28 Janvier 2026

Publié par I.R.C.E. - Institut de Recherche et de Communication sur l'Europe - Le Think et Do Tank des dynamiques européennes

18e European Space Conference - Brussels 2026 - lancement de GOVSATCOM

La 18e édition de la conférence européenne spatiale soutenue notamment par l'UE et la Belgique, avec de nombreuses agences spatiales, avait lieu à Bruxelles les 27 et 28 janvier 2026. L'I.R.C.E. était bien entendu présent, représenté par son président ainsi que certains membres, dans le cadre de nos événements et réflexions de notre cycle Spatial.

sujets stratégie et souveraineté européenne, évolution des programmes et capacités opérationnelles, connectivité et sécurité multi orbitale, investissements technologiques, architecture de résilience

mot transverse multi événement : fragmentation (entendu depuis des années au sein des institutions et qui mérite un événement multi-domaines

L'occasion de voir ou revoir de nombreux intervenants (liste ci-après dont certains membres d'honneur) ou participants, lors des sessions ou de la soirée VIP, avec notamment échanges avec Timo PESONEN, DG DEFIS, recueillir certaines nouveautés de veille et faire passer certains messages, notamment sur le pilotage des projets mais aussi les possibles similitudes de modèles de gouvernance entre l'espace et la défense au delà des technologies

Intervention en Français de Vanessa MATZ, ministre belge, sur l'engagement de la Belgique, le soutien du Space Act, la nécessité d'un cadre commun, le lien naturel entre espace et défense

A noter notamment l'invitation de dernière minute du ministre des finances polonais Andrzej Domański qui annonça le retour du congrès astronautique de Poznan en 2027, la nécessité d'une technologie autonome spatiale sur les communications et l'observation, Pologne est un des moteurs de la transformation et doit devenir un acteur régional. qui fait écho à nos relations de 2025 dans le domaine spatial vers la Pologne (musée technique, agence spatiale) en vue de la préparation d'un événement focalisé sur la Pologne voire les pays Visegrad, avec valorisation de notre cycle spatial 2026 en terme de préparation.

Joseph ASCHBACHER, DG ESA, insiste sur le budget belge pour l'ESA, sur la transformation de l'agence en préparation, sur le futur centre ESA en Pologne et le bouclier spatial

Chef d'Etat major de l'armée de l'air italienne sur les priorités en matière d'information et la résilience pour la continuité des services, le lancement de satellites par des plates formes tactiques, la dissuasion collective dans l'espace, une coopération pragmatique

Henna VIRKKONEN, Finnish Commissioner responsible for tech sovereignty, security and democracy, rappelle le Digital Network act, le cyber security Act et propose le IA development

Merete CLAUSEN, CEO adjointe du Fonds Européen d'Investissement aborde les liens avec le NATO invest

Benedikta von SEHERR-THOSS, directrice EEAS revient sur le space shield

CEO Ariane Group : partager les actifs, le vol balistique concerne l'espace

Airbus : beaucoup d'actifs en orbite qui pourraient davantage etre exploités

A noter enfin le lancement de GOVSATCOM - voir communication ci-après du Commissaire KUBILIUS

"At last week’s European Space Conference, the EU reached an important milestone with the launch of EU GOVSATCOM, ensuring secure and encrypted satellite communications for governmental and military users. Later this year, we will present a concrete plan for the EU Space Shield, reinforcing Europe’s ambition to lead in secure access to space. I also had the opportunity, together with Christophe Grudler MEP, to award nearly €5 million to five new European launcher companies. By supporting innovative businesses and new technologies, these grants will help strengthen Europe’s space sector."

Encore bravo aux organisateurs.

