Programme ISD 2026
Plan your visit to the ISD 2026 and explore the full programme below. Tap between days and rooms to browse sessions and find the activities that interest you most.
For more logistical information access the Practical Info Page.
Please note: the programme is subject to change. Check back regularly for the most up-to-date schedule.
9:30 – 9:55
Opening message
Josef Aschbacher, Director General, ESA
9:55 – 10:20
Welcome to ESTEC and overview of TEC activities
Dietmar Pilz, Director of Technology, Engineering & Quality (TEC) & Head of ESTEC Establishment, ESA
10:20 – 10:45
Industrial Policy in Practice: Connecting ESA, Industry and Opportunity
Christine Klein, Director of Controlling, Finance and Operational Procurement (CFO), ESA
10:45 – 11:10
Presentation of the Directorate of Operations
Rolf Densing, Director of Operations (OPS), ESA
11:10 – 11:35
Presentation of the Directorate of Science
Prof. Carole Mundell, Director of Science (SCI), and Head of ESAC, ESA
11:35 – 12:00
Presentation of the Directorate Resilience, Navigation and Connectivity
Laurent Jaffart, Director of Resilience, Navigation and Connectivity (RNC), and Head of ECSAT, ESA
12:00 – 12:25
Future Talents and Future Skills
Marco Ferrazzani, Director of Resources and Services (RES), ESA
12:25 – 12:50
Presentation of the Directorate of Human & Robotic Exploration
Daniel Neuenschwander, Director of Human and Robotic Exploration (HRE), and Head of EAC, ESA
12:50 – 13:15
Presentation of the Directorate of Earth Observation
Simonetta Cheli, Director of Earth Observation Programmes (EOP), and Head of ESRIN, ESA
13:15 – 13:40
Presentation of the Directorate of Commercialisation and Industry Partnership
Geraldine Naja, Acting Director of Commercialisation and Industry Partnership (CIP), ESA
13:40 – 14:05
Presentation of the Directorate of Space Transportation
Geraldine Naja, Director of Space Transportation (STS), ESA
14:05 – 14:30
Fostering cross-directorates Synergies on In-space activities: the ISAM Working Group
Tiago Soares, Head of Clean Space & Circular Economy Office, OPS, ESA
Agata Jozwicka-Perlant, Head of Space Transportation Systems studies, STS-F, ESA
14:30 – 15:20
European Space SMEs: Powering Innovation, Competitiveness and Growth
Jens Kauffmann, Head of SME Section, CFO, ESA
Hans Bracquené, Chairman, SME4SPACE
Linn Friis-Liby, Head of Future Programmes, AAC Clyde Space
Fabiana Milza, Marketing and Sales Manager, T4i
Ernst K. Pfeiffer, CEO HPS GmbH, Spokesman AKRK
15:20 – 15:45
Scaling European Space Champions: Financial Solutions Across the Growth Journey
Nicolas Mardam , Senior Banker, European Investment Bank
Paolo Giovanni Panzarini, Intensa Sanpaolo
Federico Cislaghi, Euronext
15:45 – 16:35
European Commercialisation Initiatives - Followed by Panel: Raising Equity in the Space Sector
Gianluigi Baldesi, Head of Ventures and Financing Office, ESA
Stella Strataki, Policy Office, CASSINI, DEFIS European Commission
Fiammetta Diani, Head of Market, Downstream & Innovation at EUSPA, EUSPA
Panel:
Moderator: Kais Barmawi, Commercial Officer, CIP, ESA
Jeremy Teboul, OTB Ventures
Sebastian Bélanger Villanueva, NewSpace Capital
Safran Ventures
ESA Rising Stars, TBD
16:35 – 17:00
Future Exploration Activities
Didier Schmitt, Future Preparation Group Leader, HRE, ESA
Benoit Pouffary, Head of Exploration Preparation, Research & Technology Programme, HRE, ESA
17:00 – 17:25
OPS: Ground Systems Engineering and Innovation
Frank Dreger, Head of the Ground Segment Systems Engineering and Innovation, OPS, ESA
17:25 – 17:50
