ESA’s first Global Space Economic Forum was held at ESA's ESTEC technology centre in Noordwijk, the Netherlands on 10 October 2018.

During this panel discussion - moderated by Tommaso Ghidini, ESA’s Head of Structures, Mechanisms & Materials Division, the speakers discussed cross-cultural interdisciplinary initiatives and the potential of technology and R&D. The discussion demonstrated how innovation is stimulated when different disciplines meet, encouraging synergies between space and non-space actors.