This workshop will explore how economic theory and empirical methods can be applied to the rapidly expanding space sector, aiming to establish space economics as a recognised academic field and to examine how regulation and market design shape space activities and investments.

Space technologies are being woven into every sector of the economy at an unprecedented pace, creating impacts that ripple across infrastructure, governance, and commerce. The economic impact? It is no longer measured it in billions, but trillions. And the transformation has only just begun. Despite this explosive growth, space economics is not yet established as an academic discipline. While industry analysts track market trends, measure the size of the space economy and, in some cases, the impact of space activities on the broader economy, there remains a critical gap: the rigorous conceptual frameworks, empirical methods, and scholarly production needed to truly capture the impact of regulations and market design on space operations and investments.

To address this gap and establish space economics as a recognized field of study, the European Space Policy Institute (ESPI) in collaboration with the Florence School of Regulation, will be co-organising a workshop titled “From the Space Economy to Space Economics . This workshop aims to investigate diverse research methodologies applied to space, and to cultivate a community of space economists who can advance the discipline.

The workshop will explore three methodological approaches:

-Market models – equilibrium models that capture the impact of regulation and market design on space operations and investment

-Econometric analysis – benchmarking the economic performance of space companies, space markets, and space policies using empirical data

-Conceptual analysis – qualitative and theoretical work that advances economic understanding of space

The seminar is designed to fully engage all participants in exploring the foundations of space economics as an academic discipline. Each session will feature a presenter who introduces the key research approach, followed by a discussant who will offer critical perspectives and raise questions for debate. Each session will then feature a roundtable discussion where all participants are invited to challenge assumptions, share insights from their own research, and collectively shape the contours of this emerging field.

Expression of interest

The seminar is designed for space professionals engaged in economic policy and academics seeking to contribute to the development of space economics as a scholarly discipline. To ensure a high-quality, interactive learning environment, participation is capped at 20 attendees.

Interested candidates are invited to submit an Expression of Interest through the online application form, along with:

·    A short curriculum vitae (CV), and

·    A letter of motivation

Selected participants will be notified of the outcome of their application by email.

At the EUI and the Robert Schuman Centre, we are dedicated to removing barriers and providing equal opportunities for everyone. Please indicate in the registration form your accessibility needs, if any. Alternatively, you can contact the logistics organiser of the event.

At FSR, we actively work to achieve gender-balanced representation at all our events. As a platform that connects diverse voices and perspectives in the sector, we strongly value inclusive and gender-balanced panel debates and training courses.

The 1st Florence Maritime Regulation Conference aims to discuss regulatory advancements that accelerate the competitiveness and sustainable development of shipping, ports, and related maritime supply chains in the EU and beyond.

Shipping, ports, and related supply chains are cornerstones of the European economy and world trade, which are shaped by regulatory initiatives developing at national, regional, or global scales. The European Union is currently developing a comprehensive strategy to support the long-term competitiveness of the maritime sector. Multiple recent calls for evidence, addressing either exclusively sectoral issues (i.e., Maritime Industrial Strategy, Ports Strategy, the Sustainable Transport Investment Plan, etc) or broader themes affecting maritime transport (i.e., state aid, foreign direct investment, energy security circularity, etc), aim to frame the current and future regulatory framework for European shipping, ports and the broader maritime cluster.

The 1st Florence Maritime Regulation Conference is a platform where academics, selected industry representatives, and policymakers can engage in an open debate on innovative approaches to maritime-related regulation. The scope of the Conference will be to find practical solutions through rigorous academic dialogue and constructive Debate.

This Conference is part of Transport Week, which includes three academic conferences focusing on maritime, Rail, and Aviation regulation, as well as the Summer School on Transport Regulation, a forum for discussion on transport regulation.

The Conference organisers are seeking original papers on topics ranging from regulatory challenges to sustainable transport. Contributions that employ multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary approaches to regulation, and that combine academic and practical perspectives, are highly encouraged. The Conference is intended for academics, academically minded practitioners and PhD researchers. The best papers will be eligible for publication in the book series Challenges in Transport Regulation in Europe and Beyond , published by Edward Elgar.

The Conference is organised by the Transport Area of the Florence School of Regulation of the European University Institute, in collaboration with the Jean Monnet Chair in European Port Policy, University of Piraeus, and will take place in Florence (Italy).

