Peter Hanke
Federal Minister for Innovation, Mobility and Infrastructure (Austria)
20th ESPI Annual Conference
What to expect
In an era of geopolitical disruption and growing global competition, ESPI dedicates this milestone 20th edition of its Annual Conference to enabling decision-makers across Europe and the world to reflect on our common aspirations and to advance a positive agenda in, and through, space.
Whether empowering our societies on Earth or elevating our ambitions in space exploration towards the Moon and beyond, this Conference will focus on defining our collective vision to harness the use of space for the common benefit of humankind.
Key Themes
Defining aspirations for a new era
How can we look beyond today's uncertainties to shape a positive direction for space that builds Europe's future, strengthens global partnerships and contributes to shared progress?
Reuniting the world
How can Europe take a lead in reuniting the world through common aspirations, at a time of global upheaval?
Earth, Moon and life: three frontiers for action
From reconciling climate action in a fractured world, to defining Europe's role on the Moon, to asking whether the search for life beyond Earth could become humankind's next great shared endeavour – how can these three frontiers turn Europe's aspirations into concrete action?
Main Partners
Partners
Strategic Partners
Partners
Become a partner
Becoming a partner of the 20th ESPI Annual Conference offers a valuable opportunity to strengthen your brand image among senior decision-makers from policy, industry and civil society, both within the space sector and beyond.
The conference provides the opportunity to be visible at the event, including the option to intervene in different settings.
We invite you to consult the Partnership Brochure and contact us to start discussing your conference partnership: Contact ESPI
Speakers
Speakers
Benjamin Haddad
Minister Delegate for Europe @ Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs (France)
Josef Aschbacher
Director General @ European Space Agency
Hubert Büchel
Government Councillor for Interior, Economy, and Sport (Liechtenstein)
Martina von Künsberg Sarre
Member of National Council (Austria)
Andreu Martín Martínez
Member of Congress of Deputies (Spain), Vice Chair @ Spanish 2026 EISC Presidency
Klaus-Peter Willsch
Member of Bundestag (Germany)
Lord David Willetts
Member of the House of Lords (UK)
Juan Carlos Cortés
ESA Council Chair & Director @ Spanish Space Agency (AEE)
Walther Pelzer
Director General @ German Space Agency at DLR
Ricardo Conde
President @ Portuguese Space Agency
Christoph Kautz
Director for Satellite Navigation and Earth Observation @ Defence Industry and Space - European Comission
Eric Morel de Westgaver
President @ Eurisy
Simonetta Cheli
Director of Earth Observation Programmes @ European Space Agency
Daniel Neuenschwander
Director of Human and Robotic Exploration @ European Space Agency
Karin Tausz
Managing Director of the Austrian Research Promotion Agency
Thomas Reiter
Head of the Space and Security Department @ German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology, and Space
Margit Mischkulnig
Head for Space Affairs and Aerospace Technologies @ Austrian Federal Ministry for Innovation, Mobility & Infrastructure
Rafel Jorda Siquier
Founder & CEO @ Open Cosmos
Ian Biggs
Australian Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Vienna
Sangho Kim
Vice President for International Cooperation @ Korean Academy of Space Security
Paul Counet
Head of Cabinet of the Director-General, Head of Strategy, Communications and International Relations @ EUMETSAT
Daria Robinson
Executive Director @ GESDA
Pascale Ehrenfreud
President @ Committee on Space Research
Nicolas Paparoditis
President @ International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing
Roberto Battiston
Chair @ European Space Sciences Committee
Alexander Gerst
Astronaut @ European Space Agency
Jeffrey Apeldoorn
VP Missions @ ICEYE
Leonardo Meeus
Loyola de Palacio Chair in the Robert Schuman Center @ European University Institute
Sarah Rugheimer
Reader (Assoc. Prof) & Chancellor Fellow @ University of Edinburgh
Etienne Schneider
Former Deputy Prime Minister of Luxembourg
Sinead O'Sullivan
Economist @ University College Cork
George Thomas
Head of External Affairs @ Frontiers
Sascha Quanz
Director LIFE Space Mission @ ETH Zurich | Space
H. Ludwig Moeller
Director @ European Space Policy Institute
Programme
Conference Participation
To mark the this anniversary edition, the 20th ESPI Annual Conference will be held as a curated, invitation-led event, bringing together leaders of the space community and high-level decision-makers for open and impactful exchanges.
In line with ESPI's purpose of promoting the general good and raising public awareness on strategic space issues, a dedicated allocation of open seats is reserved for wider participaiton.
If you are interested in attending, we invite you to submit an expression of interest via the form below.
Gardenpalais Liechtenstein
