Today, Wednesday, November 26, the European Space Agency (ESA) kicked off its Ministerial Council meeting (CM25) in Bremen. It is no exaggeration to state that this is potentially the most consequential meeting in European space history.
The backdrop is stark. As the European Space Policy Institute (ESPI) highlighted in their analysis yesterday, Europe stands at a critical juncture. We are navigating a world defined by geopolitical turbulence, where space has become a critical domain for security and defense. Simultaneously, the commercial space sector is accelerating globally at a pace that demands immediate action.
Some of the main questions hanging over Bremen today is:
Can Europe shift gears?
Can we move from traditional programs to "creative destruction" and genuine risk-taking?
Next Thursday, December 4, we are bringing these fresh high-level decisions down to Earth at MESH Youngstorget.
When Christian Hauglie-Hanssen (Director General, Norwegian Space Agency) opens Spaceport Norway 2025 NEW, he will have just returned from the negotiations in Bremen. He will provide us with the very first, unfiltered analysis of what the CM25 results mean for Europe – and specifically for Norwegian industry, society, and security.
But politics alone cannot drive the future. It requires capital.
We are therefore extremely proud to welcome Audun Wickstrand Iversen from DNB Asset Management. He manages DNB Disruptive Opportunities, one of the world's highest-ranked technology funds. The fact that heavyweight finance is now viewing the space economy as a serious growth arena is perhaps the strongest signal that we are entering a new era.
Building a robust space economy requires more than just policy and capital; it requires talent. We are thrilled to announce that, through our collaboration with NORSTEC, we are sponsoring 50 students from universities across Norway to attend the event.
These students represent the future workforce that will build the technology we are discussing. Connecting them directly with industry leaders, investors, and policymakers is a key part of our mission to accelerate recruitment and competence building in the sector.
Innovation and incubationThe "new" in New Space is driven by startups. Spaceport Norway has always championed the grassroots of the industry, and this year is no different. We will showcase the energy and innovation coming out of ESA BIC Norway, the business incubation centre that serves as a launchpad for our most promising space startups. You will meet the founders who are turning the concepts from Bremen into concrete business cases.
In light of the geopolitical backdrop, we must also address the role of space in peace and security. We are proud to introduce a new initiative, "Satellites for Peace", in collaboration with the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO). This segment will explore how satellite data and space technology can be utilized not just for defense, but for conflict monitoring, transparency, and peacebuilding efforts globally.
Spaceport Norway 2025 NEW earns its name. This event marks the end of Spaceport Norway as you know it, and the last gathering under our current strategy before we shift gears.
While we are saving the full strategic reveal for 2026, we will share exciting news about the next phase of our flagship summit at Andøya together with Andøya Space, show the after movie from the first and special summit for the first time, we will launch a new ambitious Norwegian space company, and we will give some recognition to people that really deserve it.
Finally, the evening concludes with Lunar Resonance – an audiovisual experience by So Takahashi and Ole Dokka.
This isn’t just another conference; it is a strategic briefing, a meeting place for talent and capital, and a launchpad for the future of the Norwegian space economy. And a good time with really good people.
We are down to the final allocation of tickets for MESH Youngstorget. If you want to ensure you have a seat for the ESA debrief, the investment outlook from DNB, and the company launch, we recommend acting now.
> Explore the full program here and secure your ticket here
Made possible by our partners
This event and our continued work would not be possible without the support of our visionary partners:
Norwegian Space Agency (NOSA)• Kongsberg Defence and Aerospace (KDA)• Andøya Space • ESA BIC Norway • Inventas • Ideas • EmLogic • Investment and Development Agency of Latvia
We have reserved 5 exclusive press passes for this event.
This gathering offers a unique opportunity to cover the intersection of high-level European politics, finance, and deep-tech innovation.
Why attend?
Passes are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
Contact for accreditation and interview scheduling:
Ole Dokka, Founder & Executive Director
ole@spaceport-norway.com
+47 902 15 376