On Monday 28 and Tuesday 29 October 2019, the very first CVA Space Forum, the “Seville Space Forum”, was organised by the CVA thanks to the initiative of the City of Seville and its 2019 CVA Presidency team. This major economic forum also served to explore new dimensions for the collaboration between the Members of the Community of Ariane Cities.
This first proved to be a huge success, with over 200 participants from eight European countries and 20 guest speakers – decision-makers and innovators from the European space sector.
After a visit to local industry on the first day, the second day provided an opportunity for the participants from right across the space sector to have their say – from launcher manufacturers to satellite builders, equipment suppliers and suppliers of services through to satellite operators and developers of space-related services.
Organised in three rounds, the 29 October CVA sessions provided a platform for European and Spanish public institutional stakeholders to voice their expectations and consider the prospects for future European space activities – just one month ahead of the much-awaited Ministerial-level Council meeting of the European Space Agency (“Space19+”) to be held in Seville in late November. The various challenges and opportunities ahead were analysed by European industrial prime contractors. The key assets of Spanish firms of diverse profiles were also presented: from agile SMEs, innovative start-ups and R&D centres through to leading industrial groups.
All in all, those attending were greatly impressed by this first CVA Space Forum, which surely now deserves to become a regular CVA fixture over the coming years.
Jean-Sébastien Lemay, délégué général de la CVA
