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Starlab Space, an international joint venture of Airbus, Voyager Space, Mitsubishi and MDA Space, signed a memorandum of understanding to locate at the Switzerland Innovation Park Zurich the payload operation and control center, a Center of Excellence for payload development and operations, as well as additional ground segments of Starlab focused on biotechnology, biomedicine and pharmaceuticals.
From 2029, Starlab aims to fill the gap left by the decommissioning of the International Space Station (ISS), which is expected in 2030. Starlab’s space station will not only enable international research to continue but will also open up low Earth orbit for commercial activities.
At the press conference on Dec 9, Carmen Walker Späh, Government Coucillor and Head of the Department of Economic Affairs and Silvia Steiner, Government Coucillor and Head of the Department of Education acknowledged the importance of Starlab Space for economy, research and education in the Greater Zurich Area. Manfred Jaumann, managing director of Starlab Space named among the major drivers for the choice of the innovation park in Dubendorf: the fully operational airfield at Dübendorf with its possibility for direct flights to the rocket launch pads in Florida and Texas, the economic power of the area, the presence of biotech and high-tech companies and the newly founded Center for Space & Aviation Switzerland and Liechtenstein (CSA) and the Switzerland Innovation Park Zurich. Christof Domeisen, Chairman of the Board of Directors of IPZ Property AG welcomed Starlab Space as the first major international industry partner at the Innovation Park Zurich. Michael Schaepman, President of the University of Zurich, Elisabeth Stark, Vice President of Research and Innovation at UZH, Vanessa Wood, Vice President for Knowledge Transfer and Business Relations ETH and Oliver Ullrich, who is representing the newly founded Center for Space and Aviation Switzerland and Liechtenstein have framed the future-oriented undertaking from their perspectives.
The memorandum of understanding for the payload operation and control center for the future space station was signed by Starlab Space (Manfred Jaumann), Switzerland Innovation Park Zurich (Christoph Domeisen) and the newly founded Center for Space and Aviation Switzerland and Liechtenstein (Elisabeth Stark and Oliver Ullrich, see picture above).
The center brings together the aerospace expertise of four universities - the University of Zurich, HSG, Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts and the Private University in Liechtenstein as well as the Swiss Air Force's Aeromedical Institute, Swiss SkyLab and the space department of the national administration of the Principality of Liechtenstein. With over fifty research teams, it’s state-of-the-art infrastructure of its partners and international networking, the Center occupies a pole position throughout Europe for the coming challenges in low earth orbit. The core objectives are applied research, links with industry and the expansion of research flights in Dübendorf. At the same time, the Center is investing in further education courses: New courses of study are designed to qualify specialists for the new space economy on a part-time basis.
The Center for Space and Aviation sets new standards in cooperation between science, industry and public institutions and sees itself as a driver of innovation and bridge builder. With a location at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, it is already positioning itself globally and aims to harness the potential of the new space economy for the region. The vision is to create a “Space Valley” stretching from Central and Eastern Switzerland to the Rhine Valley, which will attract international attention.
Center for Space and Aviation Switzerland and Liechtenstein, cooperation Partner:
Innovation Cluster Space and Aviation der Universität Zürich (UZH Space Hub)
Center for Aviation and Space Competence of the university of St. Gallen (CFAC-HSG)
Swiss Skylab Foundation Civil Research Flight Facility at airfield Dübendorf
Aeromedical Institute, Swiss Air Force
National Administration Principality of Liechtenstein, Office for Communications, Space
Private University in the Principality of Liechtenstein | UFL
Federal Office for Civil Aviation BAZL/FOCA
Media coverage of press conference (selection, German language):