Theme Month: Space—Switzerland as a Space Nation

 

Switzerland has been a spacefaring nation from the very beginning.

As a founding member of the European Space Agency (ESA), it has helped shape European space exploration and continues to provide key technologies for launch vehicles, satellites, and scientific instruments to this day.

On the occasion of the “Days of Technology” inSeptember 2026, the SATW will bring together technical papers, interviews with experts, and events on this topic—with a clear goal: to highlight space exploration as a technological infrastructure and as a key factor in Switzerland’s competitiveness.

Why Space Is a Strategic Issue

Space travel is no longer a vision of the future, but rather an everyday part of our infrastructure.

Navigation, telecommunications, weather forecasting, and disaster response all depend on systems in orbit. These systems are increasingly operated by private companies.

  • At the 2025 ESA Ministerial Council, Switzerland committed to programs totaling 771 million euros —a record amount.
  • Through ESA’s geographical return mechanism, these contributions are intended to flow back into the country in the form of contracts for research and industry. For a country without its own space agency, this is the primary means of accessing major programs.
  • Specific national legislation is still lacking: a federal law on space travel is currently being drafted.

Technology is advancing faster than the regulations and the next generation of professionals who would need to implement them.

This is where the “Space” theme month comes in.

What will happen in September 2026?

A Coordinated Focus on Space Technologies

On the occasion of the Days of Technology in September, SATW is shining a spotlight on the Swiss space industry and bringing together key questions surrounding the topic of space:

  • What technologies are currently emerging—from satellite communications to in-orbit manufacturing?
  • Who is responsible for an orbit that is increasingly being overused?
  • Where do the skilled professionals who drive this field come from?

A variety of expert articles on different key topics

Each week, an editorial article is published on a specific technology field—ranging from 5G direct-to-cell to in-orbit manufacturing and energy from space, to Swiss participation in international research missions.

Interviews: Different Perspectives

In addition, various experts from the field have their say—those shaping the field through research, technology, and outreach.

SATW Contributions to Space

Three Key Questions

Technology

From satellite communications to manufacturing in zero gravity to energy generation in orbit: What new applications are emerging, and where can Switzerland secure value creation?

Responsibility

Orbit is a limited resource. Who is liable for space debris, who sets the rules for collision risks, and who ensures the protection of other celestial bodies?

Young Talent

The sector is growing faster than the number of professionals who keep it going. Where do these engineers come from? Who inspires them to pursue this field? Who prepares them for the workplace of tomorrow and equips them with the essential skills?

The Role of the SATW

The SATW views space exploration as a key technology-driven field with direct implications for education, research, and value creation in Switzerland.

With this themed month, it establishes an overarching framework that organizes existing initiatives and strategically consolidates them.

The SATW’s contribution lies in three functions:

  • Classifying technological developments in terms of their economic and location-policy implications.
  • Ensuringcoherence by linking individual debates into a comprehensive perspective.
  • Providing guidance for policy, business, and research through expert articles, in-depth discussions with experts, and syntheses.

The “Theme Month” offers various formats and thus serves as a tool for strategically positioning a field that shapes Switzerland more profoundly than is reflected in public debate.

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