Previous Editions

2022 - Embracing a new era of space in Europe

The European Space Forum 2022 examined the innovative programmes, initiatives and policies being put forward. Across two days, 60 speakers, 280 in-person delegates and over 400 speakers gathered to discuss the most pertinent topics across the EU space landscape. 

The main topics of the event included:

  • Space, defence, and European security in a changing geopolitical landscape
  • Ensuring European capabilities in space – are we doomed to dependence? 
  • Addressing European space funding and investment gap
  • Competition vs Protectionism – Striking the right balance
  • Achieving the Goals of the Secure Connectivity Initiative
  • Space traffic management – A European approach
  • Harnessing the power of space to address key EU political priorities
  • Celebrating European Innovation and Sustainability in Space
 
Some of the speakers at the 2022 edition included:
Josef-Aschbacher-240_TRP
Josef Aschbacher

Director General

European Space Agency
Evi-Papantoniou_240_TRP
Evi Papantoniou

Acting Director for Space

European Commission
Rodrigo-da-Costa240_TRP
Rodrigo da Costa

Executive Director

European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA)
Rajeev-Suri-updated_240_TRP
Rajeev Suri

Chairman

Global Satellite Operators Association (GSOA)
Andre-Hubert-Roussel_240_TRP
André-Hubert Roussel

President

Eurospace
Marc-Serres_240_TRP-1
Marc Serres

CEO

Luxembourg Space Agency

2021 - Time to rethink Europe's space ambitions?

The inaugural edition of the European Space Forum in 2021 was held virtually, and brought together more than 700 key stakeholders and thought leaders from across the space and satellite sectors. Across 2 full days of interactive discussion and debate, the following main topics were discussed: 

  • Global Competitiveness & Innovation
  • Space Data
  • Future of Copernicus
  • Goals of the EU Mega Constellation
  • Space Traffic Management
  • Securing the Space Ecosystem
  • New Space Race
 
Some of the speakers at the 2021 edition included:
Therry_Breton_240-removebg-preview
Thierry Breton

Commissioner, Internal Market

European Commission
Josef-Aschbacher-240_TRP
Josef Aschbacher

Director General

European Space Agency
Rodrigo-da-Costa240_TRP
Rodrigo da Costa

Executive Director

European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA)
Matthias-Petschke-240-removebg-preview
Matthias Petschke

Director of Space, DG DEFIS

European Commission
Andre-Hubert-Roussel_240_TRP
André-Hubert Roussel

President

Eurospace
Stephen-Spengler-240-removebg-preview
Stephen Spengler

Chairman

ESOA
Sorin-Ducaru-240-removebg-preview
Sorin Ducaru

Director

SatCen

Agenda

If you are interested in speaking, sponsorship and visibility opportunities, please contact Karolina Stankiewicz at [email protected] / +44 (0) 2920 780 070.

Note: All timings are in Central European Time (CET).

Day 1
2022-10-25
Day 2
2022-10-26
09:00 - 10:15
Keynote Session
Keynote Session image
Josef Aschbacher
Director General, ESA
Keynote Session image
Evi Papantoniou
Acting Director for Space, European Commission
Keynote Session image
Rodrigo da Costa
Executive Director, European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA)
Keynote Session image
Rajeev Suri
Chairman, Global Satellite Operators Association, GSOA
Keynote Session image
André-Hubert Roussel
President, Eurospace
Keynote Session image
Paul Adamson
Chairman, Forum Europe
10:15 - 11:25
Session 1: Space, defence, and European security in a changing geopolitical landscape

In November 2021, the EU released their Strategic Compass for Security and Defence, with the objective of making the EU a stronger and more capable security provider. The document highlighted the link between space issues and security, and made the recommendation for the adoption of an EU space strategy for security and defence by the end of 2023. Given current geopolitical tensions and in particular, the situation in Ukraine, the timeline for this has been accelerated, with the aim now to have the document ready for adoption by the end of this year. This session will explore the key aims and objectives of the proposed recommendation. More broadly, it will look at strengthening links between space, security and defence, and at how to maximise the impact of European space assets on enhancing security and defence capabilities.

