ERATOSTHENES Centre of Excellence Hosts and Co Organises the General Assembly of the EU Space Networks 2026 in Cyprus
The ERATOSTHENES Centre of Excellence proudly hosted and co organised the General Assembly of the EU Space Networks 2026, welcoming representatives from across Europe’s space ecosystem to Nicosia, Cyprus. The event, held immediately ahead of the EU Space Days 2026, provided a valuable platform for collaboration, knowledge exchange and discussions on the future of the European space sector.
Bringing together members of the Copernicus, Galileo, EGNOS, GOVSATCOM and Space Situational Awareness (SSA) communities, the General Assembly offered a unique opportunity to strengthen existing partnerships and foster new collaborations among key stakeholders from across Europe.
The two day programme featured presentations, panel discussions and networking activities covering a wide range of topics, including security and resilience, Copernicus services, Artificial Intelligence applications, climate and environmental monitoring, regional space ecosystems and international cooperation. The agenda was enriched by contributions from experts and researchers of the ERATOSTHENES Centre of Excellence, as well as distinguished collaborators and representatives from European institutions, industry and academia.
Among the ERATOSTHENES Centre of Excellence speakers and contributors were Professor Diofantos Hadjimitsis, Managing Director, Dr Kyriacos Themistocleous, External Affairs and Business Development Director, Marios Tzouvaras, Despina Makri, Christiana Papoutsa, Maria Anastasiadou, Dr Charalambos Chrysostomou and Stelios Neophytides. The programme also featured contributions from internationally recognised experts and collaborators, including Gunter Schreier and George Papadavid.
A key highlight of the General Assembly was the technical visit to EarthView Cyprus, the newly established joint venture between the ERATOSTHENES Centre of Excellence and CYTA for the commercial exploitation of the Earth Observation satellite receiving station located at Pera Oreinis. Participants gained first hand insights into the station’s operational capabilities and explored how near real time satellite data acquisition supports research, innovation, environmental monitoring, climate resilience and evidence based decision making across Cyprus, Europe and the wider EMMENA region.
Through the visit, participants were introduced to the strategic role of EarthView Cyprus in strengthening regional Earth Observation capabilities and supporting the delivery of advanced satellite based services for public authorities, industry, research organisations and international stakeholders.
The successful organisation of the General Assembly further highlighted Cyprus’ growing role within the European space landscape and demonstrated the country’s commitment to advancing Earth Observation and space technologies through strategic infrastructure, innovation and international cooperation.
The ERATOSTHENES Centre of Excellence extends its sincere appreciation to the European Commission Directorate General for Defence Industry and Space (DG DEFIS), the EU Space Support Office (EUSSO), all speakers, partners and participants for their valuable contribution to the success of the event.
The General Assembly of the EU Space Networks 2026 took place on 27 and 28 May 2026 in Nicosia and was followed by the EU Space Days 2026, one of the European Union’s flagship events dedicated to space policy, innovation and applications.
