About the event
Space is becoming a commercial market. European programmes, private investment and new security priorities are opening opportunities for companies well beyond the traditional space industry. Bulgaria already has companies building satellites, components and software for international missions, but technology, funding, education and policy are rarely discussed together. The Space Business Forum brings these conversations into one place.
The programme offers a clear view of where Bulgarian space business stands, which funding routes and partnerships are available, and how geopolitics and defence are shaping demand. For companies, investors, institutions and universities, the forum is an opportunity to meet the people building the sector, get to know the Bulgarian Space Cluster’s member companies and explore new collaborations.
Topics we will cover
Bulgarian-developed space technology, from contributions to the Artemis programme to the upstream industry designing and building satellites, subsystems and components.
TECHNOLOGY
How commercial space companies have developed in Bulgaria, how geopolitics and defence are shaping the market, and pitches from BSC member companies.
BUSINESS
The funding landscape for space and deep-tech companies, and the public and private instruments available to them.
FUNDING
How Bulgaria builds the talent the space sector needs, from university programmes to hands-on training.
EDUCATION
Programme
| Time | Topic | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 13:30 | Arrival & Registration | Badge collection and networking coffee in the entrance area. |
| 14:00 | Opening: Innovation Policy and the Space Sector | National innovation strategy, high-tech space expansion and government support for the domestic tech ecosystem. |
| 14:15 | Presentation / Bulgarian technology on Artemis | How Bulgarian-developed technology became part of the Artemis programme, and what that path shows about entering international missions. |
| 14:40 | Presentation / The NewSpace landscape in Bulgaria | An overview of how commercial space companies have developed in Bulgaria and where the sector stands today. |
| 15:05 | Panel discussion / Building for Orbit: Bulgaria's Upstream space industry | The panel looks at the hardware side of the sector (satellites, subsystems and components) and what it takes for Bulgarian teams to design, build and supply them. |
| 15:30 | Networking Break | |
| 16:00 | Panel discussion / Funding for space | What's the funding landscape for space and deep-tech companies in Bulgaria, and what it takes to attract and grow investment in the sector. |
| 16:35 | Pitches / BSC member companies | Bulgarian Space Cluster member companies present their capabilities and current work to the investors, partners and institutions in the room. |
| 17:00 | Networking Break | |
| 17:20 | Panel discussion / Education and skills for space business | How Bulgaria builds the talent the space sector needs, from universities to hands-on training. |
| 17:45 | Presentation / Geopolitics and the role of Europe | How changing geopolitics affect the space sector and Europe's place in it. |
| 17:55 | Panel discussion / Space, security and defence: What changes for the business | What the closer ties between space and defence mean for European security and for Bulgarian companies in the sector. |
| 18:20 | Closing remarks from the Bulgarian Space Cluster | |
| 18:30 | End |
Speakers
Irina Gancheva
Chairwoman, Bulgarian Space Cluster
Petko Dinev
President & CEO, IMPERX
Victor Danchev
Chief Technology Officer, EnduroSat
Sibyl-Anna DeCourson
System Engineer, European Space Agency (ESA)
Simon Jenner
Managing Director, Sodalis Space
Paul Iliffe
Director, The Sat-Comms Game
Stoil Ivanov
Assist. Prof. PhD, Faculty of Physics, Sofia University “St. Kl. Ohridski”
Chris Welch
Space educator, engineer and consultant
Veronica LaRegina
Expert in Space Economy, Innovation, and Strategic Development
Sabrina Alam
Space Lead, SnT Technology Transfer Office at the University of Luxembourg (SnT); CEO & Founder at Matter Space & Defence
Bobby Bahov
Executive Director, Bulgarian Space Cluster
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