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The Autumn Conference is one of the annual highlights of ESPI’s calendar, offering an independent platform for European and international stakeholders to convene and hold informed and in-depth space-related discussions that reach beyond headlines.

Welcome to the 19th ESPI Autumn Conference

With profound shifts reshaping global politics, trade and security, Europe faces a critical challenge: to take its future into its own hands, for the peace of Europe and the strength, competitiveness and resilience of its economy. Business as usual is over.

A new quality of political engagement is emerging, marked by a growing readiness to invest in European autonomy, security, and economic resilience. It takes a village to translate a shared European vision into action, with each actor contributing according to their priorities and ambitions.

The 19th ESPI Autumn Conference "Europe as a Space Power - Directionality & Priorities of Strategic Action", will explore concrete pathways for Europe to become a full-fledged space power and strengthen its position as a trusted global partner. I encourage you to join us in Vienna on 28-29 October 2025, and to play a part in shaping Europe's future in space, and beyond.

H. Ludwig Moeller - Director of the European Space Policy Institute

Confirmed Speakers

Speakers

Josef Aschbacher
Director General of ESA
Tidiane Ouattara
President of the African Space Council of the African Space Agency
Etienne Schneider
Former Deputy Prime Minister of Luxembourg
Gabriella Arrigo
Director of International Affairs at ASI, Incoming IAF President (2026)
Walther Pelzer
Director General of the German Space Agency at DLR
Renato Krpoun
Head of the Swiss Space Office at SBFI, Chair of the ESA Council
Sinead O'Sullivan
Economist at Harvard Business School’s Institute for Strategy and Competitiveness
Ricardo Conde
President of the Portuguese Space Agency
Col. Marcin Mazur
Vice President of POLSA
Daniel Neuenschwander
Director of Human and Robotic Exploration at ESA
Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Pascal Legai
Senior Security Advisor to ESA Director General
Joshua Posaner
Managing Editor at Euractiv

Preliminary Programme

28 October 2025

19.00 CET (TBC) - Welcome Reception (Vienna City Hall)

 

29 October 2025

09.00 - 18.00 CET (TBC)- Full-day Conference Programme (Vienna City Hall)

  • Convening a suite of high-level European and international speakers, the Conference will foster policy dialogue across institutional, industrial, and geopolitical domains, featuring dynamic formats of exchange, including 1-on-1 moderated debates.

  • Discussions will explore how to scale up Europe’s ambition by leveraging the full potential of its space actors, aiming to position the continent as a leading space power and reliable global partner.

A detailed conference programme will be announced closer to the event date.

 

Registration

Registration for the conference is free but mandatory.
Due to limited capacity, all registrations are preliminary until confirmed via email.
Participant selection will be based on an assessment of the target audience.

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Venue - Vienna City Hall

 

We are very pleased to announce that the 19th ESPI Autumn Conference will take place at the historic Vienna City Hall, graciously provided under the patronage of the City of Vienna.

Sponsors & Partners

Partners

European Space Agency Logo
Research Promotion Agency Logo
Austrian Federal Ministry for Innovation, Mobility and Infrastructure Logo
City of Vienna Logo

 

Become a sponsor !

Your organization’s participation in the 19th ESPI Autumn Conference offers a unique opportunity to showcase its initiatives to an international audience of high-level decision-makers.

By engaging with stakeholders across diverse policy domains and economic sectors, you can expand your reach, foster new relationships, and highlight your organization’s role in advancing policy, innovation, and space activities both in Europe and globally.

If you are interested in discussing sponsorship opportunities, please reach out to Luis Cortes Kollert, Events and Engagements Officer at ESPI.

Explore options in our Sponsorship Prospect!

Essay Competition

ESPI again invites students & young professionals to submit their essays to win full access to the Autumn Conference, including with travel support.

Visit the ESPI homepage for more details.