  • To what extent are space policy and security / defence policy becoming increasingly intertwined, and how can this link be expected to evolve in the future?
  • What should be the key goals of the proposed EU space strategy for security and defence? Alongside the need to secure systems against attacks (including cyberattacks) and random events, how should it also be focussing on areas such as ensuring swift response to crises, increasing situational awareness during missions and operations, and achieving technological independence?
  • What will be the impact of the strategy on the limited mandate of EU institutions to play an active role in EU defence matters, and how can this be managed?
  • What are the key capabilities that need to be addressed to ensure that EU space is contributing to EU defence and security policy in the best way possible?
  • Is there a need to look at improving communication channels between EU institutions, EU agencies (such as Frontex, the European Maritime Safety Agency and the EU’s Satellite Centre (EU SatCen)) and member states? How can this be done and what added value can be generated by strengthening and simplifying the exchange of information, data and experiences between them?
  • What can be done to help improve the availability and timely delivery of Copernicus imagery to expand on its current capabilities and provide very high-resolution data for defence purposes? What needs to be done to overcome the limitations of the current data policy? Is the EU thinking about a certification process to ensure the reliability and traceability of the data?
  • More generally, what will be the impacts on the way current and planned European Flagship Programmes are implemented?
Session 1: Space, defence, and European security in a changing geopolitical landscape image
Luigi Pasquali
CEO, Telespazio
Session 1: Space, defence, and European security in a changing geopolitical landscape image
Evert Dudok
Executive VP Connected Intelligence, Airbus Defence and Space
Session 1: Space, defence, and European security in a changing geopolitical landscape image
Massimo Comparini
Deputy CEO, Thales Alenia Space
Session 1: Space, defence, and European security in a changing geopolitical landscape image
Theodora Ogden
Analyst, RAND Europe
Session 1: Space, defence, and European security in a changing geopolitical landscape image
Lutz Bertling
Chief Strategy and Development Officer & Chief Digital Officer OHB Group, Member of the Executive Board, OHB SE
Session 1: Space, defence, and European security in a changing geopolitical landscape image
Xavier Pasco
Director, the Foundation for Strategic Research
Session 1: Space, defence, and European security in a changing geopolitical landscape image
Niklas Nienaß
MEP, European Parliament
11:25 - 11:45
Refreshment Break
11:45 - 13:15
Session 2: Sustainability, Resilience, Digital Transformation – Harnessing the power of space to address key EU political priorities

If harnessed correctly, the space sector in Europe has the power to make a real and tangible contribution towards some of Europe’s broader political priorities – the European Green Deal, the digitalisation of the European economy and the promotion of a stronger and more resilient Europe on the global stage. This session will look at the ambitious plans that have been laid out as part of the EU Space Programme, and at how these fit with Europe’s broader policy goals and targets. How can policymakers and industry representatives harness the power of space to enable both our green and digital transition, and deliver a stronger, more resilient Europe for us all?

  • How can we ensure that the EU Space Programme is fully aligned with EU priorities and supports the achievement of key EU policy goals? How can we ensure that not only the political priorities are aligned but also the financial means to deploy and operate the necessary assets?
  • What role can space data and technologies play in contributing to a resilient and green digital transformation in Europe?
  • How can policymakers create the necessary conditions (norms, standards, regulation, public demand etc.), and remove the existing barriers to maximise the potential of this?
  • How can EUSPA take European space activities in areas such as navigation, Earth observation and satellite communications to the next level, to truly move the needle of achieving the specific targets set by the green deal and the digital decade?
  • To what extent do the targets set out as part of the digital decade reflect the potential of space technologies and satellite communications in particular?
Session 2: Sustainability, Resilience, Digital Transformation – Harnessing the power of space to address key EU political priorities image
Massimiliano Salini
MEP, European Parliament
Session 2: Sustainability, Resilience, Digital Transformation – Harnessing the power of space to address key EU political priorities image
Jean-Hubert Lenotte
Chief Strategy and Resources Officer, Eutelsat
Session 2: Sustainability, Resilience, Digital Transformation – Harnessing the power of space to address key EU political priorities image
Koen Willems
Head International Government Market & Strategy, ST Engineering iDirect
Session 2: Sustainability, Resilience, Digital Transformation – Harnessing the power of space to address key EU political priorities image
Severin Meister
CEO, Rivada Space Networks
Session 2: Sustainability, Resilience, Digital Transformation – Harnessing the power of space to address key EU political priorities image
Jeremy Wilks
Science Reporter, Euronews
Session 2: Sustainability, Resilience, Digital Transformation – Harnessing the power of space to address key EU political priorities image
Dan Chirondojan
Director, Directorate for Space, Security and Migration, European Commission Joint Research Centre (JRC)
Session 2: Sustainability, Resilience, Digital Transformation – Harnessing the power of space to address key EU political priorities image
Yohann Benard
Public Policy Director, EU Digital & France, Amazon
13:15 - 14:15
Lunch
14:15 - 15:50
Session 3: Ensuring European capabilities in space – are we doomed to dependence?

