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 by 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 Centre (AIR Centre), and Chiara Manfletti, chose Ricardo Conde as president at the General Assembly of the Portuguese Space Agency.

Ricardo Conde joined the board of the Portuguese Space Agency in 2019 and had already 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 connected to 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 industrialization agenda for 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 a policy for earth observation data, the so-called Digital Planet, which strengthens 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 focus on the industrialization of the space sector includes the development of micro-launchers, thus creating attractive conditions to attract 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 to articulate the management of the various national programs related to space, fostering investment, the creation of qualified jobs and the provision of services related to space sciences and technologies in close articulation with the European Space Agency (ESA) and with the development process of the International Research Centre of the Atlantic (AIR Centre). It also aims to boost the European space scene through international cooperation, namely with 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 Santa Maria Island in the Azores and has facilities in Lisbon, at the Palácio das Laranjeiras. It aims to stimulate the space sector in Portugal, creating conditions for the development of national capacity and skills in the space industry, namely the New Space Industries, but also scientific research, innovation, education and scientific culture, as far as space is concerned.