High-level invitation

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DearH.E. Liina Vahtras,

We would like to remind you of the high-level invitation to the IAF International Space Forum 2026. We would be honored to welcome you to the event, taking place in Rome, Italy, on 23 November.

We strongly believe that your participation would add significant value to the discussions and exchanges on this important occasion. Should you be unable to attend, we would be delighted to welcome a designated representative or a representative from the Embassy in Rome. To facilitate our final organizational arrangements, we would kindly ask if you could confirm your participation by 11 November.

Find attached the latest ISF 2026 draft programme, together with an Information Note providing further practical details to assist with the planning of your participation.

To facilitate the necessary preparations, we would also be grateful if you could complete and return the attached Excel file.

In addition, we would appreciate it if you could confirm whether you intend to deliver a 3 minute statement during one of the following three sessions:

The Health of Our Planet: Leveraging space capabilities to safeguard Earth, strengthen climate resilience, and promote environmental stewardship.
Space Dialogue for the Well-Being of Humanity: Advancing international cooperation through space diplomacy, scientific collaboration, and the peaceful use of outer space for the benefit of all.
Governance, Awareness, Responsibility: A New Space Era for the Future: Shaping an inclusive and responsible framework for space governance that fosters trust, ethical leadership, and lasting peace across generations.

Please indicate the preferred session and provide the title of the statement as soon as possible. We would also appreciate if you could share the statement with us in advance before the event takes place.

With regard to the welcome reception and gala dinner, we would appreciate it if you could let us know whether any dietary requirements need to be accommodated.

Please do not hesitate to reach out if you require any further information.

We look forward to hearing from you soon,

Best regards,

ISF TEAM

Da: ISF2026 <[email protected]>
Inviato: mercoledì 21 ottobre 2026 10:42
A: [email protected]
Oggetto: High-level invitation: International Space Forum at Ministerial Level – The Roman Chapter (ISF 2026)

H.E. Liina Vahtras,

on behalf of the Italian Space Authority, the Minister of Enterprises and Made in Italy, Hon. Adolfo Urso, and the Commissioner of the Italian Space Agency, Ambassador Mario Cospito, we have the honour to transmit the attached invitation letter to the International Space Forum at Ministerial Level – The Roman Chapter (ISF 2026), which will take place in Rome on 23 November 2026.

Please find also attached the ISF 2026 programme.

We would be grateful if you kindly confirm your availability by 30 October 2026.

Kind Regards,

ISF TEAM

ISF 2026 Roman Chapter - Information Note.pdf

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8th International Space Forum at Ministerial level The Roman Chapter

“The gate to the sky: Space for Peace” Ten Years of Global Dialogue – From Legacy to the Future

Rome, 23 November 2026

INFORMATION NOTE

1.INTRODUCTION

The International Space Forum (ISF) at Ministerial level – The Roman Chapter – is the 8th edition of

the initiative launched in 2016 by the International Astronautical Federation (IAF) jointly with the

Italian Space Agency (ASI).

Ten years after the first International Space Forum (ISF), held in Trento, Italy, in 2016, the Forum

returns to Italy for a pivotal moment in its history.

Over the past decade, the Forum has travelled across five continents, bringing together

representatives from more than 130 countries and several international space organizations.

By connecting regions with different space capabilities, priorities and needs, the International Space

Forum has fostered a growing international network for space dialogue and cooperation. This journey

has unfolded through a series of regional Chapters as followed.

The first edition was held in Trento, Italy, in 2016, and led to the adoption of the "Trento Space

Statement", a document in which the delegations agreed that the initiative should be continued

through regional "Chapters." In the years that followed, the Forum was indeed hosted in various

regions around the world.

The African Chapter (2017), hosted by the Kenyan Space Agency in Nairobi, Kenya; The Latin America

Chapter (2018), hosted by CONAE in Buenos Aires, Argentina; The Mediterranean Chapter (2019),

hosted by the Mediterranea University in Reggio Calabria, Italy; The Central America and the

Caribbean Chapter (2023), hosted by the Technological University of Panama in Panama City, Panama,

the Gulf Chapter (2024), hosted by the Bahrain Space Agency in Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain and

The Southeast Asian Chapter (2025) hosted by Philippines Space Agency in Manila, Philippines. You

can find further information at: www.iafastro.org/events/international-space-forum-at-ministerial-

level-isf/

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The International Space Forum is addressed to Ministers and Space Authorities, as well as Heads of

Space Agencies and representatives of academia and research communities. Relevant

intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations are also invited to participate as observers.

2.FORUM OBJECTIVES

The world has profoundly changed. The rapid evolution of technology is transforming our societies,

international relations, and people's daily lives. Space, as a common good of humanity recognized by

the United Nations Treaties, is likely to become a new arena for strategic competition, geopolitical

tensions, and competition among global powers.

Today, it is urgent more than ever to refocus the international attention on the importance of the

peaceful uses and exploration of outer space.

Space activities can significantly contribute to build peace and strengthen international cooperation

by fostering dialogue, facilitating international partnerships and promoting the responsible use of

space,

It is in this spirit that the International Space Forum 2026 - The Roman Chapter -under the theme “The

Gate to the Sky: Space for Peace” brings the international community together. The ISF represents an

opportunity to take stock of this decade of engagement, reflecting on the International Space Forum’s

achievements and considering how the initiative can continue to evolve in response to a rapidly

changing international space landscape.

3.FORUM PROGRAMME

The first part of the Forum will focus on the legacy of the ISF. An opening keynote will retrace the

Forum’s first ten years, followed by testimonies from three previous host countries, offering concrete

perspectives on the experience of hosting the ISF and on the developments that followed in their

respective countries and regions.

