50th Anniversary of the ESA Convention

Illuminate Europe’s sky!

26th of May 16:30 Swiss Tech Convention Center Lausanne

Be aware that parking spots at the SwissTech Convention Center are very limited. We highly recommend you to privilege public transport.

The Swiss-led troupe The Blackouts will entertain us with a captivating light show all along the celebration. 

Science, Exploration, Inspiration

Illuminate Europe's sky!

On the Monday 26th of May, Space Exchange Switzerland (national platform funded by the Swiss Space Office of the SERI) is very fortunate to host the celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the ESA Convention in Lausanne. In 2025, the 50th anniversary of the signature of the ESA Convention (30 May 1975) provides the opportunity to reflect not only on ESA’s past achievements, but also on its future perspectives. Come and join us for this celebration! It will be a wonderful opportunity to discover ESA’s past and future achievements, you will meet major space actors like Josef Aeschbacher, ESA’s director general and our new Swiss Astronaut Marco Sieber. We have the honor of having Guy Parmelin, Federal Councillor, address the audience with a brief opening. Hear what the General Director of ESA-Josef Aeschbacher has to say about ESA’s 2040 vision and listen to exciting interventions about Science, Exploration and Inspiration in space by high-level speakers. Interludes by the Swiss-led troupe The Blackouts will add a special light to the event.

EVENT IN ENGLISH

This conference is free and open to everyone, registration is mandatory, and places are limited.

Programm

  • Overall Moderation: Space engineer & communicator, Galactic Chloé

    • Federal Councillor, G. Parmelin

    • ESA Director General, J. Aschbacher

  • EO and Space Science

    • Solar physicist at ETH Zurich, L. Harra

    • Astrophysicist, specialist in planetary system modelling, W. Benz

    • President EZH, M. Schaepman

    • Director of Human and Robotic Exploration ESA, D. Neuenschwander

    • Astronauts: M. Sieber, S. Cristoforetti, M. Lopéz-Alegría & C. Nicollier

    • ESA Director General, J. Aschbacher

  • Moderation: Deputy Head Science & Environement TV news at RTS, O. Dessibourg

    • Co-Founder, Executive Chairman of AXIOM Space, Dr. K. Ghaffarian

    Panel discussion: challenges of the coming years

    • Director of Commercialisation, Industry and Competitiveness at ESA, G. Naja

    • Leader of ETH Zürich, T. Zurbuchen

    • Head Swiss Space Office - Head of Delegation of ESA, R. Krpoun

    • CEO of Apco Technologies SA, A. Pugin

    • President of EPFL, A. Fontcuberta i Morral

    • State Secretary for Education, Research and Innovation, M. Hirayama