The Greek Space Tech Forum 2026 is currently taking place at the Athens Conservatoire for its second and final day, hosting industry specialists, representatives from European Agencies, institution representatives, academics, analysts, government and military officials, and policymakers.
An especially interesting panel discussion took place today between Pantelis Tzortzakis (Chairman of the Board of Directors & CEO, Hellenic Centre for Defence Innovation), Christos Ampatzis (Policy Officer Space R&I, Directorate-General Defence Industry and Space, European Commission, DG DEFIS), Eleni Patouni (EDA Project Officer, SpaceTechnologies, CapTech Space Moderator), and Stelios Bollanos (CEO & Cofounder, Planetek Hellas), moderated by EU Policy & Governmental Affairs analyst, Maria Mavridaki. Through their speeches, the panelists exhibited information regarding the future of funding, European programs, and the participation of private companies in the space defence industry.
The panelists focused on innovation, the importance of interoperability, and dual-use technologies, as fundamental points for industry stakeholders. Mr. Tzortzakis, head of HCDI, disclosed that EDA and HCDI are preparing a joint program on a very important sector, without revealing any more information. The European Commission representative, Mr. Ampatzis, highlighted that the Commission is currently exploring dual-use services and technologies, as well as cutting-edge technologies.
Focusing on field capabilities, he emphasized that expectations and ambitions are set very high, and cooperation is going to be a crucial spot for implementing these ambitions. Mainly, he presented that the European Competitiveness Fund will include articles on new capabilities in the space sector. In addition, horizontal tools will be established by the European Innovation Council, and calls for investments in dual-use tech are to be expected.
EDA’s representative, Ms. Patouni, provided important insight into the ways the defence industry will benefit from EDA’s future initiatives and mentioned that interoperability is of high priority for the Agency. CapTech will deliver new opportunities for companies to receive funding.
“For this year, we are preparing 6 more programs”, Ms. Patouni mentioned (translated).
Also, EDA, HCDI, and the Hellenic Ministry of Defence will collaborate on providing further support for Hellenic defence companies. Last in turn, Mr. Bollanos advised companies to invest in R&D, with targeted research programs on boosting competitiveness.
Two key points were made in Mr. Ampatzis’s speech. Firstly, he displayed in-space-computing, a system that will make data accesible in space, as revolutionary and a door-opener for many sectors.
“It is the capability of the future”, he says (translated).
Secondly, In-Space Operations and Services (ISOS), a pilot mission that was signed on the 10th of June, is going to offer the first tasks in orbit, opening new business opportunities for European companies. An EDF project is coming soon for the defence aspects of this sector.