Building on this experience, the Ministerial Dialogue will form the core of the Forum. Ministers and

Heads of Delegation will be invited to contribute the perspectives of their countries and regions

through interventions structured around three interconnected themes:

• The Health of Our Planet

• Space Dialogue for the Well-Being of Humanity

• Governance, Awareness, Responsibility

The three themes will provide a common framework for identifying the challenges countries and

regions are facing today, the role that space cooperation can play in addressing them, and where

stronger international dialogue is needed. At the heart of the discussions are the challenges that will

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share our common future: the evolution of international space cooperation and governance, the

responsible and sustainable use of outer space, climate action and environmental resilience,

sustainable development and the contribution of space technologies to the well-being of the society.

Each Head of delegation may deliver a 3-minute statement. It is recommended to focus on one or

more of the three topics described above and present the perspective of the country/organization

represented.

Delegations wishing to make a statement are kindly requested to submit their intentions in advance

to the following email addresses: [email protected], [email protected]

At the end of the Forum, delegations will endorse the Rome Page, a final declaration which will be

added to the previous Pages, such as the Nairobi Page, the Buenos Aires Page, the Reggio Calabria

Page, the Panama Page, the Manama Page and the Manila Page. You can find detailed information

at: www.iafastro.org/events/international-space-forum-at-ministerial-level-isf/.

The Official Language of the Forum is English. No translation is provided.

4.DATE AND LOCATION

The Forum will be held in Rome, Italy, on Monday, 23 November 2026, at Palazzo della Cancelleria,

Piazza della Cancelleria, 1, 00186 Rome.

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5.SOCIAL EVENTS

On Sunday 22 November ASI will host a Welcome Reception at the La Lanterna, Via Tomacelli 157,

00186 Rome, at 7:30 pm.

On Monday 23 November, delegations are invited to a Gala dinner offered by the Italian Space

Authority. It will take place at the Galleria del Cardinale – Palazzo Colonna, Via della Pilotta, 17/A,

00187 Rome at 20:00.

Each delegate is kindly invited to confirm his attendance for each of the events.

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6.PARTICIPANTS AND DELEGATIONS

Participation in the International Space Forum is open to Ministers and Authorities in charge of space

activities. Delegations should be composed of a maximum of 4 delegates, including representatives

from both the government and the national research and academic communities.

Each delegation is kindly invited to communicate its composition to [email protected],

[email protected].

7. ACCOMMODATION IN ROME

Participants are kindly invited to make their own reservations at the hotels of their preference.

Should the participants need support for booking flights and accommodation, the travel agency ACI

BLUETEAM can be contacted at the following email address: [email protected].

ISF2026 Preliminary Programme 2026.pdf

International Space Forum at Ministerial Level 2026 The Roman Chapter

“The Gate to Sky: Space for Peace”

23 November 2026 - Palazzo della Cancelleria, Rome, Italy

Draft Programme

Sunday, 22 November Free arrival of Delegations in Rome, Italy

Welcome Reception

19:30 - 21:00 Location: La Lanterna, Via Tomacelli 157, 00186 Rome Remarks

• Gabriella Arrigo, IAF President • Mario Cospito, ASI Commissioner • Italian Authorities

Monday, 23 November

8:30 – 9:30 Accreditation of Delegations Location: Palazzo della Cancelleria, Piazza della Cancelleria, 1, 00186 Rome

9:30 – 9:40 Group Photo Heads of Delegations and Heads of Space Agencies

International Space Forum 2026 Opening Ceremony 9:40 – 9:45 Master of Ceremony: Christian Feichtinger, Executive Director, International

Astronautical Federation (IAF)

9:45 – 10:05

Welcome Remarks

• Gabriella Arrigo, IAF President • Mario Cospito, ASI Commissioner • Hon. Min. Adolfo Urso, Italian Authority for Space and Aerospace activities • Representative of Holy See (Invited)

10:05 – 10:10 ISF 2026 Video: Ten years of Chapters 10:10 – 10:30

From Trento to Rome - Ten Years of the International Space Forum

• Keynote Speaker: Gabriella Arrigo

10: 30 – 10:45 Break

ISF Legacy Voices: Stories from the International Space Forum Chapters 10:45 - 11:15

The Witnesses - From Discussion to Impact: The True Legacy of the Forum Space agency host Chapter Speakers

• Bahrain Space Agency (BSA) • Comisión Nacional de Actividades Espaciales (CONAE) • Philippine Space Agency (PHILSA) • Kenya Space Agency (KSA)

11:15 – 11:20 The Master of Ceremony introduces the Ministerial Dialogue

High-Level Dialogue - Forging the future of the International Space Forum 11:20 – 12:30 Ministerial Dialogue:

Space Dialogue for the Well-Being of Humanity Statement of Ministers and Heads of delegations

12:20 – 13:30

Lunch

13:30 – 14:30

Ministerial Dialogue: The Health of Our Planet Statement of Ministers and Heads of delegations

14:30 – 15:30 Ministerial Dialogue: Governance, Awareness, Responsibility Statement of Ministers and Heads of delegations

15:30 – 15:45 Break

Carrying the ISF legacy into the New Era - The Rome Page 15:45 – 16:05 From Trento to Rome - the path to the future

• Kenyote Speaker: Maria Chiara Noto, ASI

Endorsement of “The Rome Page” 16:05 – 16:15

The Rome Page - to be added to the Trento Space Statement (2016), the Nairobi Page (2017), the Buenos Aires Page (2018), the Reggio Calabria Page (2019), the Panama City Page (2023), the Manama Page (2024), and the Manila Page (2025)

16:15 – 16:30 Conclusions

Gala Dinner 20:00 – 22:00 Gala Dinner

Location: Galleria del Cardinale – Palazzo Colonna, Via della Pilotta, 17/A, 00187 Rome

ISF2026_Delegation_Participants.xlsx

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