Earlier this year, a delegation from the European Space Policy Institute (ESPI), based in Vienna, visited the European University Institute (EUI) to explore possibilities for collaboration. Although the EUI’s research on space policy is still limited, the visit revealed two key assets: the official archives of the European Space Agency (ESA), housed at Villa Salviati, and the Florence School of Regulation (FSR), long established as a hub of expertise in European regulation and policy.
The potential for cross-sector training on space policy quickly became clear. And so, the idea of a Summer School on Space Policy, one that would look beyond rockets and orbits and into how space connects with energy, agriculture, climate, and more, was born.
From 25 to 27 August 2025, FSR and ESPI co-hosted the first edition of this executive training course on space policy and strategy. Held on the EUI campus in Florence, the Summer School gathered over 30 participants from more than 20 countries across five continents, representing a broad spectrum of institutions, including space agencies, government bodies, academia, and international organisations. Their fields of expertise spanned political science, law, engineering, and economics, underlining the programme’s commitment to bridging the space and non-space sectors.
Over three days, through a series of interactive sessions, case studies, and expert-led seminars, participants engaged with critical questions around space security, strategic autonomy, environmental monitoring, satellite applications, and the evolving global space economy — all with the aim of exploring how space policy and technology can drive innovation and resilience across sectors.
The school examined the future of European space strategy in light of global geopolitical shifts, the rise of commercial space actors, and the EU’s efforts to strengthen strategic autonomy through initiatives such as the EU Space Programme and the upcoming EU Space Act. A dedicated session addressed the use of space data and technologies in agriculture, energy, and transport, showcasing the impact of space well beyond traditional domains. The discussions also explored the growing relevance of satellites in climate monitoring, telecommunications, energy infrastructure, and even tax systems, as well as the regulatory gaps Europe must address to stay competitive.
The agenda, designed by Hermann Ludwig Moeller, Director of ESPI, and Leonardo Meeus, Director of FSR, offered interdisciplinary insights at the intersection of space, regulation, and public policy. The faculty also included high-level speakers from the European Space Agency (ESA), the European Commission, and the European Parliament, as well as sector experts from academia and industry.
“At FSR, we love to combine academic excellence with impact on policy and society. There’s a lot of enthusiasm in our team to continue to venture into space and support evidence-based policymaking with technical, economical and legal ideas and analysis.”
By building a shared understanding of space’s strategic, economic, and societal dimensions, the Summer School demonstrated the Florence School of Regulation’s commitment to building bridges between sectors and to shaping the future of Europe’s role in space.
Following the success of this first edition, the organisers plan to launch a second cohort in 2026.
For more information, visit: https://fsr.eui.eu/course/summer-school-on-space-policy/ & https://www.espi.or.at/espi-space-policy-summer-school-2025/