NEREUS organised on 13 November 2025, 11.00–12.30 (Brussels time), the 19th infosession on education and training in the space sector dedicated to youth engagement under the theme “Young Space – When Children, Teenagers, and Young Adults Reach for the Stars”.
The infosession featured two keynote speakers: Nils Waldmann (Aerospace Strategy of Baden-Württemberg – THE aerospace LÄND, LR BW e.V.) and Dr. Gennaro Russo (Senior Manager, Campanian Aerospace Technology District – DAC).
Nils Waldmann opened the session with his presentation “A new era. A new generation. The aerospace generation.” Drawing on insights from academic research in European Ethnology and practical experience within Baden-Württemberg’s aerospace strategy, he explored how to inspire sustained interest in aerospace among children, teenagers, and young adults. His presentation was informed by fieldwork with student space associations in Bavaria as well as his collaboration with groups like KSat, HyEnD, and SeeSat.
He emphasized the decisive role of regional ecosystems in giving young talents hands-on experience, visibility, and a sense of belonging, highlighting strategic initiatives such as Mission Zukunft: On to New Horizons.
“Your future in Space”: Gennaro Russo followed with a complementary regional perspective from Southern Italy. He highlighted the importance of strong, interconnected regional ecosystems that bridge education, research, and industry. Drawing on the experience of the Campanian Aerospace Technology District, he stressed that local initiatives play a crucial role in building early skills and enthusiasm among young people. Dr. Russo addressed key questions on how regional actors can collaborate more effectively to prepare the next generation for careers in the space sector. He underlined the need to connect and scale such efforts across Europe, ensuring that smaller innovation hubs benefit fully from EU programmes while contributing meaningfully to Europe’s space talent pipeline.
Together, both speakers demonstrated that maintaining long-term engagement of young people requires coordinated action at regional and European levels. They concluded that the future of the European space ecosystem depends on the ability to inspire young talent early, support them through practical opportunities, and connect regional strengths into a coherent European framework.
Watch the discussion