As part of the EU Space Programme, Europe is working hard on technological advancement in space to develop autonomous capabilities in critical technologies. This is now more important than ever in view of evolving geo-political sensitivities. It could be argued that Europe is already playing catch-up in many areas, which has led to suggestions that we are at risk of losing our competitive edge in space. This session will look at key technical capabilities such as launch and surveillance, and at how Europe measures up compared to other regions. Amid a fast-moving international space landscape and fierce competition, it will look at the measures that are needed to ensure the future independence and autonomy of Europe’s space sector.

 

  • Is Europe losing its competitive edge in space? Against a long-standing culture of co-operation across member states, can Europe react dynamically enough to regain ground at risk of being lost to rapid technological advancement happening elsewhere?
  • What policy measures are in place to ensure Europe’s continued success in the fast-evolving space industry, and to what extent are the required building blocks in place to move forward to an autonomous and independent future?
  • Can ESA’s ‘Accelerators’ approach, which is designed to address real problems with urgency, act as a driver for a similar approach to address the need to accelerate technological development in space? 
  • What are the experiences of different space industry players as to how the market is evolving? What are they seeing and where do they expect growth? 
  • How are the expectations of customers and downstream users changing, and how can we ensure that European space players are in a position to react to these changes and continue to meet expectations?
  • Ultimately, what needs to be done in the European space sector to secure our position at the top-table, and to ensure that we have autonomy in our services and offerings and are not dependent on other countries and regions?
Session 3: Ensuring European capabilities in space – are we doomed to dependence? image
Thierry Lefort
Director, PWC Strategy&
Session 3: Ensuring European capabilities in space – are we doomed to dependence? image
Isabella Poldrugo
Deputy Head of the Space Policy Unit, European Commission
Session 3: Ensuring European capabilities in space – are we doomed to dependence? image
Torben Henriksen
Acting Director of Technology, Engineering and Quality (D/TEC) & Head of ESTEC, ESA
Session 3: Ensuring European capabilities in space – are we doomed to dependence? image
Marco Folino
CEO, Spaceopal
Session 3: Ensuring European capabilities in space – are we doomed to dependence? image
Fredrik Gustavsson
Chief Strategy Officer, Inmarsat
Session 3: Ensuring European capabilities in space – are we doomed to dependence? image
Angelo Fontana
VP Marketing & Business Development, Avio Spa
Session 3: Ensuring European capabilities in space – are we doomed to dependence? image
Benoît Deper
CEO, Aerospacelab
Session 3: Ensuring European capabilities in space – are we doomed to dependence? image
Olivier Lemaitre
Secretary General, Eurospace
15:50 - 16:15
Refreshment Break
16:15 - 17:25
Session 4: Overcome the challenges, maximising the opportunities – Achieving the Goals of the Secure Connectivity Initiative

In February this year, the European Union formally introduced legislation to establish a secure connectivity satellite constellation that will serve European Governments and citizens with next generation satellite communication capabilities. The aim of this ambitious new flagship programme is to enable the EU to enter the race to deliver complete internet access to all Europeans from space, de facto competing with private sector projects developed in other regions, including Starlink, Project Kuiper, Telesat’s Lightspeed, Russia’s Sfera and OneWeb. The programme is moving forward despite negative feedback from impact assessments submitted to the Regulatory Scrutiny Board. This session will look at how scepticism around the initiative can be overcome and what ambitions Europe can realistically hope to have. 

