Ricardo Conde is the new president of the Portuguese Space Agency

Ricardo Conde has been chosen as president of the Portuguese Space Agency, succeeding Chiara Manfletti, the first president, who held the position from March 2019 to September 2020. Following an Call for applications, the selection committee, composed of Paulo Ferrão, founding member of the Portuguese Space Agency and former president of the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), Miguel Bello, president of the Atlantic International Research Center (AIR Centre), and Chiara Manfletti, chose Ricardo Conde as president at the General Assembly of the Portuguese Space Agency.

Ricardo Conde had been a member of the Portuguese Space Agency's management team since 2019 and had held the position of interim president since September 2020. He has a degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the Instituto Superior Técnico in Lisbon and has been involved in the aeronautics and space sector since 1993, having participated in several national and international programs in this area, particularly in the Space and Earth segments.

The current president of the Portuguese Space Agency intends to continue the work of his predecessor and recalls the major programmatic challenges aimed at creating an agenda for the industrialization of the space sector, such as the launch of a constellation of Earth observation satellites with high-resolution sensors, positioning Portugal as a major European operator in this area. He also focuses on the need to create an earth observation data policy, known as Digital Planet, which will strengthen the ecosystem for the development of downstream applications, meeting the country's needs in the use of space technologies in sectors ranging from land management to maritime monitoring. The commitment to industrializing the space sector includes the development of micro-launchers, thus creating attractive conditions to attract European companies to operate in Portugal, whether in the search for solutions in the space security segment or in solving space debris problems, in which Portugal intends to occupy a leading position.

The National Agency "Portugal Space" is responsible for promoting and implementing the "Portugal Space 2030" Strategy and coordinating the management of various national programs related to space, fostering investment, the creation of skilled jobs, and the provision of services related to space science and technology in close coordination with the European Space Agency (ESA) and the development process of the Atlantic International Research Center (AIR Center). It also aims to boost the European space landscape through international cooperation, particularly at the level of ESA and other European space agencies. It is also responsible for implementing and promoting the AZORES International Satellite Launch Programme (AZORES ISLP), in partnership with ESA.

Portugal Space is headquartered on the island of Santa Maria in the Azores and has facilities in Lisbon, at the Palácio das Laranjeiras. Its goal is to stimulate the space sector in Portugal, creating conditions for the development of national capacity and skills in the field of the space industry, particularly the new space industries ("New Space Industries"), but also scientific research, innovation, education, and scientific culture as it relates to space.