Luxembourg Strengthens Space Sector Involvement at International Astronautical Congress

On Tuesday 6 October 2026, Luxembourg’s Ministry of the Economy reported on the attendance of Minister of the Economy, SMEs, Energy and Tourism, Lex Delles, at the 77th International Astronautical Congress (IAC), in Antalya (Türkiye on Sunday 4 and Monday 5 October.

The International Astronautical Congress, one of the main annual events for the global space, brought together space agencies, public-sector representatives, companies, research centres, academics and industry professionals from around the world.

According to the ministry, the IAC provides a major platform for presenting the latest scientific, technological and industrial advances, fostering exchanges between public- and private-sector stakeholders and developing new international cooperation. Organised by the International Astronautical Federation (IAF), the 2026 edition of the IAC was held under the theme “The World Needs More Space”, with a programme focused on space exploration, security, technological innovation, international cooperation and the ethical issues associated with human activities beyond Earth.

The ministry reported that as part of his participation in the official programme, Minister Delles took part in the 16th Meeting for Ministers and Members of Parliaments, organised by the IAF. This high-level meeting was attended by Mehmet Fatih Kacır, Türkiye's Minister of Industry and Technology; Gabriella Arrigo, President of the IAF; Zeynep Yıldız, Member of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye; and Fuat Oktay, former Vice-President of the Republic of Türkiye. Discussions focused on the role of satellite technologies and services in crisis management, combating climate change and responding to geopolitical challenges.

The day concluded with bilateral meetings focused on strengthening Luxembourg's economic and space relations. During a meeting with Mehmet Fatih Kacır, Türkiye's Minister of Industry and Technology, Lex Delles discussed, in particular, prospects for developing cooperation between Luxembourg and Türkiye in the space and satellite sector.

At the IAC's official opening day on Monday 5 October, Minister Delles attended the official ceremonies in the presence of the President of the Republic of Türkiye, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. He also attended a plenary session bringing together leading representatives of the international space community, including representatives of the IAF and the space agencies of Türkiye, Australia, China, India, Canada and Japan, as well as senior representatives of NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA).

Minister Delles then visited the Luxembourg pavilion, organised by the Luxembourg Space Agency. Ten Luxembourg-based organisations are represented there: Adwaiseo, Amphinicy, Bradford, ClearSpace, ESRIC, Exobiosphere, Lunar Outpost, Odysseus, SNT and Tumi Robotics.

This collective presence highlights the diversity and dynamism of Luxembourg's space ecosystem, which brings together companies, start-ups, research centres and organisations active in areas such as satellite communications, Earth observation, the exploration and use of space resources, robotics and advanced technologies.

The pavilion also serves as a meeting point for international partners wishing to establish a presence in Luxembourg, for international cooperation and to discuss the country's space strategy.

This trip was Ruy Pinto's first in his capacity as interim CEO of the LSA. Minister Delles welcomed his commitment to the economic development of the sector, the agency and Luxembourg's space strategy.

During his visit to the exhibition, he also met representatives of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), including its President, Dr Hiroshi Yamakawa, and Director General, Dr Masami Onoda. They discussed ongoing joint projects, cooperation in supercomputing, and space and lunar exploration.

The delegation also met representatives of companies based in Luxembourg: ispace and Blue Origin. The discussions provided an opportunity to review recent developments involving these major players in the space sector, their investments in the Grand Duchy and their cooperation with local institutional and industrial partners. The Minister welcomed their contribution to the dynamism and international visibility of Luxembourg's space sector, as well as their role in attracting new talent and new business opportunities. The European subsidiary of Japanese company ispace has been based in Luxembourg since 2017, while US company Blue Origin recently announced the opening of its European office in Luxembourg.

“The space sector has become a strategic lever for our economy, our security and our ability to respond to the major challenges of our time. Luxembourg intends to continue playing an active role within the international space community, drawing on its innovative ecosystem, its companies and close cooperation with its European and international partners. The IAC provides an opportunity to strengthen these relations, forge new ties and promote Luxembourg's expertise,” said Minister Delles.