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17-18 SeptemberKiruna

Space Innovation Forum

Back in orbit

This September, we return to Kiruna for two packed days of fresh ideas, bold ventures, and real conversations about where innovation is headed and possibilities occur.

From student-driven pitches and business insights to deep dives into sustainability and space tech, this year’s forum is all about reconnecting and reimagining. It’s a space to share what has worked, what is next, and what is possible – together.

Whether you're a startup founder, a policymaker, a researcher, an engineer, a student or just someone who believes in building a smarter future, this is your launchpad.

Program

Agenda day 1, September 17th

Location: Aurora kultur och kongress, Stadshustorget 10

13.30-14.00 Registration

14:00 Welcome
Johanna Bergström Roos, Space Sweden North & LTU Business
Niklas Lehto, Luleå University of Technology

14.10 Session 1: Keynotes by the groundbreakers shaping the future of innovation and sustainability
Moderator: Johanna Bergström Roos, Space Sweden North & LTU Business
Ernesto Gutiérrez, Swedish National Space Agency
Stefan Gustafsson, ESA - European Space Agency
Anne Lidgard, Vinnova
Jaan Praks, Aalto University
Mårten Ericson, Ericsson

Panel: Conversations with experts on what's shaping our industry

16:10 Docking Station: Networking & coffee break
Refuel, connect, and exchange signals with fellow innovators

16.40 Session 2: Access to Space
Moderator: René Laufer, Luleå University of Techonolgy
Stories from organizations aiming high and building resilience in uncertain times

Armelle Frenea-Schmidt, SSC
Leo Ewen Trapier, SSC
Adam Oakes, Firefly Aerospace Europe 
Shady Elshater, Propulsion Test Engineer, Rocket Factory
Filip Stern Cedell, Pythom Space Sweden

17.45 Session 3: Functions in the ecosystem needed to boost space
Moderator: Johan Bergström, LTU Business
Dan Wergelius, Region Norrbotten
Philip Påhlsson, EISCAT
Christer Ekholm, Algoryx
Robert Ylitalo, Kiruna Växer
Arun Madanaguli, Luleå University of Technology

Time to relax and get ready for dinner

19.30 Dinner at Elite Hotel Frost, Torggatan 5

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Agenda day 2, September 18th

Location: Space Campus, Bengt Hultqvists väg 1

Bus transfer to Space Campus
07.50 Departure Parkskolan 07:50 (old city centre)
08.00 Departure from Malmvägen (outside Scandic Hotel and 5 min walk from Elite Frost Hotel)

08.30 Welcome back!
Johanna Bergström Roos, Space Sweden North

08.40 Session 4: Sustainability - Ready for Launch? 
Moderator: Anna Öhrwall Rönnbäck, Luleå University of Technology
What Suppliers Need to Know About Sustainability in the Space Supply Chain
Liisa Kivilog-Emilsson, SSC

08.55 Workshop session in parallel:
1. How to identify your sustainability challenges in the supply chain 
2. Your Gateway to Space: Open Access to SpaceLab. We will focus on your needs of testing and how to keep it cost-efficient
3. The 6G satellite communication competence centre: capabilities and opportunities

Coffee during the workshop: Refuel, connect, and exchange signals with fellow innovators

Payload Drop: Student Innovation Pitches from the "Pop-Up Innovation Party.
Fresh perspectives from the next generation
Karoline Pettersson, LTU Business & LTU space students

11.00 Session 5: Open Innovation
Moderator: Marta-Lena Antti, Luleå University of Technology
Foresight - what subcontractors will the space sector need in the near future, regionally, nationally and internationally?

René Laufer, Luleå University of Technology
Sandra Nilsson, Arctic Space Technologies
Stas Barabash, IRF
Abhilash Ramachandran, Hydromars
Wilhelm Dingertz, ECAPS
Christer Ekholm, Algoryx
Thomas Badinand, GKN 
Philip Påhlsson, EISCAT
Liisa Kivilog-Emilsson, SSC
Fredrik Olofsson, Aerospace Cluster Sweden

12.00 The space sector in Sweden from an EU perspective
Sofie Eriksson, Members of the European Parliament (Committee on Industry, Research and Energy)

12.15 Cosmic Debrief: Closing remarks
What we’ve learned, what we’re taking with us, and where we’re heading next.

Niklas Lehto, Luleå University of Technology

12.30 Lunch

Thank you!

Speakers & Moderators (more to be announced)

Sofie Eriksson
Members of the European Parliament (Committee on Industry, Research and Energy)

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Ernesto Gutierrez
Head of innovation and societal benefit, Swedish National Space Agency

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Anne Lidgard
Director & Senior Advisor , Vinnova

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Niklas Lehto
Head of Department of Computer Science, Electrical and Space Engineering, Luleå University of Technology

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Stefan Gustafsson
Commercialisation officer, ESA - European Space Agency

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Johanna Bergström Roos
Project manager, Space Sweden North

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Jaan Praks
Associate Professor, Aalto University

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René Laufer
Professor and Head of Space Systems, Luleå University of Technology

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Armelle Frenea-Schmidt
Business Development Director, SSC, Science Services

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Philip Pålsson
CEO, EISCAT AB

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Sandra Nilsson
Chief Operations Officer, Arctic Space Technologies

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Christer Ekholm
Senior Business Developer, Algoryx

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Liisa Kivilog-Emilsson
Head of Sustianbility, SSC

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Anna Öhrwall Rönnbäck
Chairman Aerospace Cluster Sweden

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Leo Ewen Trapier
Project Manager Themis project, SSC

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Adam Oakes
Vice President of Launch Vehicles, Firefly Aerospace Europe

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Marta-Lena Antti
Chaired Professor Engineering Materials, Luleå University of Technology

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Wilhelm Dingertz
Product Development & Commercialization, ECAPS

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Abhilash Ramachandran
Space Resource Utilization Engineer, Hydromars

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Karoline Pettersson
Project manager, LTU Business

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Shady Elshater
Propulsion Test Engineer, Rocket Factory

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Robert Ylitalo
CEO Kiruna växer (Kiruna business & society development company)

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Dan Wergelius
Senior Advisor External Relations, Region Norrbotten

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Stas Barabash
Deputy Director General Head of the Solar System and Space Technology program, IRF

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Filip Stern Cedell
CEO Pythom Space Sweden

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Mårten Ericson
Master Researcher, Ericsson Research

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Fredrik Olofsson
Aerospace Cluster Sweden

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Important things to know

Hotels:
We recommend booking your hotel as early as possible, as accommodations in Kiruna often get fully booked.

Suggestions:

Elite Hotel Frost, Torggatan 5:
If you book at Elite Hotel Frost (where the dinner will be held) you can use this code for a discount. Book here!

Scandic Hotel Kiruna, Stadshustorget 11

Travel suggestions  to Kiruna with SAS flight (current timetable that can change):

17th sep: Arlanda - Kiruna 11.45-13.20
18th sep: Kiruna - Arlanda: 13.50-15.25 or 21.05-22.40

Travel suggestions to Kiruna with train

Important: Please Cancel if You Can’t Attend

We're excited to offer this event free of charge. However, since we have a limited number of spots available — and the event often gets fully booked — we kindly ask that you cancel your registration if you’re unable to attend. To ensure everyone gets a fair chance to participate, a no-show fee will be charged if you do not attend and haven’t cancelled your registration by September 12.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation!

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