Plenary session
October 2, 2024, Egmont Palace, Brussels
Theme: Space for a Safer World
This event focuses on how space technology can make our world safer and more sustainable. We have three panels that will talk about different aspects of this topic: the future possibilities, the current challenges, and the solutions we can implement.
09:00 – 09:30 Arrival time / Pre-event: Flashback on the previous Switch to Space events (pictures from the previous events).
We will start on time!
09:30 – 09:50 Students & Young professionals share their experience
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Thomas Chauvaux – Young entrepreneur
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Amelie Revers - Human Resources Director - Telespazio
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David Henneaux-Cenaero, Research Engineer
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Ioana Dimitrova – Student ULiège
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Guillaume Gégo - KU Leuven
Testimonials
09:52 – 10:00 Welcome by Dominique Tilmans Learn more
10:00 – 10:10 Introduction to Plenary by Mohammad Iranmanesh
This panel will discuss various ideas on how space technology can improve global safety and sustainability. We will hear about Europe's goals for innovation in space (European Commission and ESA) and how Belgium plans to use space technology to grow and achieve these goals. The role of private companies in driving innovation will also be discussed.
Chair: Sabri Mekaoui | Co-Chair: Aurélie Bellemans
Presentations & speakers:
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Guillaume de la Brosse, EU - Head of Unit for Space innovation, Start-ups, Economics
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Benoit Deper, CEO and founder – Aerospacelab
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Heriberto Saldivar, Head of the Foresight, Strategy and Coordination Department - European Space Agency - ESA
This panel will look at the major problems that need to be solved to use space technology for global security. Topics include protecting space assets from cyber threats and using space-based surveillance to enhance national and global security. The panel will also discuss how space data helps monitor and combat climate change.
Chair: Mohammad Iranmanesh
Presentations & speakers:
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Federico Rossi, President and CEO - Telespazio
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Bart Desoete, Business Development Manager - OIP
View the presentation
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Jean-Pascal van Ypersele, Head of the Walloon Platform for the IPCC
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Koen Puimège, Chairman of the board of the Flemish space industry (VRI), member of the board of Belgospace and managing director of Antwerp Space NV
This final panel will talk about practical strategies to solve the security challenges discussed earlier. Experts from European External Action Service, and Belgian Defense will share their ideas on using space technology to improve global security. They will discuss new technologies, policy solutions, and the need for international cooperation. Attendees will learn about the steps needed to create a safer future with space technology.
Chairs: Walter Peeters | Co-Chair: Veronique Dehant
Presentations & speakers:
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Philippe Camut, Head of the Space Security Centre within the Belgian Defense
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Jean-Jacques Dordain was the sixth Director General of ESA, serving from 2003 to 2015.
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Patrick Chatard Moulin, Deputy Head of Division at the European External Action Service (EEAS)
Publication by: Charlotte Van Camp and Walter Peeters
A World without Satellite Data as a Result of a Global Cyber-Attack
Speakers
Guillaume de la Brosse
EU - Head of Unit for Space innovation, Start-ups, Economics
Guillaume de La Brosse is currently Head of Unit in charge of Innovation and New Space – Space Defence in the Commission (Direction-General for Defence Industry and Space). Previously, Guillaume was assistant to the Director-General. Guillaume joined the Commission in 2016, as member of the Commission’s think-tank and member of the UK Task Force, where he dealt with security, defence and space. Before joining the Commission, Guillaume worked in the European Defence Agency as assistant to the Executive Director (2011-2016) and as pol-mil adviser in the French Permanent representation to the EU (2006-2011).
Heriberto Saldivar
Heriberto Saldivar, Head of the Foresight, Strategy and Coordination Department - European Space Agency - ESA
Until January 2022, he was the Managing Director and Technical Head of Brinc, a Venture Capital Accelerator. Where he invested and provided advisory services to more than 130 tech companies of over 28 different nationalities. Prior to Brinc and while studying for his bachelor’s degree at Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey, he worked on several projects, including the development of a biped robot and an automated rover. In addition to leading a team that designed and built miniature space drone systems, he was also a team leader at Procter & Gamble to develop new products and upgrade its production lines.
Post-graduation, Heriberto received a master’s degree at National Cheng Kung University while joining an international scramjet (supersonic engine) research project between Europe and Taiwan.
