Open Data Space Lab, Defence Events, Young Professionals and New Connections at Network & Drinks

On 28 May 2026, NL Space Campus hosted an edition of Network & Drinks at SBIC Noordwijk following the workshop Data & Cloud Sovereignty in Practice: Exploring Opportunities, Use Cases & Implementation Pathways for the Open Data Space Lab (ODL). Participants gathered to hear the outcomes of a workshop that explored a practical question: how can organisations share data while staying in control of it? Discussions focused on real challenges in fisheries monitoring, agriculture and critical infrastructure, and what is needed to enable trusted collaboration across sectors. 

Shared updates include an event for drones in the defence field, an interesting workshop about shares ups and the first ESA lunch lecture coming up. The next Network & Drinks on 25 June will be a festive end-of-year celebration with Dialogue for Space!   

Updates from NL Space Campus 

Participants received updates on several upcoming activities across the ecosystem. 

The following day, the #6 Hybrid Dialogue for Space explored how the European Union is translating strategic ambitions into practical capabilities in space and defence. On 1 June, prospective applicants could join the Get Ready for NL Space Summer School 2026 webinar to learn more about this year’s programme. 

Also coming up: 

Detect & Protect III will take place on 11 June at Unmanned Valley, focusing on drone detection, counter-drone solutions, security applications and the legal framework surrounding unmanned systems. The programme includes plenary sessions, breakout discussions and networking opportunities for professionals working in critical infrastructure, defence, law enforcement and technology. 

Masterclass: Sub-Division of Shares will be hosted by SBIC Noordwijk on 16 June. During this interactive session, Daan van der Weijden and Michiel Romijn will guide founders through the technical, strategic and emotional aspects of startup equity allocation, helping participants create fair and sustainable ownership structures. 

On 26 June, the new ESA ESTEC and NL Space Campus lunch lecture series will kick off with Space Medicine Meets Engineering: How YPSat-2 Will Study Blood Flow in Microgravity. The session will explore the intersection of biomedical research and engineering in space, followed by a networking lunch with members of the YPSat team. 

Outcomes from the Open Data Space Lab Workshop 

During the event, Willem Morsink and Martijn Seijger shared a summary of the discussions that took place during the afternoon workshop on data and cloud sovereignty. 

The workshop explored how the Open Data Space Lab (ODL), based on GAIA-X principles, can enable organisations to share data, algorithms and services while maintaining control over their own information. Discussions centred on three use cases: fisheries monitoring, potato brown rot and flood detection, and environmental and infrastructure monitoring. 

Across all three cases, participants identified trust, governance and interoperability as essential conditions for collaboration. While many of the technical building blocks already exist, discussions highlighted the need to lower barriers to participation and establish governance structures that organisations are willing to adopt and trust. 

Participants also discussed the role of AI, Earth observation data and shared digital infrastructure in addressing emerging regulatory and operational challenges across sectors. 

Read more: Sharing Data Without Losing Control: Exploring Use Cases Across Fisheries, Agriculture and Infrastructure. 

The good news? The conversation will continue. Based on the interest and outcomes of this first session, a follow-up workshop is planned for after the summer. 

Next Edition: Young Professionals Network 

The next Network & Drinks takes place on 25 June 2026 at SBIC Noordwijk, with a focus on young professionals and talent. Programme details and confirmed pitches will be announced soon. Register here. 

Pitch Your Initiative Next Time 

Got a startup, project or initiative to share? Network & Drinks gives campus members the chance to give a three-minute pitch at a future edition, a good way to find partners, collaborators or early feedback. Sign up here. 

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