 

  • To what extent is there a need for the European Commission to break free from the established working model that they have with the European space industry in order to give the initiative the best chance of success?  
  • To date, €6billion has been identified for the programme. What will it take to convince member states of the need to increase funding to realise the inherently complex and sophisticated secure connectivity initiative with all the ‘bells and whistles’ it is supposed to have (quantum, multi-orbit global constellation etc.)? 
  • What is the incentive for the private sector to invest alongside member states and the European Commission? What examples exist of the European Commission aggregating demand in order to adequately serve as an anchor customer for the secure connectivity initiative? 
  • What timeline is proposed for the development and launch of the constellation? How important is time-to-market in order to make the secure connectivity initiative a success?
  • How relevant is QKD (quantum key distribution) as a differentiator of the SCI on the global market? 
  • Will the SCI finally overcome the existing silos between space and ICT policy within the European Commission? To what extent can it help to cement the role of SatComs as a key part of the connectivity mix to deliver on Europe’s digital goals?
  • Is the SCI any closer to securing access to the spectrum it requires, and what frequencies and access models are being considered?
Session 4: Overcome the challenges, maximising the opportunities – Achieving the Goals of the Secure Connectivity Initiative image
Aarti Holla-Maini
Secretary General, GSOA
Session 4: Overcome the challenges, maximising the opportunities – Achieving the Goals of the Secure Connectivity Initiative image
Dominic Hayes
Policy Officer Frequency Management and International Relations, European Commission
Session 4: Overcome the challenges, maximising the opportunities – Achieving the Goals of the Secure Connectivity Initiative image
Christophe Grudler
MEP, European Parliament
Session 4: Overcome the challenges, maximising the opportunities – Achieving the Goals of the Secure Connectivity Initiative image
Antonio Abad Martin
Chief Technical Officer, Hispasat
Session 4: Overcome the challenges, maximising the opportunities – Achieving the Goals of the Secure Connectivity Initiative image
Enrique Fraga Moreira
General Manager of Space Systems EST, GMV
Session 4: Overcome the challenges, maximising the opportunities – Achieving the Goals of the Secure Connectivity Initiative image
Ruy Pinto
Deputy Chief Technology Officer, SES
Session 4: Overcome the challenges, maximising the opportunities – Achieving the Goals of the Secure Connectivity Initiative image
Susana Villanueva
VP EU Connectivity Projects, Thales Alenia Space
Session 4: Overcome the challenges, maximising the opportunities – Achieving the Goals of the Secure Connectivity Initiative image
Elodie Viau
Director of Telecommunications and Integrated Applications, ESA
17:30 - 18:30
Networking Cocktail Reception (Sponsored by SES)
09:00 - 09:30
Keynote Presentation
Keynote Presentation image
Martin Kupka
Minister of Transport, Government of the Czech Republic
Keynote Presentation image
Angus Lapsley
Assistant Secretary General for Defence Policy and Planning, NATO
Keynote Presentation image
Paul Adamson
Chairman, Forum Europe
Session 5: Addressing key challenges for the European Space Sector
09:30 - 10:40
Session 5i: Competition vs Protectionism – finding the right balance

The space industry is booming. The emergence of a wide range of ambitious new players (including both developing countries and private firms) coupled with digitalisation and rapid technological development have led to a swathe of new opportunities. In this evolving and fast moving environment, policymakers are faced with the challenge of protecting the needs of traditional space companies and ensuring their continued competitiveness, whilst also promoting and encouraging innovative new start-ups that are entering the market. This session will look at how this can be achieved, and the approaches that are being taken across Europe. Where does the balance lie between protecting domestic space companies vs promoting an open market that encourages competition?

