Doors open at 8:15 CET (29. October 2025)

• Check in & Networking Breakfast

Programme begins at 8:45

• Opening Keynote: Ludwig Moeller, Director of the European Space Policy Institute
• Opening Keynote: Josef Aschbacher, Director General of the European Space Agency
• Opening Keynote: Timo Pesonen, Director General of DG DEFIS, European Commission

Europe is called upon to live up to its role in the world and put into practice the benefit of space for prosperity, peace and security. This series of moderated dialogues with European policymakers and heads of agencies will explore how to scale up Europe’s ambition by leveraging the full potential of its space actors, aiming to grow the political will at the true scale of Europe’s economic power and talent to assert itself as a full space power.

Policy Dialogue

• Mario Kadastik, Chair of the Estonian Presidency of the European Interparliamentary Space Conference, Member of Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia)
• George Freeman, Member of Parliament, UK Trade and Investment Envoy, former Minister of State for Science, Technology, Research and Innovation
• Moderator: Etienne Schneider, Former Deputy Prime Minister of Luxembourg, Chair of ESPI Advisory Council

Heads of Agencies Dialogue I

• Walther Pelzer, DG of the German Space Agency at DLR
• Juan Carlos Cortés, Director of the Spanish Space Agency (AEE)
• Chris White-Horne, Space Director at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology; Deputy CEO of the UK Space Agency
• Moderator: H. Ludwig Moeller, Director of the European Space Policy Institute

Heads of Agencies Dialogue II

• Renato Krpoun, Head of the Swiss Space Office at SBFI, Chair of ESA Council
• Ricardo Conde, President of the Portuguese Space Agency
• Sabina Kolesa, Slovenian Representative to ESA Council
• Moderator: H. Ludwig Moeller, Director of the European Space Policy Institute

Europe has the chance to build on its reputation as a trustworthy partner in many parts of the globe, a valuable asset when the world is confronted with an increasingly complex multipolar environment. This series of moderated dialogues with international guests will address Europe’s role as a global partner and address pathways for enhanced cooperation between European and international partners.

Thematic Keynote

• Tidiane Ouattara, President of the African Space Council of the African Space Agency

North American Dialogue

• Gregory Mann, NASA Europe Representative
• Jean-Claude Piedboeuf, Senior Vice President of Space Programs at the Canadian Space Agency
• Jamie Morin, Vice President of Defense Strategic Space at the Aerospace Corporation
• Moderator: Sinead O'Sullivan, Economist at Harvard Business School

Asia & Middle East Dialogue

• Mohammad Al Angari, Chief Planning and Development Officer at the Saudi Space Agency
• Raksina Lekthanoo, Chief of International Affairs Division, Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency
• H.E. Shambhu Kumaran, Ambassador of India to the Republic of Austria, Montenegro & The Holy See Permanent Representative of India to the UN and other International Organisations in Vienna, Governor for India, IAEA Board
• Moderator: Jana Robinson, Managing Director of the Prague Security Studies Institute

Latin America Dialogue

• Raúl Kulichevsky, Director of the Argentine Space Agency (CONAE)
• Gen. Roberto Melgar, Chief of the Peruvian Space Agency (CONIDA)
• Moderator: Gabriella Arrigo, Director of International Affairs at ASI and Incoming President of the International Astronautical Federation (2026)

With contributions from:

• Mathias Link, Deputy CEO of the Luxembourg Space Agency
• Frank Monteny, Director General Research and Space at the Belgian Space Policy Office
• Juan Carlos Cortés, Director of the Spanish Space Agency
• James Catania, Director, Space Programs & Engagement Unit at Xjenza Malta
• Nikol Koleva, Executive Director at Space Generation Advisory Council

This series of moderated dialogues will address the key thematic domains for Europe to become a full-fledged space power.

All sessions moderated by Joshua Posaner, Managing Editor at Euractiv

Explore, Inspire, Discover

• Roberto Battiston, Incoming Chair of the European Space Sciences Committee (ESSC), former President of the Italian Space Agency (ASI)
• Didier Schmitt, Head of Future Preparation, Directorate of Human and Robotic Exploration, ESA

Securing Peace

• Col. Marcin Mazur, Vice President of the Polish Space Agency (POLSA)
• Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Pascal Legai, Senior Security Advisor to ESA DG

Innovative and Competitive Europe

• Mathias Link, Deputy CEO of the Luxembourg Space Agency
• Sinead O'Sullivan, Economist at Harvard Business School

The 2 winners of the ESPI Essay Competition will be announced and have a chance to briefly present their policy brief.

• Moderator: Elizaveta Shashkova, ESPI Research Fellow