Space industry experts gather in Estonia to discuss the future of space and cybersecurity

Last week, Tallinn became the world's capital of space and cybersecurity for three days. At the international Software Defined Space Conference (SDSC), space experts from Estonia and abroad agreed that the cyber and space technology sector has reached a development phase where national security, science, and business must intertwine more closely than ever before.

Estonia's space sector stands out globally. It is home to the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence, which organises Locked Shields, an annual international exercise focused on technical network defence. Earlier this year, Estonia also announced the creation of Europe's first publicly available cybersecurity training platform the Space Cyber Range, among other initiatives.

Estonian companies have found a smooth transition from the IT sector to the space industry. According to Paul Liias, Head of Space at the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications, Estonia has reached this point out of genuine necessity. It is, in fact, among the more experienced players in space cybersecurity.

"As always, the biggest push for fundamental developments comes from crises. In Estonia, cybersecurity became a priority nearly 20 years ago, after a large-scale cyberattack from Russia in 2007. Over the years, as attacks have continued, we've accumulated knowledge that can now be applied to protecting Europe's space segment. The number of attacks targeting space infrastructure has grown significantly and with that, so have the opportunities to apply the technologies and expertise developed in Estonia," said Liias.

According to Liias, this has also increased the potential for broader cooperation, as, due to the current geopolitical situation, the main clients in the space sector are primarily national governments. "You will hear more about Estonia's upcoming plans at the 25th ESA Ministerial Council in November at Bremen, Germany. Estonia aims to keep a strong focus on cybersecurity investments".

Connecting the Public and Private Sectors Is Key

The conference organiser, Sander Sipelgas, Project Manager at Enterprise Estonia, said that the event's role is to bring together the public and private sectors, as cooperation is more important than ever." As Paul Liias said, the biggest clients in the sector are governments. SDSC took place for the fifth time, and its influence is only growing. 

Space-related topics are no longer a niche subject on a global scale. Although the Estonian public is still learning to think in terms of the space context, several of our own companies are the ones attracting the international crowd here. Internationally, Estonia's space innovation is very well recognised," he noted.

Liias added that cross-sector collaboration is crucial for growth. "Space is not just about defence or cybersecurity. Growth will come when other sectors start adapting to the space perspective, from telecommunications and IT to optics, medicine, and even design."

Talent development was also highlighted as a cornerstone for long-term progress. "New talent isn't created by the government alone – a growing sector drives it. Just as in IT, private industry plays a vital role in shaping the next generation of professionals," added Sipelgas.

Leading Voices in Space and Cybersecurity

Among the featured speakers were leading representatives from the European Space Agency (ESA), including Massimo Mercati, Head of ESA's Security Office, and Laurence Duquerroy, Implementation Manager of the "Space Systems for Safety and Security" Strategic Programme.

Other distinguished participants included Clémence Poirier, Senior Researcher in Cyber Defence at ETH Zurich's Centre for Security Studies (CSS), and Sean Crouse from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, one of the world's top aerospace universities.

Industry leaders such as Joe Cotti, Airbus Intelligence Sales and Business Development Manager and Nick Marshall, Space Programmes Manager at GMV UK, also contributed, alongside over 30 speakers from across Europe and beyond, representing government agencies, academia, and leading companies in the field.

About SDSC

The Software Defined Space Conference (SDSC) is an annual international event exploring the intersection of software, cybersecurity and space. Since 2021, Space Estoniahas organised the "Software Defined Space Conference" under Enterprise Estonia, in cooperation with the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications. This year, over three days, the conference featured more than 15 panel discussions covering topics such as dual-use space systems, the application of artificial intelligence in space, automated satellite systems, and cyber exercises in orbit. In addition, panel discussions and networking events were held, bringing together service providers and consumers.