Discovery Preparation - TDE & GSTP
Leopold Summerer, Head of the Technology Department, TEC, ESA
17:50 – 18:15
ESA Supplier Awards Ceremony
Dietmar Pilz, Director of Technology, Engineering & Quality (TEC), ESA
Christine Klein, Director of Contracts, Finance and Operational Procurement (CFO), ESA
Michael Griffith, Senior Industrial Policy Officer, CFO, ESA
Awardees
18:15 – 19:30
ISD Networking Drinks & Canapés
Catering and Registration Tent
12:00 – 12:50
New Space Resilience Initiatives
Luca Del Monte, Head of Space Resilience Office, RNC, ESA
12:50 – 13:40
Propulsion for Europe’s Next Generation Space Transportation
Kate Underhill, Propulsion Engineer, STS, ESA
Jean-Noel Caruana, Prometheus Programme Manager, STS, ESA
Amaya Espinosa, LP Prometheus Project Manager, STS, ESA
13:40 – 14:05
Intellectual Property and Space
Anthony Albutt, Partner, D Young & Co
Nuria Hernandez Alfageme, Engineering Patent Portfolio Manager, CIP, ESA
14:05 – 14:30
Human Spaceflight Document List Workshop
Frank de Winne, LEO Services Group Leader, HRE, ESA
14:30 – 14:55
Opportunities for Industry at Europe's Spaceport
Cornelius Zund, Industrial Policy Officer, CFO, ESA
Enrico Possamai, Launch Range Project Manager, STS, ESA
14:55 – 15:20
Challenges and opportunities for international collaboration with Canada
Cornelius Zund, Industrial Policy Officer – Country Desk Officer Canada, CFO, ESA
15:20 – 15:45
ESA REACH Tool
Premysl Janik, REACH Officer, TEC, ESA
15:45 – 16:10
Q+A : EIB Lending Facility
Speaker TBD, ESA
Speaker TBD, EIB
16:10 – 16:35
ESA Strategic Initiative on In-orbit Servicing, Assembly and Manufacturing (ISAM)
Sebastien Moranta, Strategic Initiatives Manager, SLE, ESA
Tiago Soarez, Head of Clean Space & Circular Economy Office, OPS, ESA
16:35 – 17:00
ESA Strategic Initiative on Space-Based Data Centres (SBDC)
Sebastien Moranta, Strategic Initiatives Manager, SLE, ESA
Ian Carnelli, Head of Systems Department, TEC, ESA
17:00 – 17:50
ESA's Boost! Programme - Success Stories and Opportunities
Thilo Kranz, Commercial Space Transportation Programme Manager, CIP, ESA
Jorgen Bru, Commercial Services Manager, CIP, ESA
Andrea Tullj, Boost! Launch Service Manager, CIP, ESA
18:15 – 19:30
ISD Networking Drinks & Canapés
Catering and Reception Tent
Selected results from ESA technology development projects
10:30 – 10:45
Welcome and Introduction to Day 1
Leopold Summerer, Head of the Technology Department, ESA
10:45 – 10:55
Technology Tent Logistics Day 1
Alessandro Rapisarda, Technology R&D Engineer, ESA
Nerea Socorro, Technology R&D Engineer, ESA
10:55 – 11:00
Cybersecurity Introduction
Antonions Atlasis, Head of System Security Section, TEC, ESA
Laurence Duquerroy, 4S Implementation Manager, RND, ESA
11:00 – 11:35
Cybersecurity Session 1 + Q&A
- Trusted Platform Module for Smallsat Platforms – GMV GmbH
- Techniques for intelligent jamming detection and mitigation of satellite IoT gateways – MBI SRL
- Post-quantum cryptography algorithms for satellite telecommunication – AROBS Polska
11:35 – 12:10
Cybersecurity Session 2 + Q&A
- Agile post-quantum space data link security protocol hardware module and Innovative key management for spacecraft security functions – OHB System AG
- Secure-Boot and Root-Of-Trust for Space – Xiphera Oy
- Machine Learning to support Threat & Vulnerability Management – Cybernetica AS
12:10 – 12:40
How to work with ESA Technology Programmes
Alessandro Rapisarda, Technology R&D Engineer, ESA
Nerea Socorro, Technology R&D Engineer, ESA
King Lam, Space Segment Engineer, ESA
Michele Castorini, Head of Phi-Lab Invest Office, ESA