Conference Structure

The format of the Florence Maritime Regulation Conference will be the following:

• Presentation of Academic Papers (20´/Paper approx.)
• Feedback and Debate around the Papers (20´/Paper approx.)

This is a 1-day conference, aiming to discuss around 10 papers and engage a selected group of 30/40 individuals, including leading academics, high-level stakeholder representatives, and public officials, in a fruitful policy debate.

Timeline

Submission of the Abstract by 15th January 2026 using the form. For any issue regarding the submission, please contact Ms Elodie Petrozziello at fsr.transport@eui.eu

Notification of Acceptance by 15th February 2026;

Submission of the Full Paper by 15th of June 2026; participants who fail to submit a full paper by this deadline will be automatically removed from the programme.

Conference on 17th July2026 in Florence (Italy).

Guidelines for the abstract

• 600-1000 words (abstract);
• Title of the paper & keywords;
• Name of the author(s) and full address of the corresponding author;
• The aim and methodology of the paper, and
• Results obtained or expected

Organising committee

Juan Montero | Director of the Transport Area of the FSR, Professor of Administrative Law and Regulation in UNED University (Madrid)

Thanos Pallis | Senior Scientific Advisor, Transport Area of the FSR; and Professor (Jean Monnet Chair in European Port Policy), Department of Maritime Studies, University of Piraeus, Greece.

Elodie Petrozziello | Research Associate of the Transport Area of the FSR

Fee

Free Attendance, but registration is required.

At the EUI and the Robert Schuman Centre, we are dedicated to removing barriers and providing equal opportunities for everyone. Please indicate in the registration form your accessibility needs, if any. Alternatively, you can contact the logistics organiser of the event.

At FSR, we actively work to achieve gender-balanced representation at all our events. As a platform that connects diverse voices and perspectives in the sector, we strongly value inclusive and gender-balanced panel debates and training courses.

The 3rd Florence Aviation Regulation Conference aims to discuss current and future economic and regulatory policies relating to European air transport.

The conference brings together academics, selected industry representatives, and policymakers. The scope of each year’s conference is to find practical solutions through rigorous academic dialogue and constructive debate.

This conference is part of Transport Week, which includes three academic conferences focusing on Aviation, Rail, and maritime regulation, as well as a Summer School on transport regulation, a forum for discussion on transport regulation.

The Conference organisers are seeking original papers on topics that affect European air transport, including regulatory challenges, resilience and competitiveness, sustainable aviation, investments, digitalisation, and innovation in the aviation sector (such as ramping up the development of alternative fuels and U-Space). Contributions that employ multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary approaches to regulation, and that combine academic and practical perspectives, are highly encouraged. The conference is intended for academics, academically minded practitioners, and PhD researchers. The best papers will be eligible for publication in a book on Transport Regulation in Europe, to be published by a leading publisher biannually.

The Conference is co-organised by the Transport Area of the Florence School of Regulation of the European University Institute and the International Institute of Air and Space Law of Leiden University. The Conference will take place in Florence (Italy).

 Conference Structure

The Florence Conference on the Regulation of Aviation has the following format:

• Presentation of Academic Papers (ca. 20 minutes/paper)
• Feedback and Debate around the Papers (ca. 20 minutes/paper)

This is a full-day conference, aiming to discuss 10-12 papers and engage a selected group of 30-40 individuals, including leading academics, high-level stakeholder representatives, and public officials in fruitful policy debate.

Timeline

Submission of the Abstract by 15th January 2026 using the relevant form. For any issue regarding the submission, please contact Ms Elodie Petrozziello at fsr.transport@eui.eu.

Notification of Acceptance by 15th February 2026;

Submission of the Full Paper by 15th of June 2026; participants who fail to submit a full paper by this deadline will be automatically removed from the programme;

Conference on 17th July2026 in Florence (Italy).

Guidelines for the abstract

• 600-1000 words (abstract);
• Title of the paper & keywords;
• Name of the author(s) and full address of the corresponding author;
• The aim and methodology of the paper; and
• Results obtained or expected

Organising committee

Juan Montero | Director of the Transport Area of the FSR, Professor of Administrative Law and Regulation in UNED University (Madrid)

Steven Truxal | Part-time Professor, Transport Area FSR, Florence School of Regulation. Full Professor of Air and Space Law, and Director of the Institute of Air and Space Law at Leiden University.

Elodie Petrozziello | Research Associate of the Transport Area of the FSR

At the EUI and the Robert Schuman Centre, we are dedicated to removing barriers and providing equal opportunities for everyone. Please indicate in the registration form your accessibility needs, if any. Alternatively, you can contact the logistics organiser of the event.

At FSR, we actively work to achieve gender-balanced representation at all our events. As a platform that connects diverse voices and perspectives in the sector, we strongly value inclusive and gender-balanced panel debates and training courses.

The 5th Florence Rail Regulation Conference aims to discuss advancements for accelerating the growth of the railways in the EU.

The 5th Florence Rail Regulation Conference aims to discuss advancements for accelerating the growth of the railways in the EU. This conference is a space where academics, selected industry representatives, and policymakers can debate freely on fresh approaches to rail regulation. The scope of the conference will be to find practical solutions through rigorous academic dialogue and constructive debate.

This conference is part of Transport Week, which includes three academic conferences focusing on Rail, Aviation and Maritime regulation and a Summer School on Transport Regulation, a forum for discussion on transport regulation.

The Conference organizers are looking for original papers on topics including competition in and for the market, capacity regulation, performance regulation, financing of infrastructure, high-speed passenger services, freight services, etc. Contributions that employ multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary approaches to regulation and that combine academia and practice are highly encouraged. The conference is intended for academics, academically minded practitioners and PhD researchers. The best papers will be eligible for publication in the book series Challenges in Transport Regulation in Europe and Beyond , published by Edward Elgar.

The Conference is organized by the Transport Area of the Florence School of Regulation of the European University Institute and will take place in Florence (Italy).

Conference Structue

The format of the Florence Conference on the Regulation of Railways will be the following:

• Presentation of Academic Papers (20´/Paper aprox.)
• Feedback and Debate around the Papers (20´/Paper aprox.)

This is a 1-day conference, aiming to discuss 10/12 papers and engage a selected group of 30/40 individuals, including leading academics, high-level stakeholder representatives, and public officials, into a fruitful policy debate.

Timeline

Submission of the Abstract by 15th January 2026 using the form. For any issue regarding the submission, please contact Ms Elodie Petrozziello at fsr.transport@eui.eu

Notification of Acceptance by 15th February 2026;

Submission of the Full Paper by 15th of June 2026; participants who fail to submit a full paper by this deadline will be automatically removed from the programme;

Conference on 13th July2026 in Florence (Italy).

Guidelines for the abstract

600-1000 words (abstract);

Title of the paper & keywords;

Name of the author(s) and full address of the corresponding author;

The aim and methodology of the paper; and

Results obtained or expected

Organising committee

Juan Montero | Director of the Transport Area of the FSR, Professor of Administrative Law and Regulation in UNED University (Madrid)

Matthias Finger | Senior Scientific Advisor of the Transport Area of the FSR. EPFL, Professor Emeritus

Elodie Petrozziello | Research Associate of the Transport Area of the FSR

Fee

Free Attendance, but registration will be required

At the EUI and the Robert Schuman Centre, we are dedicated to removing barriers and providing equal opportunities for everyone. Please indicate in the registration form your accessibility needs, if any. Alternatively, you can contact the logistics organiser of the event.

At FSR, we actively work to achieve gender-balanced representation at all our events. As a platform that connects diverse voices and perspectives in the sector, we strongly value inclusive and gender-balanced panel debates and training courses.

This workshop will examine how digitalisation and artificial intelligence can enhance consumer empowerment and system flexibility in the EU energy market, focusing on the development of a common energy data space and the adequacy of existing consumer protection rules.

The Internal Energy Market (IEM) ultimately aims at providing greater choice and better prices to energy consumers, through a sustainable energy system, and at promoting security of supply. Empowering energy consumers, so that they take full advantage of the opportunities provided by the IEM, has proven to be a challenge since the liberalisation of the European retail energy market.

