- The CEO of Hisdesat has given an exclusive interview ahead of her participation in New Space & Solutions on Tuesday 14 April, in which she analyses the evolution of the sector, the positioning of Spain and Europe, as well as the direct impact of space technologies on society.
The second edition of New Space & Solutions, to be held from 14 to 17 April 2026 in Seville, will feature Ana María Molina, CEO of Hisdesat, one of the most prominent voices in Spain’s space sector in the field of secure communications and defence.
The event, which will combine two in-person sessions at the Cartuja Auditorium – managed by Yventu – at Sevilla TechPark, with two further sessions in a virtual format, will bring together institutional, business and technology leaders to address the major challenges of the new space economy. In this context, the presence of Hisdesat’s CEO will provide an opportunity to explore the growing role of space as critical infrastructure for the security, resilience and strategic autonomy of nations.
To mark her participation, Ana María Molina has given an interview to New Space & Solutions in which she analyses the sector’s evolution, the positioning of Spain and Europe, as well as the direct impact of space technologies on society.
– Space is gaining prominence as a strategic infrastructure. To what extent will it be key in the coming years?
Space is no longer an exclusively scientific or technological field; it has become a critical infrastructure of the highest order. In recent years, it has become clear that space is crucial to safeguarding our way of life and the security of our societies. We cannot imagine what a day without satellites would be like; the services provided from space are completely interwoven into our daily lives, from communications and Earth observation to navigation and positioning, weather monitoring, and much more. This importance continues to grow day by day, driven by ongoing geopolitical conflicts and the significant technological disruption being driven by major global players. This leads us to view space as a strategic infrastructure and to recognise the importance of having space assets, significant technological capabilities in the space sector, and the talent needed to continue making progress in this field.
– Spain is strengthening its presence in the space sector. How do you view this current situation, and what opportunities are emerging in Europe?
Spain is at a very significant juncture. In recent years, our country’s standing in the space sector has grown substantially thanks to a combination of a robust industry, advanced technological capabilities and a growing institutional commitment. As a point of reference, consider Spain’s current capabilities in top-tier secure communications, bolstered by the entry into service last year of the Spainsat NG satellite – a state-of-the-art secure communications satellite that is providing services to both our Armed Forces and NATO, and contributing to the European GOVSATCOM communications infrastructure. This project is a clear example of how, through institutional commitment, the European space industry—and the Spanish sector in particular—has been able to develop world-class technology in the field of secure communications.
There are many opportunities ahead, as Europe’s ambitions in the space sector are significant and Spain is very well positioned to make a significant contribution. As a company, we are closely monitoring all the initiatives currently being defined and working with other European players to actively participate in these new programmes.
– From Hisdesat’s perspective, what role should space infrastructure play in national security and resilience?
Space infrastructure is already an essential pillar of national security. In the event of a crisis or security threat, communications, data from imaging or signal sensors, and positioning data from space assets are of particular importance in resolving such situations.
If we look specifically at the defence sector, space infrastructure is fundamental to ensuring command and control of operations, continuity and operational advantage. In short, space is an indispensable element in building safer, more resilient and better-prepared nations.
– What does Hisdesat’s participation in New Space & Solutions entail, and what kind of dialogue is needed today?
Participating in forums of this kind is key to strengthening the space ecosystem and fostering collaboration among all stakeholders. At a time of transformation such as the present, continuous, aligned and constructive dialogue between institutions, industry and society is essential. Only in this way can we promote solutions that are not only technologically advanced, but also safe, sustainable and capable of having a real impact on people’s lives.
All the conferences from New Space & Solutions will be available to watch on demand via The Observatory, Medina Media Events’ digital platform, where each conference will be available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, free of charge.
The second edition of New Space & Solutions is organised by Medina Media Events and is supported by Seville City Council; the Regional Ministry of Universities, Research and Innovation of the Regional Government of Andalusia; the Regional Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment; the Regional Ministry of Industry, Energy and Mines; Canary Islands Aerospace Strategy (Government of the Canary Islands ), Netmetrix, Sceye, Datatec Instruments, Rohde & Schwarz, Dassault Systèmes, PCB Piezotronics, Pablo de Olavide University, CATEC, Isdefe, UARX, HALO Space, Kistler, Eurecat, DEKRA, Open Cosmos, Solar MEMS, B2Space, DAS Photonics, Quside, Systratec, Keplerkoord, Augusta Abogados, Bufete Mas y Calvet, LORTEK, Flux, Metadev, NDK, Alfalite, University of Málaga, EQA, the Polytechnic University of Valencia and Amplify, amongst others.