South Africa Kicks Off Its Third Annual National Space Conference

South Africa will host the third annual National Space Conference (NSC 2025) from August 20 to 22, 2025, at the CSIR International Convention Centre in Pretoria. The event is organised by the National Earth Observations and Space Secretariat (NEOSS) and the South African National Space Agency (SANSA) on behalf of the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI), in collaboration with key national partners, including the South African Air Force (SAAF). Additionally, this year’s conference will convene under the theme “Space for Societal Resilience, Transformation and Intelligence.”

The 2025 conference will explore how space-based and Earth observation capabilities, ranging from upstream infrastructure to downstream applications, can provide innovative solutions to South Africa’s most pressing challenges. These include climate change, energy transitions, food system vulnerabilities, and rapid urbanisation. Discussions will emphasise the role of space technologies in strengthening public services, enhancing resilience, and advancing inclusive development.

Conference Programme Overview

The three-day programme will follow the conference sub-themes:

• Resilience: Day one will explore how space technologies can bolster national capacity and public services in the face of environmental and societal shocks.
• Intelligence: Day two will examine the intersection of digital intelligence and space data to improve decision-making and planning across multiple sectors.
• Transformation: The final day will focus on inclusive, transformative, and space-driven solutions that support long-term sustainability and development.

In addition to thematic discussions, NSC 2025 will serve as a strategic platform for stakeholders from government, academia, industry, civil society, and youth to exchange knowledge, shape policy dialogue, and drive innovation. It will support greater collaboration and alignment across national programmes and priorities to build a resilient and intelligent space ecosystem for South Africa.

Additionally, the conference programme will feature a diverse range of activities, including keynotes and expert panels on artificial intelligence, satellites, and Earth observation. A dedicated industry session and poster sessions will spotlight private sector innovation and investment. The conference will also host exhibitions from more than 20 organisations, featuring South African companies across the space industry value chain alongside international participants. Together, they will showcase cutting-edge space technologies developed across the broader ecosystem.

Speaker Highlights

The conference will feature a distinguished line-up of speakers from leading institutions across the space ecosystem. Among them are Mr Humbulani Mudau, Chief Executive Officer of SANSA; Lieutenant General Wiseman Mbambo, Chief of the South African Air Force (SAAF); Dr Thulani Dlamini, Chief Executive Officer of the CSIR; and Dr Mlungisi Cele, Director-General of the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI).

Additional speakers will come from South Africa’s commercial space ecosystem, including satellite manufacturers, Earth observation specialists, and representatives from government agencies. The programme will also feature technical experts in fields such as Earth observation, space science, and space systems engineering, ensuring a comprehensive range of perspectives.