SGAC Announces the Winner of the 2024 ESA – SGAC Scholarship
The European Space Agency (ESA) in cooperation with the Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC) has organised the ESA – SGAC Scholarship. This scholarship is a great opportunity for students and young professionals from emerging countries to share their views on ESA and ensuring sustainability on Earth and in Space for our Shared Future. This scholarship awards students and young professionals from emerging countries to attend the 22nd Space Generation Congress (SGC) and the 75th International Astronautical Congress (IAC) on 10 – 12 October and 14 – 18 October, 2024 respectively in Milan, Italy.
The winner was selected based on the quality of a short video on the implications of expanding our footprint into space while confronting the pressing challenges of ecological balance and ethical responsibility and their motivation for participating in the 22nd SGC (theme: “Ensuring Sustainability on Earth and in Space for our Shared Future”) and the 75th IAC (theme: “Responsible Space for Sustainability”)
Congratulations to Matthias!
Matthias Kullbach (Germany)
Matthias is an ambitious space enthusiast with a diverse background. Holding a bachelor in Psychology, Matthias started working in strategy consulting and tech, and founded an online marketplace startup which he scaled up to $10K MRR and 15 team members. After failing the company, he pursued a double degree in Management from Bocconi University and ESSEC Business School during which he worked as a founder associate at the French unicorn Alan, contributing to the go-to-market in Canada. Having been fascinated by science fiction since a young age, Matthias always had a passion for space, but never viewed it as a possible career for someone with his profile and competencies. Throughout the last year, through understanding the impact that startups can now have on the ecosystem, enabled by SpaceX’s reduction of launch costs, he decided to engage more with the industry and fully pursue his career in space tech and contribute to a sustainable space ecosystem through his entrepreneurial and managerial skill set.
“I am excited to join SGC and IAC 2024 in Milan, especially given the importance of this year’s topic. I am looking forward to learn from the experts, other young professionals and students, and contribute my own perspective on the future of sustainable space exploration.”