Rita Rinaldo is currently in charge of the Applications Projects and Studies Division in the European Space Agency, where she is responsible for the initiation and management of space-based applications projects in many vertical sectors, including maritime, energy, mobility and agri-food. She has a long experience in interfacing user communities and establishing partnerships with players including corporates, industrial associations, institutions/public bodies to promote innovation in the sustainable utilisation of space. She is engaged in supporting space and non-space companies in initiatives for developing commercial space solutions based on satellite telecommunication and navigation technologies or satellite data generating high socio-economic impact.