Ms Dinka Dinkova is Deputy Head of Unit for Innovation and New Space - Space Defence at the European Commission's Directorate General for Defence Industry and Space (DG DEFIS). Over the past decade she has worked on different areas of EU space policy and EU space programme, including uptake of space data for societal challenges and growth, Copernicus evolution, EU-ESA cooperation, communication and outreach strategies, international relations. Her professional career before joining the Commission included policy consultancy and advocacy work on knowledge economy, innovation policies, regional development and multilateral donor assistance coordination for organisations such as the World Bank, UNDP, USAID. Ms Dinkova holds a Master’s degree in business administration.