Meet the EU Space Innovators at the 2026 EU-Startups Summit

Jan de Vries · 2026-04-01

Mark your calendars for May 7th and 8th, 2026. That's when the EU-Startups Summit is heading back to sunny Malta. We're talking about bringing together roughly 2,500 founders, investors, and startup leaders. It's two full days designed for serious networking, finding inspiration, and sharing knowledge that actually matters. Now, let's talk about space. Europe's space sector is having a real moment. It's not just about rockets anymore. Ambitious founders are pushing into orbital infrastructure, in-space research, and next-gen aerospace. Innovation is moving fast, and a wave of startups is testing the limits of what we can build and sell beyond our planet. That's exactly what our panel, "Insights from European Space Innovators," is all about. We're going to dig into the real opportunities, the undeniable challenges, and the day-to-day reality of building a company that looks to the stars. ### What You'll Learn From This Panel The conversation will get into the nitty-gritty. What does it *really* take to develop a breakthrough technology in space? How are founders handling the crazy mix of technical hurdles and commercial pressures? And maybe most importantly, where is Europe's entire space innovation ecosystem headed next? We'll cover it all.  ### Meet the Speakers Shaping Europe's Space Future - **Francesco Cacciatore**: He's the Co-founder and CEO/CTO of Orbital Paradigm. Based in Madrid, Francesco is an aerospace engineer building reusable in-space transportation. His team focuses on return-to-Earth and re-entry tech to make orbital logistics more agile. He brings deep technical experience from previous senior roles in the sector. - **Marek Marusin**: As Co-founder and CEO of Zaitra, Marek is merging SpaceTech and AI. His goal? Making satellite operations faster, smarter, and autonomous. From Brno, he leads the development of onboard AI systems that deliver insights from satellites in seconds, not hours, tackling latency head-on. He's a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, part of a new generation defining the landscape. - **Mariano Garcia Orgiles**: He's the Lead Investor Relations at PLD Space, one of Europe's top space launch companies. Based in Elche, Mariano connects the company with global investors to fuel its growth. PLD Space made history by launching MIURA 1, Europe's first private rocket, and is now pushing forward with its MIURA 5 launcher. - **Bruno Santos**: Bruno is the Co-founder and Director of R&D at Exobiosphere. He's a biotech researcher working where space meets drug discovery. From Luxembourg, he leads efforts to use microgravity for better preclinical studies. It's about finding new approaches to biomedical research through experiments in space. As one speaker put it, *"The next frontier isn't just about getting there; it's about building a sustainable economy once we arrive."* That's the mindset driving this entire conversation. If you're fascinated by frontier tech, deep-tech entrepreneurship, and the startups literally shaping Europe's future in space, this panel is for you. You'll get firsthand insights from founders operating at the very edge of innovation. It's a unique chance to learn from the people doing the building. ### A Quick Word on Our Supporters The event is proud to have the support of key players like Malta Enterprise, Malta's economic development agency. They're crucial in fostering a vibrant environment for startups, offering tailored support to help new businesses get off the ground and thrive. So, if you want to be part of this conversation, you'll want to secure your ticket. This is one of those events that could genuinely shift your perspective on what's possible.