12:40 – 13:15
Signature for GSTP activity with Exail
13:40 – 13:45
Innovative Propulsion Introduction
Jamila Mansouri, Head of Propulsion, Aerothermodynamics & Flight Vehicles Engineering Division, ESA
13:45 – 14:20
Innovative Propulsion Session 1 + Q&A
- PPS X00 Low cost Electric Propulsion Thruster – Safran
- Krypton Propellant for Radio Frequency Ion Thrusters – ArianeGroup
- Development of a low power (< 1 kW) electric propulsion system for scientific and missions in LEO and deep space – Sitael
14:20 – 14:55
Innovative Propulsion Session 2 + Q&A
- Differential Thrust Stabilisation of Satellites & Spacecraft – GATE Space Innovation GmbH
- Smart Tanks for Space – Atout Process
- 25kN Liquid Oxygen and Liquid Methane Electric Pump Development – LENA Space
15:05 – 15:10
EEE Introduction
Olivier Perat, Technology R&D Engineer, ESA
Ali Zadeh, Head of Avionics and EEE Division, ESA
15:10 – 15:55
EEE Session 1 + Q&A
- Latest FPGA developments and roadmap – NanoXplore
- EEE progress – FrontGradeGaisler
- European Power SiC supply chain (EPOSIC) – Infineon AT
- GaN monolithic IC Pre-Industrialisation development (GaNICp) – IMEC
15:55 – 16:30
EEE Session 2 + Q&A
- RF MEMS Space Pre Qualification – Tyndall National Institute
- Ultra Deem Submicron Assessment for On-board Digital Processors – IMEC
- Active Array Aperture for Hybrid Electro-mechanical and Multi-Orbit Satcom On-The-Move Terminals –INSTER
16:30 – 16:35
VLEO Introduction
Antje Deckert, System Engineer, ESA
16:35 – 17:25
VLEO Session + Q&A
- Building Europe’s VLEO capability: from propulsion to platform – Neworbit Space Ltd
- Very Low Latency Satellite Communication System – S4 – Space
- On ground validation of the end-to-end ram-EP concept – Sitael
- Persistent Video from VLEO – Mission and Instrument Concept Studies – OHB
18:15 – 19:30
ISD Networking Drinks & Canapés
Catering and Reception Tent
18:15 – 19:30
ISD Networking Drinks & Canapés
Catering and Reception Tent
For Events in Newton, make sure to sign up in the B2B platform or you may be denied entry
10:00 – 13:00
Coffee available for participants form 09:30
Powering a Sustainable Future: Energy, Space & Innovation
Davide Coppola, Head of Division Space Applications Initiatives Section, CIP, ESA
Rita Rinaldo, Head Applications Projects and Studies Division, CIP, ESA
Asimina Syriou, Applications Engineer, CIP, ESA
15:00 – 18:15
Unlocking Space Innovation for Sustainable Industry and Business Transformation
Davide Coppola, Head of Division Space Applications Initiatives Section, CIP, ESA
Rita Rinaldo, Head Applications Projects and Studies Division, CIP, ESA
Antonio Rodenas Bosque, Applications Engineer, CIP, ESA
18:15 – 19:30
ISD Networking Drinks & Canapés
Catering and Reception Tent
09:00 – 09:30
ESA's SME Policy and Initiative
Jens Kauffmann, Head of SME Section, CFO, ESA
09:30 – 09:55
European Space Technology Harmonisation
Edmund Williams, Head of the Technology Coordination and Planning Office, TEC, ESA
09:55 – 10:20
Implementing Life Cycle Thinking and Ecodesign in ESA Space Projects
Andrea Vena, Chief Sustainability Officer, ESA
Tiago Soares, Head of Clean Space & Circular Economy Office, ESA
10:20 – 10:45
ACCESS Programme - Business Application and Space Solutions (BASS) Opportunities
Rita Rinaldo, Head of Applications Projects and Studies Division, ESA
10:45 – 11:10
ECOS 6: ESA’s Next-Generation Costing Software
Florent Michel Doullat, Cost Engineer, TEC, ESA
Audrey Maltier, Cost Engineer, TEC, ESA
11:10 – 11:35
Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems (ARTES)– Developing the future of satellite enabled telecommunication
Domenico Mignolo, Head of Technology and Products Management Division, RNC, ESA
11:35 – 12:00
Opportunities under Calls for Proposals for GSTP and ARTES Programmes: Contracts and Cooperative Agreements
Guiomar Perez, Head of Service for Technology Support and Telecommunications Contracts, CFO, ESA
Giusy Menghini, Contracts Officer, CFO, ESA
12:00 – 12:25
Incubed, Investing in Industrial Innovation - Support to EO commercial ventures
Michele Castorina, Head of Phi-Lab Invest Office, ESA
12:25 – 12:50
Services supporting Europe’s most complex Space Missions
Simon Plum, Head of the Mission Operations, OPS, ESA
12:50 – 13:15
In-Space Proof-of-Concepts (InSPoC) : Enabling the In-Space Logistics Ecosystem
Yann Tincelin, InSPoC & Odyssey Programme Manager, STS-F, ESA
13:15 – 13:40
Science: Future Missions and Technology Development
Frederic Safa, Head of Advanced Studies and Technology Preparation, SCI, ESA
13:40 – 14:05
Exploration Science and Industrial Opportunities
Angelique Van Ombergen, Chief Exploration Scientist, HRE, ESA
14:05 – 14:30
ECSS Next Generation
Federico Chiusano, Head Space Standardisation, ESA
14:30 – 14:55
Presentation on Space Safety
Holger Krag, Head Space Safety Programme, OPS, ESA
14:55 – 15:20
Supporting the Competitiveness of the European PNT Ecosystem with NAVISP
Rafael Lucas, Head of the NAVISP Programme Office, ESA
15:20 – 15:45
Ground-segment Opportunities in Earth Observation programmes
Francesca Cipollini, Head of the Ground Segment & Data Management Division, EOP, ESA
15:45 – 16:10
ACCESS Programme - ScaleUp Opportunties
Philip Thomas, Head of the ScaleUp Programme Division, CIP, ESA
09:30 – 09:55
Mission Classification
Laurent Marchand, Head of Quality & Product Assurance Management, TEC, ESA
09:55 – 10:20
esa-match Introduction
Pablo Marin, SME Office Industrial Policy Officer, CFO, ESA
10:20 – 10:45
Implementing Life Cycle Thinking and Ecodesign in ESA Space Projects
Andrea Vena, Chief Sustainability Officer, ESA
Tiago Soares, Head of Clean Space & Circular Economy Office, ESA
10:45 – 11:10
Q&A for BASS Enabling Applicartions Call
Rita Rinaldo, Head of Applications Projects and Studies Division, ESA
11:10 – 11:35
The Phi-LabNET: from innovation to commercialisation
Michele Lapaolo, Commercialisation Officer, CIP, ESA
11:35 – 12:00
ESA High Performance Computing (HPC) for Space
Speaker TBD, ESA
12:00 – 12:50
Lunar Industrial Opportunities Workshop
Sara Pastor, Lunar Projects Group Leader, HRE, ESA
12:50 – 13:40
Space Safety: Missions and Technology Development
Holger Krag, Head Space Safety Programme, OPS, ESA
13:40 – 14:30
Human Spaceflight Document List
Antonio Preden, MPCV-ESM Engineering Team Leader, HRE, ESA
Marco Carrano, Gateway Operations Engineer, HRE, ESA
14:30 – 16:10
ERS EO Workshop
Damien Galano, ERS-EO Architecture and Upstream Manager, EOP, ESA
Selected results from ESA technology development projects
09:00 – 09:05
Welcome and Introduction to Day 2
Dietmar Pilz, Director of Technology, Engineering & Quality (TEC) & Head of ESTEC Establishment, ESA
09:05 – 09:10
Earth Observation Introduction
Michele Castorina, Head of Phi-Lab Invest Office, ESA
09:10 – 09:55
Earth Observation Session + Q&A
- From Applications to Mission: Twinspector Constellation – LiveEO
- A new paradigm in stray light characterization for next-generation space optical instruments – Ghost Space
- TerrAIntel – GeoVille
- EO Presentation – Kappazeta
09:55 – 10:00
Artificial Intelligence and Digitalisation Intruduction
