Brugg-Windisch, Switzerland — February 11, 2026
The Space Innovation network gathered once again for its annual meeting, hosted by the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland (FHNW) in Brugg-Windisch.
We were delighted to meet all the participants, our members, on this occasion. It is always a pleasure to discuss the many ambitious and successful projects underway in Swiss industry and academia. The space sector is booming, and the people working in it are a real source of inspiration!
With over 70 participants from academia, industry, and public institutions, the event reaffirmed Switzerland’s vibrant and growing role in space innovation.
A warm welcome
The day began with coffee and informal networking, followed by guided tours of FHNW’s Institute of Product and Production Engineering. Attendees explored cutting-edge labs and interactive booths showcasing:
- Quantum cryptography for spacecraft — Prof. Dr. Christoph Wildfeuer, Head of Quantum Technologies working group
- STIX Weltraumteleskop — Prof. Dr. Samuel Krucker Head of Research Focus Heliophysics
- Euclid Mission, what happens on Earth — Simon Marcin, Research associate
- Space Exchange Switzerland (SXS) — Hanna Sathiapal, Space Sciences Education and public engagement
- Weather Balloon QHAPS
- Qdrone — a Simulation of Free-Space Quantum Communication Using Drones
- Square Kilometer Array (SKAO) — Rohini Joshi
After a networking lunch, the FHNW Rover Team, winners of the European Rover Challenge 2024, demonstrated their Mars rover.
Afternoon: insights from the network
The afternoon featured a series of presentations by leading members of the Space Innovation network:
- Peter Flohr & André Csillaghy (FHNW) — Welcome and overview
- Christian Cardinaux (EPFL Space Center) — Space Innovation 2025 activities + introduction to the members-only extranet: https://space-innovation.ch/extranet
- Rayco Perez Cadahia (Freezz) — Bridging Space and Earth: The Quest for Technological Convergence
- Florian Emaury (Menhir Photonics)
- Erik Uythoven (APCO) — ARIEL Mission: Designing a Stable Satellite Structure
- Benjamin Guyot (Spacetalk SA) — Space traffic coordination
- Lorenz Herrmann (Empa & CSA) — Collaboration opportunities for Switzerland and Liechtenstein
- Leon Brendel (OST) — Two-phase flow and active cooling in microgravity
- Peter Erni (Armasuisse) — Space activities update
- Emmanuelle David (EPFL Space Center) — Outlook for 2026 and closing remarks
Special guest: Claude Nicollier, Swiss astronaut and space legend, was in attendance, adding a touch of inspiration to the day.
Networking, keynote, and cinema
At 4:00 PM, the Space Innovation Networking Apero invited participants to connect further.
At 4:30 PM, the marketplace opened for HTU students and other groups.
The day concluded with a public keynote by Juliette Wicki (ESA) on the Aris Program and Working at ESA, followed by a screening of Space Tourists by Christian Frei at Cinema Odeon.
A heartfelt thank you to the local FHNW team: Sarah Aberer, André Csillaghy, Lydia Feller, Vittoria Rondelli, and Peter Flohr, whose dedication made this event a success.
Looking ahead
With strong attendance and rich exchanges, the 2026 Annual Meeting has set the stage for deeper collaboration, increased visibility of Swiss space projects, and new synergies across the network.
