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.
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A 36-year-old man from Ticino lost his life on Saturday in Val Malvaglia, in the north of canton Ticino, during a wingsuit jump from a plane.
Swiss Evangelical Reformed Church numbers dropping in French-speaking Switzerland
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As in German-speaking Switzerland, the number of members of the Reformed Church in French-speaking Switzerland is also declining.
Gotthard traffic queue hits 20km during holiday weekend
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The traffic jam at the Gotthard north portal reached a length of 20 kilometres on the motorway between canton Nidwalden and canton Uri.
Swiss Interior Minister visits Cannes Film Festival
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Swiss Interior Minister left the Cannes Film Festival on Saturday after three days of intensive dialogue, meetings and film screenings.
Swiss theatre director breaks with tradition at Vienna’s Rathausplatz
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With the proclamation of the "Free Republic of Vienna", the start of the festival on Friday evening was unusually political.
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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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If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.