service company, with deep expertise in space launch technologies, and with the aim of becoming a leading player in the space launch services on the international market through an affordable, first-class and highly-flexible small satellite launch service experience. Our vision is to unleash the power of exploration and discovery to improve life down here on Earth.
Viasat is a global communications company that believes everyone and everything in the world can be connected. With offices in 24 countries around the world, our mission shapes how consumers, businesses, governments and militaries around the world communicate and connect. Viasat is developing the ultimate global communications network to power high-quality, reliable, secure, affordable, fast connections to positively impact people’s lives anywhere they are—on the ground, in the air or at sea, while building a sustainable future in space. On May 30, 2023, Viasat completed its acquisition of Inmarsat, combining the teams, technologies and resources of the two companies to create a new global communications partner. Learn more at www.viasat.com, the Viasat News Room or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter or YouTube.
dotSPACE is an expert centre focused on Earth Observation technology, collaborating with academia, industry, and government agencies to unlock the potential of space data and address critical challenges in public health, food security, smart cities, and agriculture. Their platform, www.groundstation.space, is one of Europe’s leading platforms for promoting the use of satellite data. The platform reaches various space and non-space audiences in Europe and beyond with news, updates and events around space data.
www.groundstation.space provides valuable information and support to potential users of satellite applications, facilitating knowledge transfer and fostering innovation in the field.
SpaceWatch.Global is a digital magazine and portal for those interested in space and the far-reaching impact that space developments have. While showcasing the technology that enables the industry to edge closer to the next frontier, SpaceWatch.Global also provides analysis, forecasts and insight into the geopolitical implications of space developments. From space policy, exploration and missions to space weapons and technology, we provide a complete perspective on the Middle East, Europe, Afrika, Asia-Pacific and Russia/CIS space sector. The team behind SpaceWatch.Global comprises a dynamic mix of space geeks, tech junkies, space policy experts, regional market specialists and passionate writers. We fully believe that space should be used for mankind; that it enables knowledge and enriches societies. SpaceWatch.Global GmbH, headquartered in Berlin, Germany. In the true journalistic spirit, neutrality, ethics and integrity are at our core. SpaceWatch.Global abides by the Society of Professional Journalists’ code of ethics; we seek truth and report it.
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