At the same time, the energy sector is undergoing a profound transformation, with an increasing penetration of renewable sources to pursue decarbonisation and security of supply, with the related challenge of making the energy system more flexible. Digitalisation and Artificial Intelligence (AI) open new perspectives for energy-related services to consumers and support the greater flexibility of the energy system. This Workshop focuses on two relevant aspects associated with the digitalisation of the energy sector and the potential role of AI:

(i) the need and the best way to establish a Common European Energy Data Space (CEEDS) and to develop AI Foundational Models for the energy sector; and

(ii) the need to assess to what extent the current horizontal and sectoral consumer protection legislation is fit for the future.

Please note that this event is by invitation only and exclusively reserved for donors of the Florence School of Regulation.

At the EUI and the Robert Schuman Centre, we are dedicated to removing barriers and providing equal opportunities for everyone. Please indicate in the registration form your accessibility needs, if any. Alternatively, you can contact the logistics organiser of the event.

At FSR, we actively work to achieve gender-balanced representation at all our events. As a platform that connects diverse voices and perspectives in the sector, we strongly value inclusive and gender-balanced panel debates and training courses.

Join the LUCE awards ceremony to celebrate the vital role of women in the green transition and their leadership in building a sustainable, inclusive future.

Building on the strong foundation laid in previous years, the 4th edition of the LUCE Awards represents a renewed step forward in accelerating the Green Transition. As global attention intensifies around energy, climate, and sustainability challenges, this edition reaffirms once again the critical role women play in shaping a more sustainable and inclusive future.

With our ongoing commitment to advancing gender equality in the energy, climate, and sustainability sectors — and with the valuable support of Edison — the 4th edition of the LUCE Awards celebrates the outstanding contributions of women driving innovation and progress in these fields. As we forge ahead on the path toward a greener tomorrow, this edition aspires to further amplify the voices and achievements of women who are pioneering solutions for a sustainable planet.

On 9 June 2026 in Florence, the LUCE Awards will honour the accomplishments of two outstanding women professionals, presenting one prize in each of the following categories:

Emerging Talent (applications open from 6 February to 11 March 2026)

Legacy Women (public vote open from 17 to 31 March 2026)

This year’s event will also include the announcement of the two winners of the 10th Ana Aguado Scholarship Award, a joint initiative by the European Distribution System Operators’ Association (E.DSO) and the Florence School of Regulation, supported by SolarPower Europe. This long-standing programme continues to empower young professionals through high-level training opportunities in the energy sector.

The LUCE Awards will be preceded by the 9th meeting of the Equality Platform for the Energy Sector, taking place on the morning of 9 June. Led by the European Commission, the meeting will gather representatives of the Directorate-General for Energy, Platform members, signatories, and project partners to discuss progress and collective action toward gender equality in the sector.  Participation in the Equality Platform meeting is limited to Platform members. Further information on the Platform and instructions on how to join are available on the Platform’s webpage.

At the EUI and the Robert Schuman Centre, we are dedicated to removing barriers and providing equal opportunities for everyone. Please indicate in the registration form your accessibility needs, if any. Alternatively, you can contact the logistics organiser of the event.

At FSR, we actively work to achieve gender-balanced representation at all our events. As a platform that connects diverse voices and perspectives in the sector, we strongly value inclusive and gender-balanced panel debates and training courses.

This event will provide an in-depth analysis of the most notable energy cases from recent months. Two senior legal experts from FSR will discuss recent and pending energy case law at the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU).

The FSR Law Area will provide a comprehensive review of the most significant energy cases before the Court of Justice of the European Union in recent months. Kaisa Huhta (Part-Time Professor, FSR; Associate Professor, University of Eastern Finland) and Adrien de Hauteclocque (Part-Time Professor, FSR; Visiting Senior Fellow, LSE) will offer an expert analysis of the latest developments in case law. The discussion will also cover an overview of the most significant pending cases.

Following the presentation, an interactive Q&A session will be held, allowing attendees to engage directly with the experts and enhance their understanding of the topics discussed.

The list of cases to be covered will be published online in due course.