He was awarded the prestigious Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme and joined the PolyU High- speed Thermo fluid and MAV/UAV Laboratory. He developed software, which he hopes will help design the next generation of space vehicles and planes.
Benoit Deper
CEO and founder – Aerospacelab
As the CEO and founder of Aerospacelab, Benoît Deper has been at the helm of the company since 2018. With his recognized experience in the space industry, this entrepreneur quickly succeeded in gaining the support of solid investors such as Airbus Ventures. After graduating from UCLouvain with a degree in mechatronics, robotics and automation engineering, Benoît Deper first joined the ranks of two iconic institutions in the sector: NASA and its European counterpart, ESA for a three-year stint before becoming CTO of a Swiss company specializing in space launch, Swiss Space Systems. Benoît knows the space industry and its key players inside out. His experience and network also enable him to recruit the best talent in technology and sales. The combination of these talents enabled him to design and manufacture a satellite in 2 years, from a blank sheet of paper. Since then, he has succeeded in rallying to his ambitious project renowned industry leaders such as Mr. Dordain (ex-director of ESA).
Federico Rossi
President and CEO - Telespazio
Federico Rossi, President and CEO of Telespazio Belgium SRL, has a master's degree in physics. With extensive experience in the space industry, he pays particular attention to the professional development of young people, to whom he likes to entrust important responsibilities. His set of values includes respect, an international mentality, listening and overcoming barriers. Federico is recognized for his ability to inspire and guide new generations towards excellence. His leadership is distinguished by a human and visionary approach, conducive to innovation and collaboration.
Bart Desoete
Business Development Manager - OIP
Bart Desoete obtained a Master in Engineering Physics and a PhD in Electronic Engineering at the University of Ghent. He started his industrial career at ON Semiconductor. After that he has been working for several Belgian companies active in Space industry, namely at QinetiQ Space, Antwerp Space and OIP. Throughout his career he has had engineering, project management and business development roles. Currently he is responsible for business development in the Space department of OIP, a company specialized in state-of-the-art electro-optical systems including thermal infrared and hyperspectral instruments.
Jean-Pascal van Ypersele
Head of the Walloon Platform for the IPCC
Jean-Pascal van Ypersele, climate physicist, is full professor emeritus of climatology and sustainable development sciences at UCLouvain and head of the Walloon Platform for the IPCC. He was Vice-Chair of the IPCC from 2008 to 2015, and is a member of the Royal Academy of Belgium and of the Federal Council for Sustainable Development.
Philippe Camut
Head of the Space Security Centre within the Belgian Defense
Cdr senior grade Philippe Camut studied in the Royal Military Academy in Brussels and became a Navy Officer. After an enriching career linked to the maritime operational world as well as to staff tasks, he has recently been appointed as head of the Belgian Space Security Centre, part of the Air and Space component. In this newly-created function, he is involved in the development of programmes linked to space for the Belgian armed forces. The objective is to have a robust and secure access to space data, products and services to support military deployments, and to contribute to a safe, secure and sustainable outer space.
Jean-Jacques Dordain was the sixth Director General of ESA, serving from 2003 to 2015
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Research engineer in rocket propulsion at Office National des Etudes et Recherches Aérospatiales - France
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Management functions at the European Space Agency ( Space Station utilization and Microgravity, Strategy and International Relations, Launchers and DG) Board member of several young private enterprises
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Professor in different engineering schools and universities
Patrick Chatard Moulin
Deputy Head of Division at the European External Action Service (EEAS)
Patrick is deputy Head of the Space Division at the European External Action Service (EEAS). His areas of responsibility include the space security and defence dimension of Union action, as well as multilateral and international aspects of the European Space Policy. He is one of the co-authors of the EU Space Strategy for Security and Defence and was involved in the preparation of both the Council Conclusion and the European Parliament report on the Strategy.
Patrick has worked for 15 years with the EU on space, security and defence issues including Space Surveillance, GOVSATCOM or the EU SatCen. He was among the first to join the European Defence Agency in 2005 where he initiated several cooperative projects, before joining the EU as an official, serving first in the General Secretariat of the Council and then in the Space Policy unit of the European Commission’s DG GROW.
From 2017 until 2021 Patrick was responsible for the European Border Surveillance System (EUROSUR) and took part in the drafting and negotiation for the new Regulation on the European Boarder and Coast Guard in the European Commission (DG HOME).
