Media representatives are invited to the inauguration of the European Space Deep-Tech Innovation Centre (ESDI) on 27 May 2025. Implemented under the leadership of the European Space Agency in collaboration with the Paul Scherrer Institute, this new centre of excellence is the first ESA presence in Switzerland. The opening highlights the growing role of deep tech in space exploration and its potential to boost Europe’s growth and competitiveness.
The European Space Deep-Tech Innovation Centre (ESDI) is a collaborative initiative between the European Space Agency (ESA) and Switzerland, a leading deep tech country, globally renowned for its advances in robotics, nanotechnology, quantum computing, artificial intelligence, and biotechnology.
Located in close proximity to the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) at the Switzerland Innovation Park Innovaare in Villigen, ESDI is designed to accelerate the commercial adoption and availability of deep tech for the benefit of European citizens. To this end it designs, establishes, and runs platforms for deep-tech research in quantum, data, and materials, bringing to use technologies of tomorrow for the world of today. The first such platform is ESA Phi-Lab Switzerland, which is integrated into the organisation of PSI.
On behalf of ESA, ESDI will also work with public and private R&D actors, including higher education institutions to reinforce Europe’s competitiveness and autonomy by addressing the skills gap, but also strengthen the research potential and opportunities of those actors. A reinforced cooperation between ESA and higher education institutions will also contribute to develop national and local capabilities, help create space-related jobs and speed up the adoption of space solutions in the European economy.
The ceremony will bring together leaders from academia, industry, and government, and features keynote speeches, a panel discussion, and networking opportunities.
Programme for 27 May 2025
Address: Switzerland Innovation Park Innovaare, Parkstrasse 1, 5234 Villigen, Switzerland
10:30 Registration and refreshments
11:00 Welcome by Park Innovaare CEO Robert Rudolph
11:05 Ceremony opening
ESA’s Strategy 2040 – Elevating the Future of Europe through Space
Speakers:
- Dr Josef Aschbacher, Director General, ESA
- Prof. Dr Martina Hirayama, State Secretary for Education, Research and Innovation, Switzerland
- Pascale Bruderer, Vice President of the ETH Board
- Martina Bircher, member of the cantonal government, Head of the Department of Education, Culture and Sport of the Canton of Aargau
11:25 Panel Discussion – When Deep Tech meets Space
A lively exchange about the value of deep tech for space exploration, highlighting how both fields push the boundaries of the possible, boosting Europe’s growth and competitiveness by leveraging knowledge-rich technologies at the frontiers of science and engineering.
Panellists:
- Joanne Sieber, CEO, Deep Tech Nation Switzerland Foundation
- Prof. Dr Thomas Zurbuchen, Full Professor at the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences
Head of National Innovation Initiatives - Prof. Dr Christian Rüegg, Director, PSI
- Luca del Monte, Head of the Commercialisation Department, ESA
11:50 Keynote Talk – Humanity’s Next Leaps in Space
Dr Marco Sieber, Astronaut, ESA
12:05 Closing Remarks
Géraldine Naja, Director of Commercialisation, Industry and Competitiveness, ESA
12:10 Open Q&A
Answering online questions collected by the Moderator
Participants:
– Dr Joseph Aschbacher
– Dr Marco Sieber
– Géraldine Naja
– Prof. Dr Martina Hirayama
– Prof. Dr Christian Rüegg
12:25 Cake cutting
12:30 Wrap-up
Johann Richard,Head of ESDI, ESA
Networking cocktail
Media registration
To participate, please register via the ESA media accreditation form: https://blogs.esa.int/forms/esa-media-briefing-form/ by 23 May 2025, 5 pm CEST.
More information: https://www.esdi.ch
Contact: media@esa.int
