How the Next Space Race Could Shape Humanity's Future?

At the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2026, one panel discussion, Beyond Earth: The Next Space Race, reframed space not as an emerging economic and strategic domain already reshaping life on Earth. Attended by experts from both public and private sectors, the session traced a decisive shift from flag-planting geopolitics to a hybrid model driven by commercial innovation, Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), and cross-border collaboration. While many opinions were presented, panelists largely converged on the shared premise that space is not a "niche," as it enables connectivity, data, security, climate intelligence, and future growth. Since the "space race" in the late 20th century, now might be the time for humanity to look toward the sky and the stars again.

-TECHNOLOGY IS MUCH BETTER, BUT HURDLES REMAIN-

The discussion was clear-eyed about the challenges. Despite dramatic reductions in launch costs and unprecedented launch cadence, billions of people still lack reliable digital access, and regulatory fragmentation continues to slow scale-up. John Gedmark, founder of Astranis, a satellite manufacturing company, highlighted that even headline successes in satellite connectivity represent only a fraction of global need, underscoring the magnitude of the remaining gap. At the same time, Dr. Renato Krpoun from the European Space Agency emphasized that outdated procurement models and misaligned standards risk constraining smaller suppliers and slowing countries’ ability to compete in an increasingly fast-moving space economy.

-MULTIPLE VIEWS ON THE WAY FORWARD-

Solutions, the panel argued, lie in redesigning institutions as much as technologies. A recurring theme was the power of governments acting as “anchor clients” rather than system architects. That is, buying services instead of owning assets to unlock private capital and accelerate learning curves. Hélène Huby, a rocket scientist and founder of The Exploration Company, a German space tech firm, illustrated this by pointing out how relatively modest public commitments can catalyze outsized private investment when agencies create predictable demand. In parallel, other panelists stressed the need for international standards, faster regulatory pathways, and a tolerance for iteration and risk if innovation is to keep pace with falling costs and rising ambition.

At the conclusion, panelists agreed that space is a platform to benefit humanity: from microgravity research that could transform biopharma and medicine to a renewed sense of planetary stewardship. The next space race, they concluded, will not be won by speed alone, but by whether commercial scale, scientific progress, and human values can align so that expansion beyond Earth ultimately strengthens life on it.

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