The Prague Security Studies Institute (PSSI) will hold on May 12, 2026 at 17:00 CET (online via Zoom Webinar), its next Space Security Guest Lecture, entitled “The EU Space Programme in Action: Delivering Benefits Through Innovation and Service through EUSPA”, with Dr. Christina Giannopapa, Head of the Office of the Executive Director of the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA), and President of Women in Aerospace Europe (WIA-E).

Against the backdrop of growing demand for space-enabled services and increasing recognition of space as critical infrastructure, EUSPA plays an ever more central role in supporting Europe’s economy, public administration, and security. Sustained investment in ground infrastructure, cybersecurity, operating personnel, and service monitoring systems is essential to meeting the needs of an expanding and diverse user base spanning government, business, and civil society.

In her lecture, Dr. Giannopapa will present the progress being made across the EU Space Programme, illustrating how EUSPA translates space infrastructure into tangible real-world benefits. She will examine the investment and governance frameworks required to sustain and advance these capabilities, and reflect on how cooperation, innovation, and user-centred solutions position Europe as a reliable and influential actor in an increasingly competitive global space environment.

Before joining EUSPA, Dr. Giannopapa served as advisor to the Secretary General of Telecommunications and Post of the Ministry of Digital Governance in Greece, seconded from the European Space Agency (ESA), where she held various positions, including Head of the Political Affairs Office of the Director General. She also worked at the European Space Policy Institute (ESPI), the European Commission’s DG Research, and held academic positions at the Eindhoven University of Technology and the University of London. 

Dr. Giannopapa holds a Ph.D. in Engineering and Applied Mathematics, an MEng in Manufacturing Systems Engineering and Mechatronics, and an MBA in International Management from the University of London. She is an elected member of the International Institute of Space Law (IISL) and the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA). She serves as Vice Chair of the Committee on Space Security of the International Astronautical Federation (IAF).