Ricardo Conde is the new president of the Portuguese Space Agency

Ricardo Conde has been 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 an international Call , 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 Centre), and Chiara Manfletti, chose Ricardo Conde as president at the General Assembly of the Portuguese Space Agency.

Ricardo Conde has been on the board of the Portuguese Space Agency since 2019 and has 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 industrialization agenda for the space sector, such as launching 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 will strengthen the ecosystem for developing 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 the industrialization of the space sector includes the development of micro-launchers, thus creating attractive conditions for attracting European companies to operate, whether in the search for solutions in the space security segment or in solving the problems of space debris, in which Portugal intends to occupy a leading position.

The "Portugal Space" National Agency is responsible for promoting and implementing the "Portugal Space 2030" Strategy and articulating the management of the various national programs linked to Space, fostering 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 with the development process of the International Atlantic Research Centre (AIR Centre). It also aims to boost the European space scene through international cooperation, particularly with the ESA and other European space agencies. It is also responsible for implementing and promoting the AZORES International Satellite launch Program (AZORES ISLP), in partnership with ESA.

Portugal Space has its headquarters on the island of Santa Maria in the Azores and facilities in Lisbon, at the Palácio das Laranjeiras. Its aim is to stimulate the space sector in Portugal, creating conditions for the development of national capacity and skills in the field of space industry, namely the "New Space Industries", but also scientific research, innovation, education and scientific culture, as far as space is concerned.