Didier LAPIERRE

Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales (CNES) • In charge of the technology transfer

Didier Lapierre is in charge of the technology transfer in the Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales (CNES), the French government agency responsible for shaping and implementing France’s space policy in Europe.

In 1985 he pioneered in object oriented design, artificial Intelligence, expert systems at Capgemini. He joined the CNES in 1993 as member of IT management team. He proposed the purchasing policy, contract of outsourcing, negotiate license agreements, set up the Project Management Office, proposed the master plan and the risk management.

In 2012 he joined the Strategy and Programs Directorate and worked on the new technology transfer policy and he is responsible for its implementation.

In 2013 he was an active member of the team which launched ESA BIC Sud France linked to ESA’s Technology Transfer Programme Office (TTPO). It works to inspire entrepreneurs to turn space-connected business ideas into commercial companies, and provide technical expertise and business-development support.

In 2014 he launched ActInSpace. The first edition of this 24 hours event, designed for students but opened to a general public took place in five French cities. ActInSpace is inspired by the hackathons and the startups weekend. The candidates have to tackle one of the several challenges posed by CNES on space technologies. The aim is not only introducing the students to the stakes of Space, but also enabling to foster vocations, developing innovative ideas and finally stimulating entrepreneurship.

Events