On January 27 and 28, 2026, the 18th European Space Conference was held in Brussels – one of the most important events for the sector in Europe. This year’s edition focused on strengthening the competitiveness of the EU, security and new strategies for access to space.

Several leading priorities for the development of the European space community were outlined within the framework of the Conference:
• Autonomous access to space: New initiatives for the development of transport systems in orbit were discussed.
• Security and competitiveness: The emphasis was placed on the need for closer cooperation between the public sector and private companies.
• Development of the European Earth observation program “Copernicus” The role of Earth observation as a key resource for the economy and crisis management was confirmed.

The conference provided a platform for the exchange of ideas with leading organizations, including the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Directorate-General for Defence Industry and Space of the European Commission, as well as an opportunity to establish new contacts and discuss potential collaborations in the field of space data use and management. The event was also attended by the Director of Center for National Security and Defence Research-BAS, Kamen Iliev, who held a series of meetings with representatives of industry and European institutions.

The conclusions of the 18th European Space Conference show that the next few years will be marked by increased public-private partnerships. For companies in the sector, this means new opportunities to work on joint projects that will strengthen Europe’s leadership in space technologies.