Programme
October 22, 2026
09:00 AM - 9:40 AM
DAMA Tecnopolo Data Manifattura Emilia-Romagna
Welcome & Institutional Greeting
Official opening remarks by regional authorities and network leaders.
Michele de Pascale, President of Emilia-Romagna Region (Italy)
Thierry Cotelle, President Nereus, Occitanie Region (France)
Vito Bardi, VP Nereus and President of Basilicata Region (Italy)
Tobias Gotthardt, VP Nereus and State Secretary for economic affairs, regional development and energy of Bavaria Region (Germany)
09:40 AM - 10:20 AM
DAMA Tecnopolo Data Manifattura Emilia-Romagna
Keynote: Empowering Earth from Space: The Convergence of Satellite Data, AI, and Big Data
A strategic overview focusing on how supercomputing (HPC), Big Data technologies, and Artificial Intelligence are revolutionizing the management and exploitation of Copernicus and Satellite Data
Jørn Kristiansen, Director of Forecasts and Deputy Director-General - ECMWF
Luca Girardo, Copernicus and DestinE Advanced Infrastructure Manager - ESA-ESRIN
10:20 AM - 10:40 AM
Coffee Break
10:40 AM - 12:30 PM
DAMA Tecnopolo Data Manifattura Emilia-Romagna
Panel: Architects of the Future: How European AI Factories are Revolutionizing Space Data
A practical showcase featuring stakeholders from 4 European AI Factory projects (IT4LIA, HammerHAI, BSC AIF, PIAST AIF, Gaia AI Factory) illustrating how advanced computing infrastructures support regions and private players in managing massive volumes of space data.
Opening Address: Shaping Europe’s AI Factories as Catalysts for Space Data Innovation
- Roberto Viola, Director-General, DG CONNECT, European Commission (TBC)
Panel AI Factories:
- Claudio Arlandini, IT4LIA AI Factory Coordinator
- Ernesto Olivier Gonzalez, Software Coordinator – AI Factory, BSC
- Mikolaj Buchwald, Senior Research Fellow, PCSS Poznań
- Qifeng Pan, Research Scientist, HLRS Stuttgart
- Michał Lupa, Head of the Remote Sensing Team, AGH Faculty of Space Technology
12:30 PM - 2:00 PM
LUNCH BREAK
02:00 PM - 4:00 PM
DAMA Tecnopolo Data Manifattura Emilia-Romagna
Panel: The “Typical” Regional Geographic Data Platform: looking for the perfect Model
Presentations from Public Administrations (sharing best practices and territorial needs) and Service Providers (showcasing Earth Observation projects, and how they collaborate with the PA in a constructive way), aiming to define the ideal model for regional data platforms.
04:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Coffee Break
04:15 PM - 6:15 PM
DAMA Tecnopolo Data Manifattura Emilia-Romagna
Space Solutions for Local Needs: The B2G Matchmaking Arena
Interactive Part: Business2Goverment
The format features scheduled one-to-one meetings where PA representatives present concrete territorial needs and challenges, while solution providers propose targeted applications based on Earth Observation (EO) and space data to address these specific local demands.
Following the closing of the Call for Challenges, 17 territorial challenges have been successfully collected from the public administrations of NEREUS partner regions.
The coordination team is currently finalizing the matching process between the submitted needs and the expertise of the technology providers. Detailed individual schedules for the in-person B2G meetings, to be held during dedicated sessions at the Symposium, are now being finalized.
The format features scheduled one-to-one meetings where PA representatives present concrete territorial needs and challenges, while solution providers propose targeted applications based on Earth Observation (EO) and space data to address these specific local demands.
Following the closing of the Call for Challenges, 17 territorial challenges have been successfully collected from the public administrations of NEREUS partner regions.
The coordination team is currently finalizing the matching process between the submitted needs and the expertise of the technology providers. Detailed individual schedules for the in-person B2G meetings, to be held during dedicated sessions at the Symposium, are now being finalized.
06:15 PM - 6:30 PM
DAMA Tecnopolo Data Manifattura Emilia-Romagna
Conclusion
07:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Palazzo Pepoli | via Castiglione, 10 - 40124 Bologna
SOCIAL DINNER
October 23, 2026
09:00 AM - 9:15 AM
DAMA Tecnopolo Data Manifattura Emilia-Romagna
Welcome
Vincenzo Colla, Vice President of Emilia-Romagna Region (Italy)
09:15 AM - 10:00 AM
DAMA Tecnopolo Data Manifattura Emilia-Romagna
Keynote: Beyond Next-Gen EU: Ensuring Operational Continuity and Daily Impact of Europe's Space Assets
A deep dive into the post-Next Generation EU landscape, discussing how to ensure the operational continuity of strategic space assets and how to successfully ground these advancements into day-to-day applications for regional ecosystems
Apostolia Karamali , Andrius Kubilius's Cabinet European Commission
Andrea Taramelli, Italian Delegate to EU at Copernicus User Forum
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
DAMA Tecnopolo Data Manifattura Emilia-Romagna
Panel: The “Typical” Regional Data Platform: looking for the perfect Model part 2
A continuation of the active dialogue between Public Administrations and Service Providers, sharing further experiences on applying Earth Observation tools to support public policies, leveraging on regional experiences on daily impact of Space Assets for the sake of citizenship.
11:00 AM - 11:15 AM
Coffee Break
11:15 AM - 12:45 PM
DAMA Tecnopolo Data Manifattura Emilia-Romagna
Systemic Challenges, Collective Answers: Interactive Round Tables on Space Data Applications
Interactive Part: Cooperative Tables.Facilitated group discussions focusing on high-level and wide domains (Systemic Challenges), where participants will debate and co-design collaborative regional models for space data usage.
12:45 PM - 1:00 PM
DAMA Tecnopolo Data Manifattura Emilia-Romagna
Conclusion
01:00 PM - 2:00 PM
LUNCH BREAK
02:00 PM - 6:30 PM
DAMA Tecnopolo Data Manifattura Emilia-Romagna
From Supercomputing to Deep Space: PROGRAM OF TECHNICAL VISITS
PROGRAM OF TECHNICAL VISITS. An exclusive technological tour to explore Emilia-Romagna's premier space and computing assets. Delegates will have the opportunity to visit either the Leonardo HPC or the ECMWF Data Center at the DAMA Technopole, followed by a joint visit to the Medicina Radio Astronomical Station
14:00 - 15:00 (parallel and alternative visits) , Leonardo HPC + AI Factory IT4LIA (DAMA technopole)
or , ECMWF Data Center (DAMA technopole)
15:00 - 18:30 (for all) , Medicina Radio Astronomical Station (including bus connections in the schedule - visit at the station from 16:00 to 17:30)
In collaboration with
Bologna, October 22-23, 2026
B4 Pavilion | DAMA Tecnopolo
Data Manifattura Emilia-Romagna
B4 Pavilion | DAMA Tecnopolo
Data Manifattura Emilia-Romagna
