The New Space Economy is characterized by the emergence of new players, such as private companies and startups, who are disrupting the traditional government-dominated space industry.
The sector is being driven by technological advancements that are reducing the cost of space exploration and making it more accessible to a wider range of players.
This includes activities such as the manufacture of small satellites, the launch of satellites and the development of space-based applications.
It is expected to create new business opportunities, generate economic growth, and drive innovation in a variety of industries.
In recent years, the emergence of the New Space or new space economy has been a real disruption in the space sector. This area was born thanks to the emergence of nanosatellites, small satellites with lower costs and faster development times. It is an area with a strong commercial orientation in the creation of its solutions and services.
This paradigm shift is promoting democratisation of the space sector, where SMEs and startups now have a place, and where governments like Catalonia can have very good positioning, creating a global opportunity for multiple business models across the value chain and promoting a large return on investments made in this area.
The Barcelona Chamber of Commerce initiated a firm commitment to the high-value-added economy, including the description of the space sector in its Catalonia 30/40 strategy as an innovative and developing technology sector, which will allow the promotion of other sectors such as telecommunications, mobility, environmental surveillance and civil protection.
In this framework, in February 2020, the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce organized the first New Space Economy Day, gathering more than 200 relevant Catalan entrepreneurs, companies, organizations and institutions to debate about the trends and new ways of doing business in this sector. At that first meeting, the government, the academic and research sector and the business sector were committed to boosting this new space economy.
A few months later, in October 2020, the Government of Catalonia approved the NewSpace Strategy of Catalonia, which has the Institute for Space Studies of Catalonia (IEEC), the i2CAT Foundation and the Cartographic and Geological Institute of Catalonia (ICGC) as promoters. The aim is to create a New Space sector innovation hub in Catalonia that encourages the country’s economic growth and improves people’s lives thanks to the solutions that result.
The Strategy deploys a programme of specific actions to strengthen the Catalan NewSpace ecosystem and lead knowledge generation, social and business application and the creation of new solutions based on satellitic data and on the use of new digital technologies. These actions are spread around 6 axes:
- Ecosystem.
- Research & Innovation.
- Talent & Society.
- Infrastructure & Data.
- Adoption of services.
- Legal framework.
In 2021, the New Space Economy Day was revalidated, this time organized by both the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce and the Government of Catalonia. The Day focused on highlighting the business opportunities generated by the space sector based on the testimony of the local stakeholders.
In 2022, the day leaps forward and is held in the form of a two-day congress, under the name of the New Space Economy Congress and with international and intersectoral speakers. The aim is to create and develop a business environment with a focus on the new space economy, promoting local ecosystem, networking and generating business opportunities.
In 2023, the New Space Economy Congress became 100% international, with an invited European region, Flanders. This edition focuses on the market, highlights the numerous applications that spatial data can provide to other sectors, and emphasizes the latest trends and developments. Thus, the New Space Economy Congress is consolidated as one of New Space’s annual international reference citations.
If you are concerned about sustainable mobility, the environment, sustainable agriculture, civil protection, disaster prevention, the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence or investments made at startups, we encourage you to participate in the New Space congress.
This year, the objective of the third edition of the event is to take a step towards a two-day congress, with international and intersectoral presence, in order to position Catalonia as a space hub.
Two days that will make Barcelona the centre of the new space economy dedicated to learning and understanding business opportunities such as: sustainability, new manufacturing systems, new business models, sustainable mobility and investment opportunities.
Why can’t you miss?
- We will have leading international and national rapporteurs.
- We will share the latest trends and how other business areas and other digital technologies can benefit.
- We will talk about talent, business creation and new space investment.
- Enable spaces for active networking among attendees.
- You will be able to meet first-hand members of the new space community.
In this context, the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce organized the first New Space Economy event in February 2020, bringing together over 200 renowned entrepreneurs, companies, organizations, and Catalan institutions to discuss trends and new ways of creating and managing businesses in this sector. During this first gathering, the commitment of the public administration, academia and research institutions, and the business sector to promote this new space economy was made evident.
A few months later, in October 2020, the Government of Catalonia approved the NewSpace Strategy of Catalonia, promoted by the Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia (IEEC), the i2CAT Foundation, and the Cartographic and Geological Institute of Catalonia (ICGC). The goal is to create an innovation hub for the NewSpace sector in Catalonia to drive economic growth and improve people’s lives through the resulting solutions.
The strategy unfolds a program of specific actions to strengthen Catalonia’s NewSpace ecosystem and to lead in the generation of knowledge, its social and business application, and the creation of new solutions based on satellite data and the use of emerging digital technologies. These actions are structured around six key areas:
- Ecosystem
- Research and innovation
- Talent and society
- Infrastructure and data
- Service adoption
- Regulatory framework
In 2021, the New Space Economy event was held again, this time jointly organized by the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce and the Government of Catalonia. The event focused on highlighting the business opportunities generated by the space sector through the involvement of local actors.
In 2022, the event took a major step forward and was held in a two-day congress format under the name New Space Economy Congress, featuring international and cross-sectoral speakers. The goal was to create and develop a business environment focused on the new space economy, fostering the local ecosystem, networking, and the generation of business opportunities.
In 2023, the New Space Economy Congress became a fully international event, with the European region of Flanders as the guest ecosystem. This edition focused on the market, highlighted the many applications of space data for other sectors, and emphasized the latest trends and developments. As a result, the New Space Economy Congress was consolidated as one of the leading annual international events in the NewSpace sector.
In 2024, the congress aims to position Barcelona as an international hub for the space sector. The event’s internationalization helps to bring contacts, visibility, and business opportunities to Catalonia’s NewSpace ecosystem. Special emphasis is placed on the opportunities that space offers to the broader industry, as well as on the role of regions like Catalonia. The invited international ecosystem is Scotland, and the second day will focus on the topic of water management.
The New Space Economy Congress is back in 2025, bringing a cutting-edge agenda that pushes the boundaries of the space industry. This year, the Congress puts a strong focus on real-world New Space applications, AI-driven advancements, and how space innovation is becoming an essential tool for end-users across industries. The theme of the second day will be the ‘NewSpace for a green transition’, from climate & environment, coast monitoring to urban planning, disaster management solutions and cross-sector synergies, NSEC25 explores the transversal impact of space technologies in our daily lives. With an international scope, we connect key players from all over the world, fostering talent development and global collaboration. Our guided B2B sessions and interactive workshops provide hands-on experiences with top industry leaders, ensuring attendees gain practical insights into the latest breakthroughs and fostering networking opportunities. In this edition we are delighted to have Occitanie as the invited ecosystem.
The New Space Economy Congress is not just a congress: it is where the future of space takes shape. Join us and be part of it!