Cairo to Host NewSpace Africa Conference in April 2025
Space in Africa, in collaboration with the African Space Agency and the Egyptian Space Agency, is organising the fourth edition of the NewSpace Africa Conference from 21st to 24th April 2025 in the Egypt Space City, Cairo, Egypt. The conference will be gathering critical stakeholders in the African and foreign space industry, members of the academia, policy-makers and government officials, national space agencies, commercial space sector, and other high-level professionals from the satellite manufacturing, earth observation, satellite connectivity, satellite navigation, and other industry segments to share critical insights for policy and business development for the growth of the African space industry. The conference was announced today at the IAC 2024 in Milan, Italy, by Dr Sherif Sedky, CEO of the Egyptian Space Agency and H.E. Dr Tidiane Ouattara, President of the Council of the African Space Agency.
The NewSpace Africa Conference 2025, themed Empowering Africa’s Economy through Space-Driven Innovation, will explore the full spectrum of space and satellite technology, emphasising policy development and business prospects in Africa. The conference will centre on the need to drive innovation to harness the far-reaching impact of space technologies on Africa’s economic future and how satellite data, earth observation, and telecommunications are catalysing advancements in various industries such as agriculture, mining, healthcare, infrastructure, and education, fostering economic growth at multiple levels.
It will highlight the significance of stakeholder collaboration in achieving shared objectives in the space sector. The event will tackle key opportunities, challenges, and trends shaping Africa’s space and satellite industry, encouraging innovative approaches that drive socioeconomic progress and propel Africa further towards its space vision and the SDGs. Additionally, it will underscore the importance of the private sector and foreign partners in fostering growth and advocate for supportive policies that strengthen Africa’s role in the global space ecosystem.
Conference participants will include heads of national space agencies and programmes, representatives of African ministries of science, technology, higher education, and communications, the African Union Commission, African Space Agency,, policymakers and government officials, NewSpace companies, global and regional satellite manufacturers and operators, satellite connectivity companies, earth observation service providers, venture capitalists and angel investors, African tech hubs, and stakeholders from space-adjacent industries.
The NewSpace Africa Conference 2025 will showcase Africa’s technological advancements and innovations in the space sector on a global platform, attracting foreign investment across various segments, from established enterprises to emerging companies. The event aims to foster productive collaborations, strengthen existing partnerships, and explore new markets. It will also identify challenges hindering the growth of Africa’s NewSpace ecosystem and devise strategies to overcome them. By offering unparalleled opportunities for engagement between local and international stakeholders, this fourth edition of the conference seeks to highlight emerging markets and showcase Africa’s commitment to advancing its space industry.
According to H.E. Dr Tidiane Ouattara, President of the Council of the African Space Agency, “The African Space Agency is proud to continue collaborating with Space in Africa and African governments to unite regional and international stakeholders in advancing partnerships and projects that fuel industry growth. This year’s edition marks a pivotal moment as it’s the first since the African Space Agency became fully operational. We are thrilled to once again host our partners from across the global space community and to showcase the exciting opportunities for Africa’s space future.” In addition, the AfSA president announced that alongside the NewSpace Africa Conference, the African Space Agency wll be officially inaugurated in Cairo.
Furthermore, the CEO of the Egyptian Space Agency, Dr Sherif Sedky, said, “We are excited to welcome the global space community to Egypt, using this opportunity to spotlight Egyptian Space City and Africa’s growing contributions to the space industry. This year’s conference is especially timely, as the Egyptian government intensifies efforts to attract commercial space players, foster innovation, and advance satellite manufacturing technology through the Small Technology Park initiative. “
The 4-day NewSpace Africa Conference 2025 will explore policies, research, trends, and future outlooks in the African space and satellite industry. It will feature keynotes, panel discussions, interactive sessions, business pitches, and matchmaking opportunities for B2B, B2C, and B2G collaborations. Side events and exhibitions will allow businesses, enterprises, and government agencies to present their offerings to a diverse audience of international and local space industry players. The conference aims to strengthen collaboration among African countries, companies, academia, and stakeholders, promoting partnerships that drive the growth of the NewSpace ecosystem and the African space industry.
Previous NewSpace Africa Conference editions have gathered over 1,000 attendees from 521 organisations and 129 countries in Africa, North America, Asia, and Europe, including representatives from ministries, space agencies, academia, foreign organisations, and the commercial sector. More details on the recent editions of the conference, NewSpace Africa Conference 2022, 2023 and 2024, can be accessed here.
Early-bird registration is open until 31st December 2024, and Regular registration is open till 31st March 2025. Visit here to register. In addition, to view our sponsorship and exhibition opportunities click here. For more information on the conference, kindly visit here or email info@spaceinafrica.com.
About Space in Africa
Space in Africa is the leading analytics and consulting company in the space sector, serving both the institutional and commercial markets with a particular focus on Africa. Our experience builds on a long track of past projects executed for international organisations, national governments, and commercial players, with high stakes in the space business. Our practice cuts across all African countries. Space in Africa’s proprietary, research-based business and market analysis predict critical outcomes in what happens next in the industry and the opportunities available. Its data-driven analysis, free of vested interests and pre-conceptions, is helping to shape the ecosystem by making available accurate information critical for the change. The NewSpace Africa Conference is the main event of Space in Africa to facilitate further business interactions and cooperation in the African space and satellite industry.
About the African Space Agency
The African Space Agency (AfSA) is the continental space organisation responsible for developing an adequate regional space capability on the continent. It is the focal point of Africa’s collaboration with worldwide partners. The African Union established the agency to coordinate the African Outer Space programme, promote cooperation between the space policies of the AU’s member states, and create a regulatory framework as prescribed in the African Space Policy and Strategy documents. Its strategic objectives are to embed space as one of the critical pillars of African socio-economic development through solid capacity building translated by adequate infrastructure and training of critical qualified human capital. The agency is domiciled in the Egyptian Space City, Cairo.
About the Egyptian Space Agency
The Egyptian Space Agency (EgSA) is the national organisation responsible for managing Egypt’s space activities and advancing satellite launching capabilities in line with the goals of the National Sustainable Development Strategy, “Egypt-SDS 2030.” Its mission focuses on promoting the peaceful use of space, fostering national space systems development, and investing in human capital to ensure sustainable growth in the space industry. EgSA also aims to drive innovation, support research and development, and enhance space outreach by providing reliable, cost-effective solutions that serve national objectives. Additionally, the agency oversees satellite launches and monitoring while offering a platform for the development of STEM fields in Egypt.