From 14–15 April 2025, the 3rd ESA Security Conference took place at the Warsaw Royal Castle, under the auspices of the Polish Presidency of the Council of the EU. The event was co-organised by the European Space Agency, the Polish Space Agency, the Polish Ministry of Economic Development and Technology, and the European Space Policy Institute (ESPI).
This third edition marked a distinct evolution from its predecessors. While the first and second conferences focused on understanding and consolidating user needs, the 2025 edition was conceived as a strategic political dialogue, coinciding with a pivotal moment in Europe’s security and defence agenda. It strongly echoed the Polish Presidency’s rallying call: “Security, Europe!”
The conference convened over 380 participants from across the space, security, and defence ecosystems, and featured 35 high-level speakers representing ministries, national and multinational agencies, parliaments, industry, and innovation hubs. While offering a range of perspectives, the discussions converged around a shared urgency: business as usual is over – the time to act is now.
The two-day conference was structured around a series of keynote interventions, thematic panel discussions, and a fireside chat, all aimed at identifying concrete actions to strengthen Europe’s space-based security and defence posture.
Another highlight was the signing ceremony of the Country Awareness Mission in Land Analysis (CAMILA): a new satellite constellation project that underscores Poland’s ambition to bolster national resilience through sovereign capabilities. The initiative also reaffirms ESA’s critical role in supporting Member States in developing dual-use systems that serve both civil and security objectives.
Session I examined how Europe can effectively leverage forthcoming funding initiatives to support security and defence activities in space. Session II explored the evolving role of both established and emerging industry players in delivering the innovative, dual-use capabilities required by a rapidly shifting threat landscape. In a high-level fireside chat, ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher and Undersecretary of State Michał Baranowski from the Polish Ministry of Economic Development and Technology underscored the need to rapidly upgrade Europe’s autonomous space-based capabilities, emphasising independence, speed, and ambition. Session III focused instead on the creation of performant, integrated space systems to enhance Europe’s collective resilience and crisis preparedness. Concluding the first day, an evening reception was held to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the European Space Agency, reaffirming the Agency’s enduring commitment to supporting the ambitions and resilience of its Member States.
In parallel to the formal sessions, the conference hosted a series of Flash Talk presentations, providing a platform for Polish and ESA-backed space companies to showcase their latest capabilities and innovations.
