Over two days in Kiruna, Space Innovation Forum 2026 gathered participants, speakers and partners from across the Nordic space ecosystem and beyond. This year’s forum focused on Nordic collaboration and how stronger connections can help build capacity, share knowledge and create new opportunities across the space sector.
Nordic collaboration in focus
“Space Innovation Forum 2026 showed both the need and the willingness among participants for Nordic collaboration in the space sector. Space Sweden North is now taking the next steps in creating value-based, sustainable collaboration.”
— Ajith Kumar Baskar, Project Manager, Space Sweden North
The programme brought together perspectives from national space agencies, defence, research, industry, innovation support and space infrastructure. Together, the sessions reflected both the strategic importance of space and the practical opportunities emerging across the Nordic ecosystem.
The first day took place at Aurora Kultur & Kongress and opened with reflections from Space Sweden North, followed by programme sessions on the bigger picture of space development, Nordic collaboration and innovation support. Speakers and participants explored how organisations across the sector can work more closely together, strengthen regional and international links, and turn knowledge into new ideas, partnerships and business opportunities.
Much of what Space Innovation Forum is about also happens between the presentations. Throughout the forum, researchers, companies, agencies, entrepreneurs, students and innovation actors met to compare perspectives, make new connections and discuss what can be achieved together.
Celebrating contributions across the space ecosystem
The first day concluded with a mingle dinner, where the Space Innovation Awards 2026 were presented. The awards celebrate people, projects and organisations that contribute to the development of the space sector through long-term commitment, pioneering innovation, emerging talent and new business opportunities.
This year, awards were presented in five categories. The four main categories were The Golden Rocket, The Space Innovation Pioneer, The Space Innovation Rising Star and The Space Innovation Business. A fifth category, The Space Connector – Honorary Award, was also introduced in 2026 as a special recognition of the importance of bringing people and organisations together across the space ecosystem.
The 2026 recipients were:
The Golden Rocket: The Swedish Defence Materiel Administration, FMV
The Space Innovation Pioneer: Project RAVEN, Luleå University of Technology
The Space Innovation Rising Star: Armelle Frenea Schmidt
The Space Innovation Business: Andøya Spaceport
The Space Connector – Honorary Award: Johanna Bergström Roos
Together, the five awards reflected different but equally important contributions to the Nordic space ecosystem: sustained investment, new knowledge, emerging talent, business development and the ability to build lasting connections across organisations and sectors.
The winners of Space Innovation Awards 2026.
Access to space and business opportunities
On the second day, the forum continued at Space Campus in Kiruna. The programme focused on access to space, launch infrastructure and business opportunities, with speakers from spaceports, space systems companies and industry actors. The day also included a series of short company pitches, highlighting the breadth of expertise and business development taking place across the sector.
Together, the two days showed the strength of bringing people together across organisations, countries and disciplines. Space Innovation Forum continues to be an important arena for dialogue, exchange and collaboration in the northern and Nordic space ecosystem.
A warm thank you to all speakers, moderators, participants and partners who contributed with knowledge, perspectives and engagement throughout the forum.
We look forward to continuing the conversations and building on the connections made in Kiruna.
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Space Innovation Forum is organised by Space Sweden North, Luleå University of Technology, the Swedish Institute of Space Physics, SSC Space, LTU Business and Arctic Business.
With support from the European Commission, the Swedish National Space Agency, Region Norrbotten, Kiruna Municipality and Sparbanken Nord.
Photos: Simon Vikström/LTU Business