Nicoletta Wagner, Head of the Future Engineering Division, ESA
10:00 – 10:35
Artificial Intelligence and Digitalisation Session 1 + Q&A
- Demodulator supported by Artificial Neural Networks (P1) – Universite Du Luxembourg
- Demodulator supported by Artificial Neural Networks (P2) – IngeniARS
- Wideband DVB-S2x software demodulator running on CPU and/or GPU on consumer hardware platforms – WORK Microwave GmbH
10:35 – 11:20
Artificial Intelligence and Digitalisation Session 2 + Q&A
- Closed Loop Artificial Intelligence Cognitive Synthetic Aperture Radar & Artificial Intelligence Techniques for Spacecraft Attitude Control and Estimation – Airbus
- Closed Loop Artificial Intelligence Cognitive Synthetic Aperture Radar & Machine Learning-based On-board Autonomy, Failure Prognostics and Detection – TAS
- AI for automation of satellite health monitoring and ground operations – Solenix
12:00 – 12:30
Q&A Opportunities under Calls for Proposals for GSTP and ARTES Programmes: Contracts and Cooperative Agreements
Guiomar Perez, Head of Service for Technology Support and Telecommunications Contracts, CFO, ESA
Giusy Menghini, Contracts Officer, CFO, ESA
13:30 – 13:35
Sustainable Space Introduction
Tiago Soares, Head of Clean Space & Circular Economy Office, ESA
Ross Findlay, Head of Sustainability Engineering & Standard Section, ESA
13:35 – 14:10
Sustainable Space Session 1 + Q&A
- Towards greener Manufacturing, Assembly, Integration and Test processes (MAIT) – Airbus
- Impact-Safe Tank Pressure Level – Fraunhofer
- CleanCube – ISISPAC
14:10 – 14:45
Sustainable Space Session 2 + Q&A
- Phase A for a Space Circular Economy Mission – Astroscale Ltd
- 100 % biobased thermoset composite materials – University Cotedazur
- ERASE mission preparation – OHB
14:55 – 15:00
Optical Communications and 5G/6G Non‑Terrestrial Networks Introduction
Kasia Balakier, Optical & Quantum Communication Technology Manager, ESA
Maria Guta, Senior 5G/6G Satellite Solutions Architect, ESA
15:00 – 15:35
Optical Communications and 5G/6G Non‑Terrestrial Networks Session 1 + Q&A
- Operations support for optical & quantum ground infrastructure – FORTH
- UltraAir Airborne LCT – Airbus
- CCSDS Standardised Ranging for Optical Communication Terminals – Nicolaus Copernicus University
15:35 – 16:15
Optical Communications and 5G/6G Non‑Terrestrial Networks Session 2 + Q&A
- Demonstration of Direct 5G Broadband Access From LEO to Small Aperture Terminals – Tyvak International SRL
- Repurposable 5G Payload as a Service – Eurescom
- Temporospatial SDN-Based Service Management & Orchestration of 5G/6G Non-terrestrial Networks – Aalyria Technologies Ltd
16:15 – 16:20
Industrialisation & Serialisation Introduction
Michael Mallon, Industrialisation Engineer, ESA
16:20 – 16:55
Industrialisation & Serialisation Session 1 + Q&A
- Qualification and Industrialisation of Wrapped Rib Antennas – Oxford Space Systems
- ADHA Mass Memory Module – DSI Aerospace GmbH
- Industrialisation of Large Format Extended SWIR Type-II Superlattice Focal Plane Arrays – IRNOVA AB
16:55 – 17:30
Industrialisation & Serialisation Session 2 + Q&A
- Electronic Circuit Breaker for Telecom platforms – WEEROC SAS
- Multi-orbital Spaceborne K/KA Band Modular Antennas for Scaleable Electronic Phased Arrays – TTI
- Slipping Assemblies Featuring Modular Cylindrical Technology Based on Additive Manufacturing – Beyond Gravity, Slip Rings SA
09:55 – 15:45
Space2Tex
Stephan Speidel, Technology Transfer Engineer, CIP, ESA
Additional Speakers
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