Under the High Patronage of H.S.H. Princess Charlene of Monaco, the 8th edition of the Monaco Women Forum took place at the Méridien Beach Plaza, in the afternoon of Friday, March 21st, reaffirming its role as a platform for dialogue, knowledge-sharing, and forward-thinking on the world’s most pressing topics—this year, The New Space Race.

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Created by journalist and entrepreneur Cinzia Sgambati Colman, the Monaco Women Forum brought together outstanding voices from across the globe to explore the future of space through the lens of technology, climate strategy, cybersecurity, quantum innovation, and global cooperation. Mr. Christophe Pierre, at the head of the Monaco Space Office, opened the Forum with a speech.

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It was a forum of excellence and commitment, designed to decrypt the challenges and opportunities of a sector that is constantly evolving as a strategic vector for the future.

 

"This year's event demonstrated the growing importance of women in the space and technology sector, and laid the foundations for an essential debate on the responsible governance of space", says Cinzia Sgambati Colman, founder and president of the Monaco Women Forum.

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A strong emphasis was placed on Europe’s leading role in Earth observation technologies, as Dr. Francesca Cipollini highlighted the importance of space data in climate change mitigation. Dr. Sandrine Mathieu of ACRI-ST added that the analysis of this data allows us to understand and predict key environmental phenomena, turning observation into action.

Dr. Marco Rocchetto of Spaceflux stressed the vital role of AI in managing the immense volumes of data collected from space, making interpretation faster and more precise. In parallel, Eng. Sabrina Andiappane of ClearSpace Luxembourg urged action on space debris, warning: “Let’s not repeat in space the same environmental mistakes we made on Earth.”

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A core theme of trust and collaboration emerged during Panel 3, moderated by Valentina Colman, Vice President of the Forum. Prefect Alessandra Guidi, Deputy Director-General of the Italian Department of Security Intelligence, warned that "keeping intelligence too classified may hinder growth and leave nations vulnerable." Eng. Domitilla Benigni expanded on the evolving nature of threats, which now include electromagnetic interference, beyond classic cybersecurity risks.

Dr. Bianca Lins addressed Europe’s challenge of over-regulation, stating that “it may slow down innovation and public-private cooperation.” Meanwhile, Rosanna Hoffmann from the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs gave an insightful overview of the history and fragility of international space treaties, raising the issue of how to enforce regulations in a rapidly evolving sector.

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Panel 2, moderated by Dr. Giovanna Tinetti, Head of the Astrophysics Group at UCL, delved into quantum communications and human space exploration. Dr. Johanna Sepúlveda presented Europe’s investment in secure infrastructure through the European Quantum Communication Infrastructure, and Eng. Federica Vagnone of Thales Alenia Space revealed upcoming habitable modules for lunar missions, part of the roadmap to future Mars exploration.

Eng. Nia Asmady of PSN Indonesia emphasized the growing role of emerging space nations, detailing how her country is investing in infrastructure and global cooperation to establish itself as a key player in the sector.

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The Monaco Women Forum, since its inception in 2012, continues to highlight excellence, expertise, and innovation, putting women at the forefront of change. More than a conference, it is a movement, showcasing how women drive the future of our industries, our societies, and our planet—on Earth and beyond.

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