Patrick served for more than 15 years in the French Air Force as an Engineering Officer working mainly on Space and Information Systems. He graduated from the French Air Force
Academy, and later Telecom Paris as a SATCOM Engineer. He is an Alumnus of the International Space University where he has been invited to lecture.
Koen Puimège
Koen is chairman of the board of the Flemish space industry (VRI), member of the board of Belgospace and managing director of Antwerp Space NV.
He has been active in the space industry for more than 24 years in various leadership roles and has a background in electronics and business administration. In his current position, his ambition is threefold: to strengthen cooperation between space companies and universities in Belgium, to represent them to national and international governments and to make them known to the general public.
At European and international level, Koen builds bridges between the Belgian space sector and foreign agencies, companies and institutions.
He has a creative, result-oriented and entrepreneurial mentality.
Chairs & Co-Chairs
Sabri Mekaoui
Sabri is a Policy Officer at the Security and Defence Policy Directorate of the European External Action Service, the diplomatic service of the European Union. In his previous role at the European Commission, Sabri has contributed to the development of international partnership strategies in the areas of climate change, digitalization, space, and science, technology, and innovation (STI) in West Africa.
Mohammad Iranmanesh
Mohammad Iranmanesh is the Managing Director (Belgium) of constellr, a pan-european company pioneering the use of cutting-edge beyond-visual imaging technology to transform how we monitor crucial aspects of Earth's health from space (https://www.constellr.com). With a background in Space Systems Engineering and project management, Mohammad brings extensive expertise in overseeing the technical development of space hardware and software
Prior to his role at constellr, he pursued a dual master's degree at UCLouvain and ISAE-Supaero, complemented by a certificate in Management of Innovation from HEC Paris. During this time, he co-founded lide.space (https://lide.space), a Belgian startup dedicated to facilitating microgravity research through glider parabolic flights.
Mohammad is also actively engaged in the global space community, serving as the National Point of Contact in Belgium for the Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC).
Veronique Dehant
Véronique Dehant works at the Royal Observatory of Belgium, where she is Senior Researcher in the Operational Directorate "Reference Systems and Planetology". She is also an Extraordinary Professor at the Catholic University of Louvain (UCLouvain). She is an Academician (Member of the Royal Academy of Belgium, Science Class) since 2010, Foreign Member of the Paris Academy of Sciences since 2016 and of the US National Academy of Science since 2023. She has been awarded several prizes as well as two ERC Grants from the European Research Council. She is involved in several space missions visiting the planets and moons of the solar system.
Walter Peeters
Prof. Walter Peeters is the President-Emeritus of the International Space University (ISU), Strasbourg, France. In his career he initially covered management positions in the construction and petrochemical industries, joining in 1983 the European Space Agency (ESA) where he became a.o. Head of the Coordination Office of the European Astronaut Center in Cologne.
He joined ISU in 2000 as professor in Space Business and Management, nominated Dean in 2005 and became President in 2011, then President Emeritus since 2018.
He advises government organizations on space activities and creation of national space agencies. He is a full member of the International Academy of Astronautics and is member of the editorial board of several space journals.
He obtained degrees in engineering and applied economics (Catholic University of Louvain), an MBA (Louvain, Cornell University) and a Ph.D. in Engineering (TU Delft, Aerospace Faculty). He authored over 90 articles on space commercialization and NewSpace Economy, the book Space Marketing (Kluwer, 2000) and an IAA Report on Suborbital Spaceflight (IAA, 2014).
His present focus is on NewSpace research and entrepreneurship amongst others leading a space incubator at ISU and supporting space start-ups.
For detailed information see also https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Peeters
Aurélie Bellemans
Aurélie received her degree in Electromechanical Engineering from the joint BRUFACE programme at the VUB and ULB in 2013. Afterwards, she joined the von Kaman Institute for Fluid Dynamics in a collaborative PhD with ULB. She worked as a BAEF postdoc at the University of Texas at Austin. She joined the FLOW research group at VUB as an assistant professor in October 2020. The overarching topic of her research is to develop data-driven feature-extraction methods and build advanced surrogates using machine-learning algorithms. Her main applications of interest are the development of digital twins for reacting flows with applications to plasma-assisted combustion and atmospheric re-entry plasmas.