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SecondsThe 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
Mario Kadastik
Chair of the Estonian Presidency of the European Interparliamentary Space Conference (EISC)
George Freeman
Member of Parliament, UK Trade & Investment Envoy
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
Ricardo Conde
President of the Portuguese Space Agency
Sinead O'Sullivan
Economist at Harvard Business School’s Institute for Strategy and Competitiveness
Col. Marcin Mazur
Vice President of POLSA
Daniel Neuenschwander
Director of Human and Robotic Exploration at ESA
Jamie Morin
Vice President of Defense Strategic Space at the Aerospace Corporation
Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Pascal Legai
Senior Security Advisor to ESA Director General
Joshua Posaner
Managing Editor at Euractiv
Jeremy Wilks
Science Correspondent at Euronews
Ludwig Moeller
Director of ESPI
Preliminary Programme
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.
The programme is being updated continuously.
Confirmed speakers:
- Josef Aschbacher, Director General of the European Space Agency
- Ludwig Moeller, Director of the European Space Policy Institute
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.
Confirmed speakers:
- Mario Kadastik, Chair of the Estonian Presidency of the European Interparliamentary Space Conference (EISC)
- George Freeman, Member of Parliament, UK Trade and Investment Envoy
- Etienne Schneider, former Deputy Prime Minister of Luxembourg
- Walther Pelzer, Director General of the German Space Agency at DLR
- Renato Krpoun, Head of the Swiss Space Office & Chair of ESA Council
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.
Confirmed speakers:
- Tidiane Ouattara, President of the African Space Council of the African Space Agency
- Jamie Morin, Vice President of Defense Strategic Space at the Aerospace Corporation
- Ricardo Conde, President of the Portuguese Space Agency
- Gabriela Arrigo, Director of International Affairs at ASI and Incoming President of the International Astronautical Federation (2026)
This series of moderated dialogues will address the key thematic domains for Europe to become a full-fledged space power.
The session will include three sub-sessions: “Ready for the Moon”, “Securing Peace” and “Innovative and Competitive Europe”.
Confirmed speakers:
- Daniel Neuenschwander, Director of Human and Robotic Exploration at the European Space Agency
- Sinead O'Sullivan, Economist at Harvard Business School
- Col. Marcin Mazur, Vice President of the Polish Space Agency
- Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Pascal Legai, Senior Security Advisor to ESA DG
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.
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
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.
