The Third Space: Europe's Shared Future
Europe's Shared Future | From Resilience to Action
A curated salon to turn ideas into collaboration.
Friday, November 20, 2026 | Schloss Leopoldskron, Salzburg
15:00–18:00 | Curated Salon
18:00–20:00 | Aperitivo & Conversations
From 20:00 | Optional Dinner
Around 60 selected minds from Defence, AI, Deep Tech, business and society. One room. Different perspectives. Shared ambitions.
In the room with …
General Gerfried Promberger | Commander, Austrian Air Force
Silvia Reischer | Former BND Department Head & Senior Fellow, Swiss Institute for Global Affairs · Intelligence, Geopolitics & Security
Dr. Carmen Possnig | ESA Astronaut Reserve
Prof. Anastassia Lauterbach | AI, Cybersecurity & Digital Sovereignty
Prof. Rafaela Kraus | Universität der Bundeswehr München, Defence Innovation
Markus N. Beeko | Former Secretary General, Amnesty International; Co-Founder, Power for Democracies
Thomas Bella | Former Airbus Space, The Water Foundation, Critical Infrastructure & Resilience
Prof. Stefan Lorenz Sorgner | Philosophy, Technology & Society
And more voices joining from across Europe.
Not another conference. A curated space where everyone contributes, conversations go deeper and new collaborations begin.
Salzburg also sets the stage for our larger THE THIRD SPACE | MSC EDITION, February 12–13, 2027.
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From Resilience to Action
Europe faces a defining moment. Geopolitical tensions, hybrid threats and technological dependencies challenge our security, sovereignty and prosperity.
The challenge is no longer simply to understand what must change. It is to move from resilience to action — and create the connections that make cooperation possible.
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The Conversations
We will explore four interconnected themes:
Security & Hybrid Threats
Strategic Technologies & Sovereignty
Resilience Beyond Defense
Europe's Innovation Corridors
Bringing together selected voices from technology, business, science, policy, security, investment and civil society, the Salon creates space for candid dialogue, fresh perspectives and meaningful connections.
Beyond conventional panels and conference formats, it is designed to connect people who might otherwise never meet — and explore how shared challenges can become opportunities for concrete collaboration.
More info
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Schloss Leopoldskron
Our Salon takes place at the historic Schloss Leopoldskron, a landmark of creativity, cultural exchange and international dialogue.
Once the home of legendary theatre director Max Reinhardt and closely associated with the founding of the Salzburg Festival in 1920, the castle has also been home to Salzburg Global since 1947, bringing together leaders and thinkers from around the world to foster dialogue, understanding and collaboration.
A setting that perfectly reflects the spirit of THE THIRD SPACE.
Continue the conversation over an informal aperitivo with Schloss Leopoldskron wines and light bites, including the castle's signature Max Reinhardt toast.
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THE THIRD SPACE – Open Dialogues
Born from years of convening international communities around Davos, THE THIRD SPACE creates trusted spaces for exchange beyond the big stages, formal agendas and established circles.
Launched during the Munich Security Conference 2026, its first edition brought together selected leaders, founders, investors, policymakers and innovators for candid, cross-sector conversations.
Further initiatives, including the Ukraine–Germany AI in Defence Summit in Berlin and the European Future Narratives Salon at the start of Frankfurt Book Fair week, have continued this approach: connecting perspectives across disciplines, sectors and communities, with an emphasis on meaningful exchange and follow-through.
From Davos to Munich, Berlin, Frankfurt and now Salzburg, THE THIRD SPACE is building a growing community around the belief that meaningful progress begins when the right people connect across boundaries.
Learn more: https://www.the-third-space.eu
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Sonophilia Creative Leadership Forum
Our Salzburg Salon is developed in close collaboration with the Sonophilia Foundation, a nonprofit organisation dedicated to advancing creativity as a driving force for innovation, leadership and societal progress.
For over a decade, Sonophilia has connected exceptional minds across science, business, technology and the arts, encouraging interdisciplinary thinking and new approaches to complex challenges.
Our Salon precedes the Sonophilia Creative Leadership Forum (November 20–22), including Saturday's festive Dinner & Party in the castle's elegant setting.
Partner rates are available for both communities for the Forum and Saturday evening celebrations. Separate registration is required.
Learn more about Sonophilia:
https://www.sonophiliafoundation.org
Explore the Creative Leadership Forum & weekend programme:
https://www.sonophiliafoundation.org/sonophilia-creative-leadership-forum-2026/
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Registration & Event Policies
Invitation-only: Participation is subject to approval by the organising team. Capacity is limited to preserve the intimate and interactive character of the Salon.
Ticket transfers: Tickets cannot be transferred without prior approval. If you wish to nominate someone to attend in your place, the proposed replacement must be approved by our team.
Refunds: Requests received on or before 31 October 2026 are eligible for a full refund. After that date, tickets are non-refundable. If the organisers cancel the event, you will receive a full refund. Please send refund requests to contact@the-third-space.eu.
Photography & filming: Photographs and video recordings may be taken during the event and used for event-related communications. By attending, you acknowledge that you may appear in these materials. If you have concerns, please contact the organising team in advance.