18e European Space Conference - Brussels 2026 - lancement de GOVSATCOM

Tomas Dimitrov, Deputy Executive Director, logos & Business Bridge Europe

Nicodemos Damianou, Deputy Minister of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy, Cyprus

Andrius Kubilius, Commissioner for Defence and Space, European Commission

Josef Aschbacher, Director-General, ESA

Marco Fuchs, President, ASD-Eurospace

Paul Bate, Chief Executive Officer, UK Space Agency

Francois Jacq, Chairman and CEO, CNES

Walther Pelzer, Director General, Germany Space Agency at DLR

Tjerk Opmeer, Deputy Director-General for Business & Innovation, Ministry of Economic Affairs, Kingdom of the Netherlands

Fiammetta Diani, Head of Market, Downstream and Innovation,

Phil Evans, Director-General, EUMETSAT

Simonetta Cheli,Director of Earth Observation and Head of ESRIN, ESA

Juan Ramón López Caravantes, Head of Secured Communications Department, EUSPA

Jeremie Godet, Head of Unit for Secure Connectivity and Space

Benjamin Haddad, Minister Delegate for European Affairs, France

Costas Kadis, Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, European

Ekaterina Zaharieva, Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation

Timo Pesonen, Director-General, DG DEFIS, European Commission

Josef Aschbacher, Director-General, European Space Agency

Rodrigo da Costa, Executive Director, EUSPA

Christophe Grudler, Member of the European Parliament

Francisco-Javier Benedicto Ruiz, Director of Navigation, ESA

Paul Flament, Head of Unit for Satellite Navigation, DG DEFIS,

Moderator: David Jelinek, DG DEFIS Youth Correspondent, European Commission

Simonetta Cheli, Director of Earth Observation and Head of ESRIN, ESA

Mauro Facchini, Head of Unit for Earth Observation, DG DEFIS,

Manuel Heitor, Chair of the Expert Group on the interim evaluation of Horizon Europe

Lorena Boix Alonso, Deputy Director General, DG DEFIS, European Commission

Juan Tomas Hernani, President, YEESS

Marjolijn van Deelen, EU Special Envoy for Space, EEAS

Brian Weeden, Director of civil and commercial policy for the Center for Space Policy and Strategy, The Aerospace Corporation

Anas Hanan Deputy Head of Unit - Space Economy, DG DEFIS, European Commission

Christine Klein, Head of the Industrial Policy and Auditing

Dorothee Bär, Federal Minister of Research, Technology and Space, Germany

Costas Kadis, Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, European Commission

Heinrich Krispler, Project Officer, Support to EU Operations and EU Satcom Market, Operations Training and Exercises Unit, Industry Synergies and Enablers Directorate, EDA

Philippe Baptiste, Minister of Higher Education, Research and Space, France

Elena Donazzan, Vice-Chair ITRE Committee, European Parliament

Ekaterini Kavvada, Director for Secure and Connected Space, DG DEFIS, European Commission

Jeremie Godet, Head of Unit for Secure Connectivity and Space Surveillance, DG DEFIS, European Commission

Guillermo Salgado-Gispert, Head of Secure Connectivity

Harald Hauschildt,Head of the Optical and Quantum Communication Office, ESA

Christian Fuchs,Head of the Department Optical Satellite Links, DLR

Isabella Poldrugo, Deputy Head of Unit for Space Policy, DG DEFIS, European Commission

Nicolae Mitu, Policy Officer, DG DEFIS, European Commission

Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski, Astronaut, ESA

Nicola Pizzolorusso, Vice President Strategic Planning, Scenarios and New Initiatives, Telespazio

Cristina Valente, Head of ESA / ASI Market Unit, Telespazio

Thomas Reiter, Head of the Department of Space and Security, Federal Ministry of Research, Technology, and Space, Germany

Christoph Kautz, Director for Space Policy, Satellite Navigation and

Fabio Vitobello, EU Space Technology Sovereignty Programme Officer and Task Force Team Leader for Space Technologies, DG DEFIS, European Conference

Fabrice Messal, UX and User Learning Manager Copernicus Marine Service, Mercator Ocean International

Sabrina Alam, Chief Executive Officer, Matter Space and Defence

Christoph Kautz, Director for Space Policy, Satellite Navigation and Earth Observation, DG DEFIS, European Commission

Toni Tolker-Nielsen, Acting Director of Space Transportation, ESA

Florian Guillermet, Executive Director, EASA

Charlotte Neyret, Chief Executive Officer, European Satellite Services Provider (ESSP)