Programme

14.00 CEST – Case Law Update

Kaisa Huhta, Part-Time Professor FSR; Associate Professor, University of Eastern Finland

Adrien de Hauteclocque, Part-Time Professor, FSR; Visiting Senior Fellow, LSE

15.00 CEST – Q&A

Kaisa Huhta, Part-Time Professor FSR; Associate Professor, University of Eastern Finland

Adrien de Hauteclocque, Part-Time Professor, FSR; Visiting Senior Fellow, LSE

At FSR, we actively work to achieve gender-balanced representation at all our events. As a platform that connects diverse voices and perspectives in the sector, we strongly value inclusive and gender-balanced panel debates and training courses.

YEEES is a long-standing seminar series offering PhD students in energy engineering and energy economics modelling the opportunity to present their work and receive feedback from peers and senior experts.

The Florence School of Regulation is pleased to host the 37th edition of the Young Energy Economists and Engineers Seminar (YEEES), a long-standing network and working paper seminar for PhD researchers in the fields of energy economics, engineering, and energy system modelling.

Founded in 2006 by Yannick Perez and Leonardo Meeus, YEEES brings together emerging scholars twice a year to present their work, receive constructive feedback, and build a community of young researchers across Europe and beyond. Previous editions have been organised in Leuven, Dresden, Vienna, Paris, Madrid, Florence, Cambridge, Dublin, Berlin, Stockholm, Basel, Edinburgh, Nuremberg, Lodz, Delft, Ghent, Copenhagen, and other academic hubs.

We invite PhD students working on topics related to engineering and economic modelling for energy systems to submit an abstract and register for consideration.

About the seminar

YEEES is designed as a working paper seminar that provides PhD students with in-depth feedback on their ongoing research. Each selected participant:

• presents their working paper (15–20 minutes),
• receives comments from two reviewers:
• one senior reviewer (a professor or post-doctoral researcher identified by the organisers),
• one junior reviewer (another participating PhD student),
• acts as a junior reviewer for another participant’s paper.

Review assignments are made by the organisers according to the reviewers’ fields of expertise. The aim is to create a constructive, rigorous, and friendly environment where young researchers can refine their work and expand their academic network.

Who should apply

The seminar is open to PhD students whose research focuses on:

• Energy economics
• Energy system modelling
• Engineering approaches to electricity and gas systems
• Market design and regulatory modelling
• Renewable integration modelling
• Power system flexibility and storage
• Techno-economic analysis and optimisation models
• Demand modelling, forecasting, and related areas

The selection process ensures that accepted abstracts align with the scientific scope of the seminar.

Submission and Selection Process

Participation in the seminar follows a two-stage submission process:

1. Abstract Submission & Registration

Deadline: 18 January 2026

PhD students submit an abstract and register through the online form. Abstracts are evaluated based on their relevance to the seminar’s themes.

2. Notification of Acceptance

23 January 2026

Selected candidates are invited to submit their full papers.

3. Full Paper Submission

Deadline: 29 March 2026

Full papers are required to assign junior and senior reviewers.

4. Reviewer Feedback Submission (Junior Reviewers)

Deadline: 13 April 2026

Each participant submits written feedback on the paper they have been assigned to review.

All selected participants will receive detailed guidance and deadlines by email following acceptance.

Join this debate as experts examine the EU’s proposed Industrial Accelerator Act, exploring its key measures to boost manufacturing, strengthen net-zero industries, and reshape investment rules.

The European Commission has tabled the Industrial Accelerator Act on March 4th, 2026. The main aim of the draft Act is to see a rejuvenation of investment in the EU’s industrial base.

It proposes the headline goal of increasing manufacturing to represent 20%+ of EU GDP by 2035, from its current level of around 14%. To do so it proposes a range of measures, including accelerating planning procedures and implementing ‘Industrial Acceleration Areas’.

However, the most impactful proposals for industry concern:

• ‘Lead Markets’ requirements on Member States to buy low-carbon steel, cement and aluminium for part of their procurement and support schemes,

• EU content obligations on Member States to require that a proportion of the goods under procurement and support schemes come from ‘EU origin’ producers. This is proposed to cover steel, cement, aluminium, battery storage systems, PV, heat pumps, wind, nuclear, hydrogen and certain vehicles.

• A significant restrictions on non-EU union producers investing in the EU. When non-Union companies wish to invest in key sectors (battery technologies, EVs, PV, critical raw materials (the list expandable by Commission Delegated Act)), Member States, in addition to applying Foreign Direct Investment requirements, must put limitations on the investment which may include ownership, employment, IP, EU sourcing, and R&D, and

• Voluntary green product labelling schemes.

