The discussion on the major challenges of the European Space Agency, (ESA Agenda 2025), and its articulation with the National Space Strategy (Portugal Space 2030), started this Tuesday, November 2, at Instituto Superior Técnico.

The session “Portugal and the Development Strategy of the European Space Agency, ESA – Presentation and Discussion” opened with a speech by the President of Técnico, professor Rogério Colaço, who stressed the importance of this event. The Coordinator of the MSc programme in Aerospace Engineering, professor Fernando Lau, highlighted “Técnico is very proud to provide Aerospace Engineering training for over 20 years”.

Engineer Ricardo Conde, Técnico alumnus and President of Portugal Space, referred that there are already around 60 national space institutions and that Portugal “should be aligned with Europe”.

“Today we are starting a discussion that will continue in the next year”, said the Minister for Science, Technology and Higher Education, professor Manuel Heitor, who also highlighted the evolution of Portugal’s participation in the Space sector.

Several topics such as quantum communications, space debris, artificial intelligence and the national space strategy, were discussed with the audience.