Josef Aschbacher, Director General of ESA, is due to give a keynote address to the forum. He said: “The investor forum is one of the key platforms delivering on ESA’s market ambitions, enabling new space companies to fuel their growth through private finance, leading beyond the early technological risks supported by ESA and its member states.

“The space industry is going through a paradigm shift. To strengthen its leadership and autonomy in this fast-moving sector, Europe needs to flex its industrial muscles to provide strong support to new space players, so they can fast-track the conversion of their innovative ideas into successful businesses – and contribute to building Europe’s competitive edge at the global level.”

Elodie Viau, Director of Telecommunications and Integrated Applications, said: “My directorate has been at the forefront of commercial space for many years and has pioneered interactions with private capital. We have developed one of the world's largest business incubation networks, with over 60 hubs and thousands of start-ups created across Europe.

“ESA acts as a dynamic acceleration agent, a matchmaker between public interests and private investments. We liaise public objectives for our economy and society with private investors for their sharp view of business models and their viability. We build bridges, we instil momentum, we collaborate with entrepreneurs and companies that will shape the future of European new space. Today is the best moment to invest in space connectivity.”