ESA arrives at PSI with innovation centre

The ESA and PSI agreed a contract defining their future partnership at the end of October, as detailed in a press release. Accordingly, the ESA will be represented at the PSI by way of a European Space Deep-Tech Innovation Centre (ESDI), which is to be housed at Switzerland Innovation Park Innovaare. Moreover, the ESDI is set to launch a platform for research activities with the Phi Lab; in organizational terms, the Phi Lab belongs to PSI.

The ESDI represents the ESA’s only permanent presence in Switzerland, as ESDI director Johann Richard explains in the press release: “It gives this international organization visibility in the country, a sense of approachability and an opportunity to network”. The Phi Lab also builds a bridge to innovators in the country, he states. “Our aim is to play our part in implementing developments from the Swiss high-tech and deep-tech sectors in practice - for ESA’s space research, for the benefit of its member states, but possibly also for completely different areas in industry”, Richard adds.

The Phi Lab will aim to develop research programs and support innovative projects. “With the Phi Lab, we will be able to support diverse teams comprising stakeholders from industry, start-ups and academic research”, comments Jennifer Wadsworth, who heads up the lab. The first funding program is set to be launched in 2025.

The ESDI and the Phi Lab will rely on infrastructure from PSI and Park Innovaare. Thierry Strässle, Chief of Staff at PSI, points in this context to the particle accelerator and large-scale research facilities in Villigen in the canton of Aargau, Switzerland. In all of these areas, the PSI is experienced, well-equipped and can offer targeted support, according to Strässle. ce/stk