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The 5th Portuguese Space Forum aims to showcase more than a decade of developments in science, technology and innovation in the Portuguese space sector. Underscoring these developments, the Space Forum will include the launch of the BIC initiative – the ESA Business Incubation Centre in Portugal, targeted at promoting the creation of startups in space technology transfer to non-space markets. The Space Forum will also be an opportunity to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the ESA in international Space context.
Portugal's entry into the European Space Agency (ESA) in 2000 was crucial in developing an internationally competitive and innovative scientific, technological and industrial sector in Portugal. The Portuguese Space Sector encompasses companies of high technological intensity and R&D centres able to fully collaborate in the development of innovative technologies, with application in different space domains. This sector has a high economic impact that is reflected in its above national average added value, in its major leverage effect on investment, and in the capacity for internationalisation, as well demonstrated in previous Forums.
Also noteworthy is the multidisciplinary and cross-cutting nature of the Portuguese space sector, characterised by a diversity of institutional actors that contribute to its development and exploration, such as in the areas of environment and spatial planning, security, transport and telecommunications, all of which will be represented at the Forum.
The Portuguese Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) has a coordinating role in supporting and encouraging the participation of the Portuguese space sector in activities and space missions, as well as promoting technology transfer and business incubation for non-space markets. The 5th Portuguese Space Forum is a joint initiative of FCT, Instituto Pedro Nunes (IPN) and Centro Ciência Viva (CV), with the special collaboration of ESA.
The Forum will take place on 5 November at Pavilhão do Conhecimento, in Lisbon. It will start with an opening session at 9.30h.