On 3–4 March 2026, the Amsterdam Space Symposium will take place at Beurs van Berlage in Amsterdam. The event is organised by SpaceNed and focuses on two themes that increasingly overlap in practice: Space for Security and Defence and Space for Climate.
For professionals working in the space sector, policy or adjacent domains, the symposium is positioned as a working-level forum rather than a broad showcase. The programme combines plenary keynotes with panels, masterclasses and workshops that move from strategic framing to operational questions.
From strategy to implementation
The opening plenary sessions set the context in which current decisions around space capabilities are being shaped. Keynotes include Tom Middendorp, Chairman of the International Military Council on Climate and Security, and Rodrigo da Costa, Executive Director of EUSPA. These sessions outline how space is currently viewed within European security, defence and infrastructure planning.
Rather than stopping at high-level positioning, the programme then moves into sessions that examine practical implications. Panels and masterclasses address topics such as interoperability in the space domain, resilient supply chains, and the role of dual-use technologies. Contributors include representatives from national defence organisations, EU institutions and industry, including Airbus Defence and Space, ICEYE and Arianespace.
Regulation, policy and operational consequences
Several sessions focus on the interface between regulation, policy objectives and implementation. This includes masterclasses such as Where Regulation Meets Opportunity and workshops addressing market and policy translation gaps.
Speakers include Simonetta Cheli, Director of Earth Observation Programmes at ESA, alongside senior policy advisors from the European Commission, including DG CLIMA.
These sessions are structured to discuss how regulatory signals translate into requirements for industry and research organisations, and where misalignments currently exist.
Applied use cases in climate and security
The climate-focused track looks at how satellite data is being used alongside ground, economic and social data in concrete settings. Workshops address topics such as methane monitoring, watershed-scale water management and biodiversity monitoring. Contributions come from organisations including ECMWF, Satelligence, the World Resources Institute and public authorities involved in environmental policy and implementation.
On the security and defence side, workshops cover dual-use applications in Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT), SatCom, access to space and in-orbit servicing. These sessions are designed around specific capability gaps and operational constraints rather than abstract scenarios.
Participants and contributors
Participants include representatives from EU institutions, national defence organisations, space agencies, research organisations and industry. The confirmed programme features contributions from organisations such as ESA, EUSPA, NATO, the European Commission, Airbus Defence and Space, ICEYE, Arianespace and ECMWF.
The symposium is supported by a broad group of sponsors and exhibitors, including Airbus, TNO, Royal NLR, CGI, Starion, Dawn Aerospace and Technolution.
NL Space Campus at Amsterdam Space Symposium
NL Space Campus will be present at the Amsterdam Space Symposium with a booth on the exhibition floor. Visitors are welcome to stop by and connect with the team, learn more about current activities at the campus, and exchange on developments within the Dutch space ecosystem.
Practical information
The Amsterdam Space Symposium takes place on 3–4 March 2026 at Beurs van Berlage in Amsterdam. Tickets are available for general participants, SpaceNed members, government and defence employees, young professionals and students.
Further details on the programme, speakers and registration are available via the symposium website.