Only behind the United States, Europe ranks worldwide second with regard to public investments into space activities. With the exception of Human Space Flight and Space Traffic Management Europe takes leading positions in all space areas (Science, Exploration, Earth Observation, Navigation, Telekommunication, Launch services, Spacecraft operations). With Copernicus and Galileo, Europe has the world's most powerful space infrastructure for Earth observation and navigation.
Closely related to this are issues of security of space activities in space and on Earth. In addition, starting from the US, commercial space activities have multiplied in recent years and new space companies are being formed on an ongoing basis. On the one hand, the public sector and public space agencies are supporting this trend and, on the other, are being affected by the consequences and need to rethink their roles.
The conference therefore brings together at highest level the experiences of the EU, ESA, national space agencies and industry and confronts them, i.a., with the current developments in the US. The conference thus contributes to a substantial insight into the future of Europe in space.