At the 2026 World Economic Forum in Davos, GZERO’s Tony Maciulis spoke with Ariel Ekblaw, Founder of the Aurelia Institute, about how scaling up infrastructure in space could unlock transformative breakthroughs on Earth.
Ekblaw explained that new approaches to building in orbit make it possible to go beyond the limits of rocket launches. “The reason we’re so excited about this is it lets us build things that are bigger than our biggest rocket payload fairing,” she said.
Among the most promising opportunities are space-based solar power, which could deliver constant, uninterrupted energy, and AI data centers in orbit that reduce pressure on land, water, and power grids.
As global competition intensifies, Ekblaw describes space as “the ultimate high ground,” noting a shift from Cold War rivalry to a new era driven by commercial players. She stressed that updated rules and international cooperation will be critical to shaping the industry’s future.
This conversation is presented by GZERO in partnership with Microsoft, from the 2026 World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. The Global Stage series convenes global leaders for critical conversations on the geopolitical and technological trends shaping our world.
