Programme
October 22, 2026
08:30 AM - 9:00 AM
DAMA Tecnopolo Data Manifattura Emilia-Romagna
Registration
09:00 AM - 10:00 AM
DAMA Tecnopolo Data Manifattura Emilia-Romagna
Welcome & Institutional Greeting
Official opening remarks by regional authorities and network leaders.
Opening and Moderation by: Roya Ayazi, Secretary General - NEREUS
Opening and Moderation by: Roya Ayazi, Secretary General - NEREUS
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)
Anna Huk, Member of the Board of the Podkarpackie Region - Poland
Francesco De Clementi, Head of Division XI – Policies for the Space and Defence Industry, Italian Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy
Video message by
Andrius Kubilius, European Commissioner for Defence and Space
10:00 AM - 10:40 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
Moderation by: Anilkumar Dave, Aerospace Senior Advisor at ART-ER
Moderation by: Anilkumar Dave, Aerospace Senior Advisor at ART-ER
Jørn Kristiansen, Director of Forecasts and Deputy Director-General - ECMWF
Luca Girardo, Copernicus and DestinE Advanced Infrastructure Manager - ESA-ESRIN
10:40 AM - 11:00 AM
Coffee Break
11:00 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.
Moderation by: Marina Silverii, Executive Director - ART-ER and Nereus Management Board
Moderation by: Marina Silverii, Executive Director - ART-ER and Nereus Management Board
Opening Address: AI Factories as Catalysts for Space Data Innovation
Marina Silverii, Executive Director - ART-ER and Nereus Management Board
Panel AI Factories:
- Claudio Arlandini, IT4LIA (Emilia-Romagna) - AI Factory Coordinator, CINECA
- Ernesto Olivier Gonzalez, BSC AIF (Catalonia) - Software Coordinator – AI Factory, BSC
- Mikolaj Buchwald, PIAST AIF (Wielkopolska) - Senior Research Fellow, PCSS Poznan
- Qifeng Pan, HammerHAI (Baden-Württemberg) - Research Scientist, HLRS Stuttgart
- Martyna Gatkowska, Gaia AI Factory (Malopolska) - Earth Observation Analyst & Business Developer, AGH University of Krakow
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.
Moderation by: Kai-Uwe Schrogl, European Space Agency
Moderation by: Kai-Uwe Schrogl, European Space Agency
Occitanie
Open, Shared, Actionable: Occitanie's Approach to Biodiversity Data Governance and Satellite-Based Habitat Mapping
Marie Soret, Spatial data Analyst and Project Manager at Region Occitanie
Florent Sourisseau, LULC Project Manager at OPenIG (tbc)
Basilicata
Sharpening the Future of Regional Governance: Integrating ESA Copernicus Satellite Data and AI Super-Resolution into the Basilicata Regional Spatial Data Infrastructure
Michele Busciolano, Director General for Digital Administration of Basilicata Region
The Development of myDEWETRA platform for daily monitoring, forecasting, and managing of natural hazards for the Italian Civil Protection System
Carlo Glisci, Civil Protection Operations Center Management Office of Basilicata Region
Bavaria
Bridging Needs and Solutions: The Bavarian Service Providers' perspective
Laura Holstein, bavAIRia e.V. - Moderator
Markus Probeck, Chief Business Development Officer, GAF Geospatial GmbH
Karolina Krauss, Governmental Solutions, OroraTech GmbH
Stefan Mühlbauer, Senior Innovation/ Project Manager, EOMAP GmbH & Co. KG
Veneto
From Spatial Data to Integrated Geo-Services: Enabling Collaborative Regional Governance in Veneto Region
Umberto Trivelloni, Carlo Masetto, Veneto Region
Massimo Fabris, University of Padua
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.
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.
At THIS LINK it is possible to read the 17 territorial challenges
Detailed individual schedules for the in-person B2G meetings have been shared with the participants at the interactive part.
06:15 PM - 6:30 PM
DAMA Tecnopolo Data Manifattura Emilia-Romagna
Conclusion
Roya Ayazi, Secretary General, NEREUS
07:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Palazzo Pepoli | via Castiglione, 10 - 40124 Bologna
SOCIAL DINNER
October 23, 2026
08:30 AM - 9:00 AM
DAMA Tecnopolo Data Manifattura Emilia-Romagna
Registration
09:00 AM - 9:15 AM
DAMA Tecnopolo Data Manifattura Emilia-Romagna
Welcome
Opening and Moderation by: Roya Ayazi, Secretary General - NEREUS
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
Moderation by: Lorenzo Calabri, ART-ER
Moderation by: Lorenzo Calabri, ART-ER
Apostolia Karamali , Andrius Kubilius's Cabinet European Commission
Andrea Taramelli, IUSS Pavia | 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.
Moderation by: Kai-Uwe Schrogl, European Space Agency
Moderation by: Kai-Uwe Schrogl, European Space Agency
Catalonia
Fostering research and innovation towards space based services
Jordi Corbera, Institut Cartogràfic i Geològic de Catalunya (ICGC)
From fostered local collaboration to global space-based services
Roger Huerta, SPASCAT
Emilia-Romagna
Margherita - The Big Data and AI paltform for the Public Administration
Eleonora Verdini, Andrea Iacobucci, Emilia-Romagna Region
Anna Lisa Minghetti, Lepida
Marco Mantovani, Iconsulting
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
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.
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.
At THIS LINK it is possible to read the topics of the 5 tables
Cooperative Round Tables to discuss on Regional models in the use of Space Data. There will be a Facilitator, helping the discussion to evolve.
12:45 PM - 1:00 PM
DAMA Tecnopolo Data Manifattura Emilia-Romagna
Conclusion
Marina Silverii, Executive Director - ART-ER and Nereus Management Board
Roya Ayazi, Secretary General, NEREUS
Roya Ayazi, Secretary General, NEREUS
Marina Silverii, Executive Director - ART-ER and Nereus Management Board
Roya Ayazi, Secretary General, NEREUS
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. Registered delegates will have the opportunity to visit either the Leonardo HPC or the ECMWF Data Center at the Tecnopolo DAMA, followed by a joint visit to the Medicina Radio Astronomical Station. Due to unforeseen logistical constraints, data centers visit capacity is further restricted. Direct emails will be sent to confirm availability based on registration timestamp.
An exclusive technological tour to explore Emilia-Romagna's premier space and computing assets. Registered delegates will have the opportunity to visit either the Leonardo HPC or the ECMWF Data Center at the Tecnopolo DAMA, followed by a joint visit to the Medicina Radio Astronomical Station. Due to unforeseen logistical constraints, data centers visit capacity is further restricted. Direct emails will be sent to confirm availability based on registration timestamp.
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 | Tecnopolo DAMA
Data Manifattura Emilia-Romagna
B4 Pavilion | Tecnopolo DAMA
Data Manifattura Emilia-Romagna
