This is an HTML version of an attachment to the Freedom of Information request 'Meetings with Airbus in 2019'.


Ares(2019)3618250
Ref. Ares(2019)3858968 - 17/06/2019
BTO 
Meeting of DG Roberto Viola with 
 
Personal 
Data - 
Article 
4(1)(b)

Date: 08 March 2019 
Venue: DG RV’s Office 
List of Participants:  
DG CNECT:  
- Roberto Viola, Director-General
- Khalil Rouhana, Deputy Director-General
- Thomas Skordas, Director C
-

 C.1
-

 C.2
-
, C.2 
Visitors:
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, Airbus Defense and Space
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, Airbus Defense and Space
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, ESA
Main issues discussed: 
• CNECT  presented  its  future  activities  mainly focused on big projects and horizontal
issues  of the DSM.  In this context, European cybersecurity  defense  capability  and
technological autonomy will be key for European strategic relevance.
• The deployment of interconnected HPC capacity in Europe, the development of European
processor technologies  (with creation of a  company to commercialize products) and  the
quantum internet are three key components to achieve a fully integrated and secure space
and ground communication, data and computing infrastructure  for public and private
users. CNECT envisions a future fully scalable space backbone (GEO and LEO as relay)
that links with ground stations and fiber network.
• CNECT estimated that Europe has the potential to achieve this ambitious  vision
leveraging excellent know-how and leadership in academia and industry such as quantum
technologies and optical (laser based) space communication.

• A strengthening of IPR protection and data access policies must be part of this ambitious
vision and the Digital Europe Programme  already has provisions that restrict
participation, requiring a stronger commitment and participation from European industry.
• Key instruments to implement the vision such as Digital Europe, CEF and the
Cybersecurity  Competence Network and Centre, modelled after ESA’s  ESTEC, have
been already agreed on the substance or are close to agreement.
Protection of 
commercial 
interests - 
Article 4(2), 
first indent
• CNECT is about to finalize a MoU with ESA that will be used to gauge the broader
support for this global picture.
Conclusions