20. Annual Conference Banner 20. Annual Conference Banner

0

Days

0

Hours

0

Minutes

0

Seconds

October 19, 2026, 3:00PM to October 20, 2026, 4:30PM (CEST)

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?

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

Peter Hanke

Federal Minister for Innovation, Mobility and Infrastructure

Benjamin Haddad

Minister Delegate for Europe @ Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs

Josef Aschbacher

Director General @ European Space Agency

Martina von Künsberg Sarre

Member of National Council (Austria)

Andreu Martín Martínez

Member of Congress of Deputies (Spain), Vice Chair @ Spanish 2026 Presidency of European Interparliamentary Space Conference

Klaus-Peter Willsch

Member of Bundestag (Germany)

Lord David Willetts

Member of the House of Lords (UK)

Simonetta Cheli

Director of Earth Observation Programmes @ European Space Agency

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

Pascale Ehrenfreud

President @ Committee on Space Research

Christoph Kautz

Director for Satellite Navigation and Earth Observation @ Defence Industry and Space - European Comission

Margit Mischkulnig

Head for Space Affairs and Aerospace Technologies @ Austrian Federal Ministry for Innovation, Mobility & Infrastructure

Paul Counet

Head of Cabinet of the Director-General, Head of Strategy, Communications and International Relations @ EUMETSAT

Thomas Zurbuchen

Space Lead @ ETH Zurich

Etienne Schneider

Former Deputy Prime Minister of Luxembourg

Jeffrey Apeldoorn

VP Missions @ ICEYE

Sinead O'Sullivan

Economist @ Harvard Business School’s Institute for Strategy and Competitiveness

Sascha Quanz

Professor @ ETH Zurich

H. Ludwig Moeller

Director @ European Space Policy Institute

Programme

20. Annual Conference 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.

Expression of interest

This field is required or invalid. Please provide a valid input.
This field is required or invalid. Please provide a valid input.
This field is required or invalid. Please provide a valid input.
This field is required or invalid. Please provide a valid input.
This field is required or invalid. Please provide a valid input.
This field is required or invalid. Please provide a valid input.
This field is required or invalid. Please provide a valid input.

This field is required or invalid. Please provide a valid input.

Gardenpalais Liechtenstein