living in our universe

Space for Inspiration is an international conference organised by the European Space Agency (ESA) for everyone curious about space exploration and why it matters. The second edition focuses on how space can be a powerful instrument for positive change – and new businesses – on planet Earth.

This can’t miss event is a crossroads of disciplines and solutions ‘made in space’. Ideas range from automation, artificial intelligence, smart materials, virtual reality and innovative business models.

what’s in it for you

Learn
from international space exploration leaders about achievements and future plans

Meet
technologists, visionaries and problem solvers

Get inspired
by tackling society’s challenges and sharing achievements

Engage
with space and non-space actors

Embrace
cross-fertilisation

Contribute
to and benefit from disruptive ideas

Rethink
European exploration challenges

Bring up
solutions for worldwide socio-economic and environmental challenge

Who will be there

Testimonials

Space for Inspiration 2016, was catalytic in providing our opportunity to work within the Space market.

Vanessa Linley MSc

Research Funding Facilitator - Metalysis Limited

2018-08-29T13:53:21+00:00

Vanessa Linley MSc

Research Funding Facilitator - Metalysis Limited

Space for Inspiration 2016, was catalytic in providing our opportunity to work within the Space market.

http://space4inspiration.esa.int/index.php/testimonials/1162/

An essential event to foster meaningful and productive connections between space exploration and the multiple challenges here on Earth.

Angelo Vermeulen

SEAD (Space Ecologies Art and Design)
Artist, Researcher and Co-founder

2018-08-29T13:59:16+00:00

Angelo Vermeulen

SEAD (Space Ecologies Art and Design)
Artist, Researcher and Co-founder

An essential event to foster meaningful and productive connections between space exploration and the multiple challenges here on Earth.

http://space4inspiration.esa.int/index.php/testimonials/1165/

S4I gave us the opportunity and a fantastic community to explore ideas for citizen science in the fields of urban and space farming.

Thieme Hennis

AstroPlant mission commander and circular system designer

2018-08-29T13:45:35+00:00

Thieme Hennis

AstroPlant mission commander and circular system designer

S4I gave us the opportunity and a fantastic community to explore ideas for citizen science in the fields of urban and space farming.

http://space4inspiration.esa.int/index.php/testimonials/1160/

speakers

AGATA JOZWICKA-PERLANT Head of New Costumers & Services, Future Programmes Ariane Group	Barbara Ghinelli Director of Business Development STFC-UK
Bernhard Hufenbach Head of HRE Strategy & Innovation Team ESA	Bjarke Ingels Danish Architect, Founder and Creative Partner Bjarke Ingels Group
CHRISTIAN LANGE Chief Exploration Strategic Planning, Space Exploration CSA	Christian Ziach Investment Manager High-Tech Gründerfonds Management GmbH
Daniel Inocente Senior Digital Design Architect SOM	David Parker Director of Human and Robotic Exploration ESA
Francesc Gòdia Full Professor of Chemical Engineering Universitat Autònoma de Bercelona	Francesco Sauro Geologist, Speleologist, Explorer
Héctor Guerreo-Padrón Researcher Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aerospacial	Inma Martinez Venture Partner Deep Science Ventures
JEFFREY MANBER CEO NanoRacks LLC – DC	Johann-Dietrich Wörner Director General ESA
Jürgen Brandner Chief Technical Officer PTScientists	KATHY LAURINI Senior Advisor for Exploration and Space Operations NASA
Ken Savin Director of Operations CASIS	Kyle Acierno Managing Director ispace EuropeSA
Mark Stevenson Expert on global trends and innovation	Marybeth Edeen Manager of the Research Integration Office in the ISS NASA
Matt Cosby Director of Space Engineering Goonhilly	Melanie von der Wiesche Leader Study Team, Institute of Aerospace Medicine DLR
Michael Lauster Director Fraunhofer-Institute for Technological Trend Analysis	NAOKI SATO Lead of Space Exploration System Technology Unit JAXA
OLIVER JUCKENHOEFEL On-Orbit Service and Exploration Activities, Head of Bremen Site Airbus Defence and Space	Paolo Nespoli Astronaut ESA
Pierre Crespi Director of Innovation Air Liquide Advanced Technologies	Ray Jayawardhana Dean of Arts & Sciences and Professor of Astronomy Cornell University
Rudy Aernoudt Economic Analysis Unit European Commission DG-GROW	Sam Adlen Chief of Strategy Satellite Applications Catapult
SAM SCIMEMI Director, International Space Station NASA	Sam Waes ESA Broker Verhaert New Products & Services
Sarah Cruddas Space Journalist, Broadcaster and Author	Sergio Montúfar Space art astro-photographer
Stefaan de Mey Senior Strategy Officer ESA	TIMO STUFFLER Director of Business Development OHB
VADIM GUSCHIN Leading Psychologist, Head of Lab Institute Biomedical Problems	VICTOR PARRO GARCIA Research Scientist Centro de Astrobiologia (INTA-CSIC)
Walter Cugno Vice President Exploration and Science Domain Thales Alenia Space	Ying Zhang Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Chinese Economy and Business Rotterdam School of Management

programme

Detailed programme

Splinters day one

Splinters day two

our partners

space for the non-space

Exploration is a combination of curiosity and opportunity. As innovation and commercial ideas emerge, the new space opens up to a broader community. The European Space Agency is already forging partnerships with the non-space sector.

The programme is geared towards stimulating new ideas and inspire action. Disruptive ideas can connect space and non-space areas with new approaches, solutions and services.

why attend

To participate in interactive sessions about breakthrough technologies. To get in touch with business leaders and pioneering thinkers. To unlock the business potential within international partnerships. To present your ideas to diversified and inter-generational audiences. To build up synergies and sustainable innovation.

who will be there

Space for Inspiration is a unique opportunity to meet bright problem-solvers, tech industry visionaries, researchers, policy makers, high management and investors willing to advance space exploration.

Feeling interested? Replay the talks from the first edition held at the London Science Museum on 14-15 September 2016.

call for ideas

We call them DIGITS – Disruptive Ideas Growing Innovation Towards Sustainability. And we want to hear your story. Selected ideas will have an opportunity to participate in Space for Inspiration as part of a:

presentation

workshop

exhibit

snack-talks

You can choose one or more of the following topics:

Disruptive for exploration Revamp exploration scenarios by proposing disruptive technologies, mission concepts and operations	Disruptive for Earth and society Launch your idea to tackle sustainable development of our planet and help us solve the grand challenges

Disruptive for business and transformation Present your business model that will contribute to sustained growth of the economy, possibly also beyond Earth	Disruptive for participation How can we increase embedding space exploration in the centre of society, making all on Earth active stakeholders?

For more information please refer to the Call for DIGITS document and the DIGITS Submission Form.

partnership packages

Exhibition area

Stand types

registration

gallery

Space for Inspiration 2016 – London Science Museum

flickr gallery

venue

Conference centre Euskalduna, Bilbao, Spain

logistics

ESA has negotiated preferred rates at hotels in Bilbao for the Space for Inspiration event’s participants.

Hotel overview

Designathon space challenge

Children from local schools will take part in a challenge to explore space and prototype together a space invention that could benefit humanity and planet Earth.

They will work in teams and use their creativity to come up with innovative concepts on 30 October 2018.