Space activities occupy an important place in our society. Beyond their scientific contribution to exploring the Earth and the universe, they have become an integral part of our daily lives. We rely on them for so many things: satellite-based global telecommunication services, road, maritime and air navigation systems, and Earth observation for more reliable weather forecasts and a better understanding of climate change.
Switzerland has been actively involved in this field since the early days. It is a competitive and reliable partner in the space sector, both within Europe and across the globe. Thanks to its innovative strength and precision technology, Switzerland has gained a solid and acknowledged position in strategically significant fields
Space contributes to a flourishing economy and a prosperous society. It is also crucial to Switzerland’s position as a centre of research and to its security. Moreover, it generates value-added activities for the benefit of current and future generations. For a highly developed country such as Switzerland, a strong commitment to space activities is vital
Switzerland does not have its own national space agency. It does most of its research and development within the framework of the European Space Agency’s activities and programmes. The Swiss Space Office, which is the SERI division responsible for space matters, performs the following tasks
- developing and implementing Switzerland’s national space policy in close cooperation with other departments and offices;
- coordinating within the Federal Administration the activities carried out in Switzerland for the exploration and use of outer space;
- developing and implementing complementary national activities for the application of Switzerland’s space policy;
- serving as a point of contact for industry and users of space applications;
- serving as a point of contact for scientific institutions (federal institutes of technology, cantonal universities, universities of applied sciences) for space-related questions;
- representing Swiss interests towards the European Space Agency (ESA);
- assessing the effects of Switzerland’s space policy and making the results available;
- providing information on Swiss space activities to various stakeholder groups.