Yoshinori Odagiri, President and CEO of SPACE COTAN, participated as a panelist in the international forum “Spaceports for the Future Space Economy” held at the Italy Pavilion during Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai.
During the panel discussion titled “The Growing Importance of Spaceports for Innovation and Growth in the New Space Economy”, Mr. Odagiri introduced the advantages of Hokkaido Spaceport (HOSPO), its current launch site development, and its vision to become Asia’s hub spaceport. The discussion also explored the multifunctional potential of spaceports, including their roles in manufacturing, testing, education, and collaboration with regional industries.
The forum “Spaceports for the Future Space Economy” was held to examine the role of the Puglia region in enabling space access for Italy and Europe, centered on the development of Grottaglie Airport as Italy’s first spaceport. Experts from Italy, Japan, and the United States gathered to share perspectives on the international role and future outlook of the space sector. Discussions included the current state of spaceports in the U.S. and Japan, sustainable spaceport development, and the emerging possibilities of the new space economy.