Adopting the Federal Space Policy 2023External link on Wednesday, the government said the goal was to take account of the “rapid developments in and increasing importance of outer space”.
It mentioned the growing role of satellite-based applications in communication, digitalisation, navigation, weather forecasting, climate analysis, security and defence, as well as the rising number of players in the space domain in Switzerland and abroad.
The strategy is based on three strands: “access and resiliency” (using Swiss membership in international bodies to push national interests and promote sustainability), “competitiveness and relevance” (boosting the already strong standing of the Swiss space research and innovation sector), and “partnership and reliability” (strengthening a rules-based multilateral governance of space).
The government specifically mentioned Swiss participation in the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT), various UN bodies, and the European Space Agency (ESA), of which it is a member.
In November, Switzerland pledged a contribution to the ESA budget of CHF600 million ($667 million) for the next three years. The total budget of the 22-nation body for the period is CHF16.5 billion.
Also in November, 33-year-old Marco Sieber was chosen as part of an elite crop of “career astronauts” to be trained up at the ESA’s European Astronaut Centre in Cologne, Germany – all going well, he will become only the second Swiss astronaut in history.
University students in Switzerland join Gaza protest wave
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Pro-Palestinian activists occupied university buildings in Lausanne, Geneva and Zurich on Tuesday, widening the protest movement in the Alpine nation.
TradeXBank to resume full operations after Sberbank Switzerland taken off sanctions list
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TradeXBank, the former Swiss branch of Russia’s Sberbank, will be able to resume its dollar-denominated activities from the second half of this year.
Geneva decides not to remove controversial memorials
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The city of Geneva has presented an action plan regarding a series of controversial local statues and monuments of historical figures linked to racism, colonialism or slavery.
University of Lausanne calls for end to pro-Palestine sit-in
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The pro-Palestinian occupation continues at the University of Lausanne (UNIL). On Monday evening, a group of students refused to agree to the deadline set by the rectorate.
Ukraine peace conference should include Russia, says Chinese ambassador
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China supports a peace conference on the Ukraine war that would see equal participation of all parties, says Chinese Ambassador to Russia Zhang Hanhui.
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A majority of Swiss citizens have open attitudes towards various infertility treatments, including even egg donation, which is currently prohibited.
Reports of Swiss cyber fraud almost doubled in six months
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The head of the new Federal Office for Cybersecurity (FOC), Florian Schütz, has presented a new strategy after just over four months in office.
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Bern scientists hope to find the building blocks of life in space
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Scientists hope to find life in space using a state-of-the-art instrument that may be used on future space missions to Jupiter and Saturn.
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On April 14 the Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer began its journey to Jupiter. An instrument developed in Bern is a key part of the mission.
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