Estonia host the Software Defined Space Conference with a focus on software development and cybersecurity

From October 29 to 31, 2024, the international "Software Defined Space Conference" will be held in Tallinn for the fourth time, focusing on software development and cybersecurity. The conference will bring together industry entrepreneurs, scientists and representatives from the European Space Agency (ESA) and the government.

According to Paul Liias, head of the space department at the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications, the conference is an important meeting point for entrepreneurs and researchers who have established themselves in the space sector. "Although Estonia is a fresh space nation, our companies have grown to become internationally competitive players. The experience of our companies in the field of cybersecurity is also valued in the space sector," Liias noted.

He added that 15 years ago, only a few Estonian companies had contracts with ESA, but today there are approximately 50. "Hopefully, the soon-to-be-adopted first Estonian space law will encourage our companies to engage even more in the space industry and boost our small country's ambitions to become a strong player in this sector on the global stage," said Liias.

This year's conference will focus on future trends in the space industry. Topics will include the potential use of AI in space technology, opportunities for advancing the space sector through education and the gaming industry, and the impact of weather forecasting on warfare. Additionally, the conference will feature a cybersecurity exercise, where participants can test their cyber defence skills using a satellite operations simulator developed by Estonian companies Cybexer and Spaceit.

According to Kai-Uwe Schrogl, Special Advisor for Political Affairs at ESA, the Software Defined Space Conference is a uniquely valuable event in Europe that will help increase the visibility of the specific capabilities of countries like Estonia in complex systems represented by ESA’s future space initiatives. 

He noted, “ESA is glad to participate on the Programme Committee and the conference program through its experts, engaging with the community gathered in Tallinn. We greatly value Estonia’s efforts to establish and expand this event along new dimensions each year, supporting our priority of fostering European resilience through space.” 

Schrogl added, “As Estonia approaches its 10th anniversary of ESA membership, it has successfully extended its role as Europe’s cybersecurity leader into the space sector, contributing vital knowledge and practical approaches that benefit ESA and its Member States both strategically and technologically.”

The two-day conference will feature dozens of space and cybersecurity experts. Among others, participants will include Laurent Jaffart, ESA Director for Connectivity and Secure Communications, Rodrigo da Costa, Executive Director of the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA), and Kai-Uwe Schrogl, Special Advisor for Political Affairs at ESA and President of the International Institute of Space Law (IISL). Representatives from space companies will also participate, including Sandhra-Mirella Valdma from Cybernetica, Paul Coggin from nou Systems, and Erik Kulu from Factories in Space. 

Since 2021, the Space Office has organised the "Software Defined Space Conference" under the Estonian Business and Innovation Agency, in cooperation with the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications. 

This year's space conference program is https://sdsc.ee/agenda/.

About the European Space Agency

The European Space Agency (ESA) is an intergovernmental organisation, created in 1975, with the mission to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space delivers benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.

ESA has 22 Member States: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia and Slovenia are Associate Members.

By coordinating the financial and intellectual resources of its members, ESA can undertake programmes and activities far beyond the scope of any single European country.

Learn more about ESA at www.esa.int