In combination with the Net-Zero Industry Act, the Foreign Subsidies and Foreign Direct Investment Regulations, the draft revision of the Cybersecurity Act, and the anti-dumping rules, the EU is putting into place a more protective framework for industry, focused particularly on ‘Net-Zero’ Green Deal technologies.

During this webinar, Professor Jones will first give an explanation of the proposals in the Industrial Accelerator Act focussing on energy sectors, followed by comments from key industry figures on whether the draft measures are both adequate and effective to meet the challenges facing industry.

At FSR, we actively work to achieve gender-balanced representation at all our events. As a platform that connects diverse voices and perspectives in the sector, we strongly value inclusive and gender-balanced panel debates and training courses.

Session as part of the EUI Climate Week 2026

Several jurisdictions like the European Union have decided to use international carbon credits as a complement to domestic mitigation efforts. Questions arise about their implications for cost-effectiveness, environmental integrity, climate justice and equity, and incentives for domestic emissions reductions. The policy dialogue is part of the EU-funded project LIFE NETS – Net-Zero Emissions Trading Schemes – which runs from 2026-2028.

This session as part of EUI Climate Week aims to address the question of how countries have combined domestic climate targets with the use of international carbon credits, and what regulatory and governance safeguards may be needed to ensure that such credits reinforce rather than weaken domestic climate action.

Chair: Simone Borghesi, European University Institute

Panelists:

·   Toshi Arimura, Waseda University

·   Carolyn Fischer, World Bank

·  Injy Johnstone, Oxford Net Zero

·   Sebastien Paquot, EU Commission

Conclusion: Marie Raude, European University Institute

More information and the full programme of the EUI Climate Week 2026 can be found here.

This session is part of the EUI Climate Week 2026

Electrification is one of the EU’s most powerful levers for decarbonisation, enhancing energy security and boosting industrial competitiveness. By electrifying the economy based on zero-emission sources, the use of fossil fuels can be limited and the emissions can be significantly reduced.

Currently electricity accounts for only 25% of the EU’s final energy consumption. In 2024, more than 47% of electricity generation came from renewable energy sources. The share of renewables in the electricity mix is growing rapidly, although it continues to face numerous barriers, from insufficient grid development to limited system flexibility and high costs.

This session, as part of the EUI Climate Week, aims to address the question of what factors are slowing Europe’s electrification, which reforms are needed to accelerate it, and how affordable electricity prices for households and businesses can be ensured.

Chair: Joanna Pandera (European University Institute and Forum Energii)

Speakers:

·      Leonardo Meeus (European University Institute)

·      Marco Mensink (Cefic)

·      Monika Morawiecka (RAP)

·      Jan Rosenow (Oxford University)

Conclusion: Joanna Pandera (European University Institute and Forum Energii)

More information and the full programme of the EUI Climate Week 2026 can be found here. 

The Policy Advisory Council (PAC) meetings provide a bi-annual opportunity for the Florence School of Regulation experts to discuss relevant topics with its Star and Major Donors, as well as invited academics, regulators and policy-makers, and to receive their feedback.

This PAC meeting will focus on two key developments of EU energy and climate policy:

–  The White Paper on Deeper Electricity Market Integration, expected in the first quarter of 2026; and

–  The 2040 energy and climate targets and their governance framework. In December 2025, the European Parliament and the Council reached a provisional agreement on a legally binding 2040 climate target, setting a goal to reduce net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 90% compared to 1990 levels. This agreement would amend the European Climate Law, establishing a crucial, science-based intermediate step toward the EU’s objective of climate neutrality by 2050.

The PAC meetings are run under Chatham House rules.

Please note that this event is by invitation only and exclusively reserved for star and major donors of the Florence School of Regulation.

At the EUI and the Robert Schuman Centre, we are dedicated to removing barriers and providing equal opportunities for everyone. Please indicate in the registration form your accessibility needs, if any. Alternatively, you can contact the logistics organiser of the event.

At FSR, we actively work to achieve gender-balanced representation at all our events. As a platform that connects diverse voices and perspectives in the sector, we strongly value inclusive and gender-balanced panel debates and training courses.