Žaklin Butinar, Eurisy Interim Secretary General

Ella Carlsson, Director General, Swedish National Space Agency

Maruška Strah, Secretary, Slovenian Space Office

Christian Hauglie-Hanssen, Director-General, Norwegian Space Agency

Géraldine Naja, Director, Commercialisation, Industry and

Dietmar Pilz, Directorate of Technology, Engineering and Quality, ESA

Erzsébet Fitori, Executive Director of the Smart Networks and

Pierre Lionnet, Research and Managing Director, Eurospace

Lea Kessler, Programme Coordinator, ASD-Eurospace

Tomas Dimitrov, Deputy Executive Director, logos & Busienss Bridge Europe

Julien Bocquet, Associate Director, Defence, Space and Aviation,

Alexandre Vallet, Chief of the Space Services Department, Radiocommunication Bureau, ITU

Gerasimos Sofianatos, Head of Unit for Radio Spectrum Policy, DG

Fiammetta Diani, Head of Market, Downstream and Innovation, EUSPA

Tomáš Halaška, CASSINI Policy Coordinator, DG DEFIS, European

Juan Cruz Cigudosa García, State Secretary for Science, Innovation and Universities, Spain

Vanessa Matz,Minister of Public Action and Modernisation, responsible for Public Enterprises, Digital Affairs and Science Policy, Belgium

Stela Tkatchova, Programme Manager for Space Systems, European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA)

Sebastian Klaus, Chief Executive Officer, ATMOS Space Cargo

General S.A. Antonio Conserva, Chief of Staff, Italian Air Force

Eric Morel de Westgaver, Director of Strategy, Legal and External Affairs, ESA

Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, European Commission

Merete Clausen, Deputy Chief Executive, European Investment Fund

Wolfgang Dürr, Vice President and Head of Global Business Institutional Space, Airbus Defence and Space

Brian Weeden, Director of civil and commercial policy for the Center

Benedikta von Seherr-Thoss, Managing Director for Peace, Security and Defence, EEAS

Lorena Boix Alonso, Deputy Director-General, DG DEFIS, Europea

Gianluigi Baldesi, Head of the Ventures and Financing Office, ESA

Tomas Jonsson, CASSINI Team Leader, DG DEFIS, European Commission

Erica Gerresten, Acting Director for the Green Deal and Digital Agenda, DG INTPA, European Commission

Phil Evans, Director-General, EUMETSAT

Reinhard Blasi, Market Downstream and Innovation Manager, EUSPA

Mohammad Iranmanesh, Managing Director Belgium, ConstellR

Boris Pistorius, Federal Minister of Defence, Germany

ministre des finances polonais

Michal Brichta, Director, Slovak Space Office

Olivier Lemaitre, Secretary General, ASD-Eurospace

Didier Schmitt, Head of Future Preparation, ESA

Matthias Maurer, Astronaut, ESA

Christian Feichtinger, Executive Director, IAF

Major General Vincent Chusseau,Commander, French Space Command

Major General Luca Maineri,Commander, Italian Space Command

Peggy Fischer, Mission Manager of ESA Third Party Missions and Copernicus Contributing Missions, ESA - ESRIN

Catharina Bamps, Policy Officer, DG DEFIS, European Commission

Ekaterini Kavvada,Director for Secure and Connected Space, DG DEFIS, European Commission

Laurent Jaffart, Director of Connectivity and Secure

Andreu Martín Martínez, Member of Parliament, Congreso de los Diputados, Spain

Sven Clement, Member of Parliament, Chambre des députés,

Michael Schoellhorn, Chief Executive Officer, Airbus Defence and Space

Aarti Holla-Maini, Director, UNOOSA

Franco Federici (Gen.), Military Advisor to the Prime Minister of Italy

Christoph Kautz, Director for Space Policy, Satellite Navigation and Earth Observation, DG DEFIS, European Commission

Tobias Gotthardt, State Secretary, Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy

Fiammetta Diani, Head of Market, Downstream and Innovation,

Marjolijn van Deelen, EU Special Envoy for Space, EEAS

Guillaume de La Brosse, Head of Unit for Defence Policy and Innovation, DG DEFIS, European Commission

Hermann Ludwig Moeller, Director, ESPI

Tomas Dimitrov, Deputy Executive Director, logos & Busienss Bridge Europe

Julien Bocquet, Associate Director, Defence, Space and Aviation,

#espace