Ricardo Conde is the new president of the Portuguese Space Agency

Ricardo Conde was chosen as president of the Portuguese Space Agency and succeeds Chiara Manfletti, the first president, who held the position from March 2019 to September 2020. Following a Call international 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 International Atlantic Research Center (AIR Center), and Chiara Manfletti, chose Ricardo Conde as president at the General Assembly of the Portuguese Space Agency.

Ricardo Conde has been a member of the board of the Portuguese Space Agency since 2019 and has held the position of interim president since September 2020. He holds a degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the Instituto Superior Técnico de Lisboa and has been involved in the aeronautical 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. It also focuses on the need to create an Earth observation data policy, the so-called Digital Planet, which strengthens the downstream application development ecosystem, meeting the country's needs in the use of Space technologies, in sectors ranging from Territorial Management to Maritime Monitoring. The focus on industrializing the space sector includes the development of micro-launchers, thus creating attractive conditions to attract European companies to operate them, whether in the search for solutions in the space security segment or in resolving the problems of space debris, 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 the various national programs linked to Space, encouraging investment, the creation of qualified jobs and the provision of services linked to Space sciences and technologies in close coordination with the European Space Agency (ESA) and the development process of the International Atlantic Research Centre (AIR Centre). It also aims to boost the European space landscape through international cooperation, notably in terms 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 objective 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, namely the new space industries (“New Space Industries”), but also scientific research, innovation, education and scientific culture, as far as space is concerned.