  • What strategies are in place in Europe to protect the global competitiveness of our space and defence sectors and how do these compare to those seen in other key players such as the US, China and India? Are these strategies coordinated? Coherent? Sufficient?
  • Is there a need to rethink the way things are done in Europe, particularly when it comes to the balance between protecting domestic space companies vs providing a more open market that encourages competition? Are the conditions for a level playing field being met?
  • How can we continue to benefit from the competitiveness and capabilities of existing companies, whilst also allowing newer and smaller companies to enter the market and propose potentially innovative and competitive new products?
  • What approaches across member states and at a European level are being seen to balance the needs of existing players with those of new space companies, and how is thinking in this area evolving?
  • To what extent should we be looking at the removal of barriers to protectionism and a movement towards a more open market?
    What are the biggest challenges facing Europe’s space entrepreneurs today, and what support do they need in order to build and create a world leading “New Space” economy?
Session 5i: Competition vs Protectionism – finding the right balance image
Charles Galland
Policy Manager, ASD-Eurospace
Session 5i: Competition vs Protectionism – finding the right balance image
Isabella Poldrugo
Deputy Head of the Space Policy Unit, European Commission
Session 5i: Competition vs Protectionism – finding the right balance image
Michal Brichta
Michal Brichta, Head of Slovak Space Office - Industry Branch
Session 5i: Competition vs Protectionism – finding the right balance image
Peng Zhao
VP Government Affairs and Policy, OneWeb
Session 5i: Competition vs Protectionism – finding the right balance image
Ulli Leibnitz
Head of Space Germany, CGI
10:40 - 11:00
Refreshment Break
11:00 - 12:20
Session 5ii: The Funding and Investment Challenge – how can we find the finances to keep European space competitive?

Europe has taken big steps in recent years to increase funding for the space sector. The budget that was approved last year as part of the EU space programme was the largest that has ever been seen (€14.88 billion for 2021-2027); the ESA budget for 2022 say a 10% increase from the previous year; and the €1 billion CASSINI space fund has recently been launched with the aim to boost entrepreneurship and the innovation and competitiveness of enterprises. Despite this however, huge challenges remain when it comes to funding in Europe compared to other regions – budgets here remain six times smaller than in the US for example, and are fragmented across multiple countries. This session will look at the work that is being done to address this inequality, and the challenges that still remain. Against the backdrop of an increasingly competitive global environment, it will explore the options that are available to deliver the public and private investment that is required to keep European space competitive. 

 

  • To what extent have recent measures and increased spending helped to close the public funding gap that exists between Europe and the US (and China)? What work still needs to be done and what plans exist to move this forward?
  • Whilst budgets to support the European space sector are increasing, the number of new players entering the European space sector is growing at a faster rate. How can this conundrum be addressed?
  • Space budgets in Europe are fragmented across countries and have been reported to be six times smaller than in the US. How can this inequality be addressed, and what can be done to ensure that the European space industry remains competitive against this backdrop?
  • What are the long-term ambitions of the traditional space players and how can policymakers support these alongside the needs of the many new entrants entering the market?
  • What challenges are faced by space players looking to attract public and private investments and how can these be tackled?
  • Following the 10% increase in the ESA budget that was seen for 2022, what are the expectations from industry on the new budget that is due to be announced at next month’s council meeting? 
  • How can public support and funding best be deployed to help attract private investment to support innovative new technologies and applications within the European space sector?
  • To what extent can new EU initiatives and mechanisms such as the CASSINI Seed and Growth Funding Facility help to support space entrepreneurship in Europe and ensure that fewer innovative European companies turn to non-EU investors?
Session 5ii: The Funding and Investment Challenge – how can we find the finances to keep European space competitive? image
Géraldine Naja
Director of Commercialisation, Industry and Procurement, ESA
Session 5ii: The Funding and Investment Challenge – how can we find the finances to keep European space competitive? image
Guillaume de La Brosse
Head of Unit for Innovation, Start-ups and Economics, DG DG DEFIS, European Commission
Session 5ii: The Funding and Investment Challenge – how can we find the finances to keep European space competitive? image
François Alter
Advisor to the President, Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES)
Session 5ii: The Funding and Investment Challenge – how can we find the finances to keep European space competitive? image
David Willetts
Chairman, UK Space Agency
Session 5ii: The Funding and Investment Challenge – how can we find the finances to keep European space competitive? image
Harald Gruber
Head of the Digital Infrastructure Division, European Investment Bank (EIB)
Session 5ii: The Funding and Investment Challenge – how can we find the finances to keep European space competitive? image
Laurent Jaffart
Head of Space Systems Strategy, Airbus Defence & Space
12:20 - 13:10
Session 5iii: Investment Roundtable – Addressing the Private Investment Funding Gap

