GMV and SATLANTIS unite space industry at 5th SmallSats Conference

On July 2 and 3, GMV and SATLANTIS jointly hosted the 5th SmallSats Conference in Santander, Spain, as part of the summer courses at Menéndez Pelayo International University (UIMP). Held under the theme “The Boom of the Space Economy,” the event brought together representatives from institutions, space agencies, and industry to discuss the challenges and opportunities of a rapidly evolving space economy and its impact on technological development, defence, and security.

The conference was co-chaired by Miguel Ángel Molina, President of the Space Council and Deputy General Manager of Space Systems at GMV, and Juan Tomás Hernani, CEO of SATLANTIS and President of YEESS. Jean-Jacques Dordain, President of SATLANTIS and former Director General of the European Space Agency (ESA), opened the event before welcoming a distinguished lineup of speakers, including Juan Carlos Cortés, Director of the Spanish Space Agency (AEE) and Chair of the ESA Council; Miguel Ivorra, Lieutenant General and Director of DiGEID; and Teresa Riesgo, Secretary General for Innovation at Spain’s Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Universities.

The event featured presentations and panel discussions offering a multidisciplinary perspective on the space economy. These explored its growing role in the global economy, the industrialization of space, and the new opportunities it is creating for innovation, investment, and competitiveness across the space industry. Speakers provided strategic and technical insights into the industry’s evolution, emphasizing the importance of public–private collaboration and knowledge sharing in Europe.