Panel – High North Dialogue 2026

Convenor: Johannes Schmied-Wirén (Senior adviser; High North Center for Business and Governance and Nord University Business School)

Co-convenor: Norwegian Space Cluster

Reaching Low Earth Orbit – what is next.

Solving European autonomy challenges with Arctic Space Innovation.

We discuss which measures Arctic and European stakeholders should take to achieve the scale they seek—both for their own needs and for strengthening European autonomy. Among other topics, we address space infrastructure and collaborative approaches.

Panelists:

• Jørgen Bikset, Special Adviser for Space & Defence Policy at Nordland County Council (NFK)

• Anton Bolstad, Department Manager, System Development at Space Norway

• Marta Lindvert, Head of Innovation and Entrepreneurship Division at Nord University

• Hugo Moen, Director, Industrial Development and Innovation at the Norwegian Space Agency

• Eirik S. Sivertsen, Project Manager, Small Satellites at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)

Description: Space activities are expanding at high speed, and Europe is entering a decisive moment in which it must consolidate and strengthen its position in global space autonomy. The Arctic—particularly across the Nordic region—is emerging as a strategic hub for space-related innovation, infrastructure development, and geopolitical influence. The High North has become increasingly crucial due to the expanding range of satellite-based services it enables, from weather and sea‑ice forecasting to oil‑spill detection, climate monitoring, and the surveillance of fishing, shipping, and military activity.

Europe’s space sector is a fundamental pillar in the broader discussion on European strategic autonomy, especially as geopolitical competition intensifies. The landscape includes a diverse mix of actors—local entrepreneurs, national industry organisations, chambers of commerce, and several ESA branches—whose responsibilities sometimes overlap and occasionally compete. Added to this are national militaries and NATO, both of which play central roles in Europe’s space ecosystem. Most satellites are dual‑use, and many space companies rely on defence-related contracts to remain viable.

In recent years, several Nordic actors have grown substantially, with Andøya Space and KSAT standing out as prominent examples. Sustaining Europe’s momentum will require coordinated effort across all stakeholders: local and global companies, specialised labour, regional and national policymakers, international governance bodies, and researchers. The northern regions also face parallel priorities of their own, such as responding to demographic pressures, securing socioeconomic development, and ensuring comprehensive preparedness in an increasingly strategic environment.

Norway holds a distinctive position in this picture. As a non‑EU country deeply integrated into European regulatory and research frameworks through mechanisms such as the EEA Agreement, Norway participates in major parts of the European space ecosystem while maintaining limited formal influence over EU‑driven strategic decisions. This tension has become particularly visible in discussions around secure space programmes such as IRIS², where governance structures, security clearance requirements, and participation rules may become increasingly tied to EU membership.