Dakar to host 2027 NewSpace Africa Conference on space infrastructure financing and delivery

By:   Nana Appiah Acquaye

Dakar, Senegal, will host the sixth edition of the NewSpace Africa Conference from April 19 to 23, 2027, with discussions focusing on building, financing and delivering Africa’s space infrastructure.

Space in Africa, in collaboration with the African Space Agency, is organising the conference, which will be hosted by Senegal’s Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation (MESRI).

The conference theme, “Building, Financing and Delivering Africa’s Space Infrastructure,” reflects the sector’s shift from ambition to implementation, as governments across the continent establish space institutions, develop satellite capabilities and identify infrastructure to support applications in Earth observation, communications, navigation and climate monitoring.

The 2027 edition will examine the systems, capital and partnerships needed to develop sustainable space infrastructure, with discussions exploring how governments, industry, investors, development institutions and international partners can work together to finance infrastructure, develop viable commercial models, strengthen local capabilities and translate investments into services that address Africa’s development priorities.

According to H.E. Dr Tidiane Ouattara, President of the Council of the African Space Agency, “Dakar 2027 will build on the progress of the NewSpace Africa Conference to bring Africa’s space community together around new opportunities for cooperation, investment and innovation. As Africa’s space ecosystem continues to grow, platforms that connect governments, industry, investors and international partners will be essential to turning our ambitions into tangible outcomes.”

The conference will bring together senior space stakeholders, including representatives from national space agencies, regulatory bodies, government institutions, policymakers, commercial space companies, academia, investors, international partners, researchers and emerging innovators.

The programme will feature keynote sessions, panel discussions, interactive engagements, business pitches, business-to-business, business-to-consumer and business-to-government matchmaking opportunities, side events and exhibitions. Participants will discuss policies, research, market trends, emerging technologies and the future direction of Africa’s space and satellite industry.

The conference will also build on previous editions, continuing discussions on space commercialisation, investment, innovation, capacity development and international cooperation. Previous editions have brought together more than 2,300 participants from 792 organisations across 98 countries, according to the organisers.

Senegal’s role as host reflects its expanding participation in the African and global space economy. In 2024, the country launched Gaindesat-1A, its first nanosatellite, designed to support agricultural planning and environmental monitoring. In July 2025, Senegal signed the Artemis Accords, becoming the fourth African nation to commit to responsible and transparent space exploration.

Dakar also hosted the inaugural African Union-European Union Space Dialogue in 2023, the first high-level space cooperation forum between the two institutions.

Early-bird registration for the 2027 conference is open until November 30, 2026, while regular registration closes on March 31, 2027. Registration and sponsorship and exhibition opportunities are available through the NewSpace Africa Conference website.