How can Europe use space to tackle challenges in areas such as energy, healthcare, mobility and the environment? How can European businesses, entrepreneurs and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) harness the power of space technology to build the innovative applications and services needed to address these challenges?

Providing answers to these questions and more will be the focus of the 2016 European Space Solutions conference, organised by the European Commission and the European GNSS Agency (GSA), under the auspices of the Dutch Council Presidency, from 30 May until 3 June in The Hague, The Netherlands.

The week-long event features an array of speakers, including former European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut André Kuipers, European Commissioner for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs Elżbieta Bieńkowska and Shell Vice President of Technology and Chief Scientist Geophysics Dirk Smit, among many others.

The week’s packed programme includes a range of panel discussions, sector-specific focus sessions and numerous side events, all aimed at helping European industry better harness the power of space within their business activities.

Highlights include:

• Keynote address by TomTom NV Co-Founder and Director of Software Development Pieter Geelen
• Panel discussions on Space Solutions for the European Economy, New Perspectives in Space, Space and the Energy Union, Space and the Digital Economy and Space and Security
• A dedicated session on Space Solutions for Business, where EU policy-makers will join business leaders to discuss how today’s satellite navigation programmes and Earth observation information are creating opportunities for game-changing growth
• Six user-driven topic focus sessions providing business leaders with information and insights on how Europe’s space programmes can impact sectors such as Agriculture and Food, Smart Mobility, Climate Change and the Environment, Health and Safety, Energy and River Deltas
• An exhibition showcasing over 50 innovative space applications, technology solutions and cutting-edge research from across Europe
• An array of exhibitions, demonstrations, side events and opportunities for one-on-one business meetings and networking
• Conference reception, ‘Space Solutions for Biking’ showcasing how space-based solutions are enhancing 2-wheel transportation across the continent.

In conjunction with the conference, the European Space Expo will visit The Netherlands from 27 May to 5 June, touching down in The Hague’s historic city centre. To date, over 900,000 European citizens have visited the free Expo.

More information and registration available on european-space-solutions.eu