Heriberto SALDIVAR

European Space Agency (ESA) • Head of Strategy

Heriberto Saldivar is the Head of Strategy at the European Space Agency (ESA), a role he has held since 2022. He leads the development of ESA’s long-term strategic vision, including spearheading the creation of ESA Strategy 2040, which charts the path for Europe’s future in space—focusing on prosperity, technological leadership, and the safety of its citizens.

Prior to joining ESA, Heriberto was Managing Director and Partner at Brinc, a global venture capital accelerator. He invested in and advised over 130 technology startups across India, China, Singapore, Australia, Europe, and the MENA region, working across deep tech sectors including robotics, IoT, drones, food tech, and medtech. His role involved helping founders navigate complex markets and scale innovative solutions globally.

He holds a Bachelor's degree in Mechatronics Engineering from the Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey (Mexico) and began his career at Procter & Gamble, where he led teams focused on new product development and production optimization.

Heriberto earned a master’s degree in aerospace engineering from National Cheng Kung University (Taiwan), contributing to an international scramjet (supersonic engine) research collaboration between Europe and Taiwan. He later completed a PhD in Mechanical Engineering at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, specializing in propulsion systems and atmospheric reentry conditions. His doctoral research was conducted at the PolyU High-Speed Thermo-fluid and MAV/UAV Laboratory as part of the prestigious Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme.

Events

International Astronautical Congress 2025

29 September - 3 October 2025

Sydney, Australia

Participation:

IAF SYMPOSIUM 2025

11 February 2025

Vienna, Austria

Participation:

International Astronautical Congress 2023

2-6 October 2023

Baku, Azerbaijan

Participation: