20. Annual Conference Banner 20. Annual Conference Banner

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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?

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

Eric Morel de Westgaver

President @ Eurisy

Peter Hanke

Federal Minister for Innovation, Mobility and Infrastructure (Austria)

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

Marcus Pleyer

State Secretary @ Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (Germany)

Christoph Kautz

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

Simonetta Cheli

Director of Earth Observation Programmes @ European Space Agency

Daniel Neuenschwander

Director of Human and Robotic Exploration @ European Space 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

Ian Biggs

Australian Ambassador to Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Hungary, Slovenia and the Slovak Republic

Sangho Kim

Vice President for International Cooperation @ The 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

Rafel Jorda Siquier

Founder & CEO @ Open Cosmos

Jeffrey Apeldoorn

VP Missions @ ICEYE

Etienne Schneider

Former Deputy Prime Minister of Luxembourg

Sinead O'Sullivan

Economist @ University College Cork

Leonardo Meeus

Director @ Florence School of Regulation

Thomas Zurbuchen

Space Lead @ ETH Zurich

George Thomas

Head of External Affaira @ Frontiers

Sascha Quanz

Lead Exoplanets & Habitability Research Group @ 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

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