As we heard in the last session, private investment within the European space sector is a crucial part of the puzzle to tackle the current funding challenge. The exponential growth seen within the space economy over recent years has seen increased interest in the sector from venture capitalists and private investors, but the investments in Europe are well below those being seen in other regions. On the global level, private investments in space have reached approximately 12% of public spending. In Europe however, this figure drops, with private investments at only about 4% of the institutional budget. This roundtable will bring together members of the investment and start-up communities to discuss the reasons for this, and to look at the best way forward to make the funding opportunity within the European space sector more attractive and to scale up private funding in Europe.

  • What are the reasons for the current gap between the levels of private investment in the space sector seen on a global and European level?
  • Is there a difference in the approach to risk between the private investment community in Europe and that in other regions? If so then how can entrepreneurs and start-ups in Europe overcome this and ensure that they are making themselves as attractive as possible an investment opportunity?
  • What unique opportunities currently exist within the European space sector for the investment community?
  • What are the European funding success stories to date, and what lessons can be taken from these?
  • What different private funding mechanisms and opportunities are available in Europe? How can companies looking for investment access these, and what assistance is available?
  • How can it be ensured that an environment is cultivated that attracts the private investment to enable the ideas, innovation, dynamism and talent that are seen in abundance within the European new space community to flourish, and the seeds and start-ups to take that next step to scale-up and become unicorns?
Session 5iii: Investment Roundtable – Addressing the Private Investment Funding Gap image
Pierre Lionnet
Director of Research, EUROSPACE
Session 5iii: Investment Roundtable – Addressing the Private Investment Funding Gap image
Ignacio Chechile
CTO, ReOrbit
Session 5iii: Investment Roundtable – Addressing the Private Investment Funding Gap image
Stela Tkatchova
Programme Manager for Space, European Innovation Council
Session 5iii: Investment Roundtable – Addressing the Private Investment Funding Gap image
Matteo Cascinari
General Partner, Primo Space Fund
Session 5iii: Investment Roundtable – Addressing the Private Investment Funding Gap image
Damien Garot
CEO, Stellar
Session 5iii: Investment Roundtable – Addressing the Private Investment Funding Gap image
Lutz Bertling
Chief Strategy and Development Officer & Chief Digital Officer OHB Group, Member of the Executive Board, OHB SE
13:10 - 14:00
Lunch
14:00 - 15:10
Session 6: Space traffic management – Towards a European approach to setting common rules for space exploration

Space is getting increasingly busy and more crowded, not just due to active and defunct satellites but also from millions of pieces of space debris left as a result of various past space ventures and from collisions. In response to this, the Commission is rolling out a new space traffic management initiative, with the aim of delivering a sustainable, safe and secure space ecosystem for both European and global players. This session will look at the actions that are proposed as part of this, focussing on the key areas of space surveillance capabilities, standards for space activities and their promotion at global level. How can policymakers in Europe work alongside both the private sector and global partners to ensure a safer space for all?

 

  • What are the main aims and objectives of the European Commission joint communication on space traffic management, and what measures are proposed in order to deliver on these? 
  • What work is being done to co-ordinate the management of space traffic at a global level, and how is the EU working with international partners both to foster bilateral cooperation and to work towards multinational agreements on STM?
  • What are the future plans for the E.U. Space Surveillance and Tracking (SST) programme? What goals and targets have been set in this area and how can advances in technology (such as artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies) be harnessed to help reduce the risk of collisions?
  • What work is being done to reduce the reliance on resources and data provided by providers outside Europe, and what impact can this have on contributing to strategic autonomy within Europe more broadly?
  • What work is being done on STM outside Europe, and how can the Commission work alongside global partners to develop international regulations for responsible, safe operations in space? 
  • How can it be ensured that the new gui