On Wednesday, May 29th, 2024, the “Switzerland – Greece Space Networking Event” was successfully concluded at the residence of the Swiss Ambassador H.E. Stefan Estermann in Athens. The purpose of the event was to strengthen cooperation between and create business opportunities for the Swiss and Greek Innovation Ecosystems in the fields of space technologies, optical communications and quantum infrastructure.
The cooperation in the framework of the pioneering Hellenic Quantum Communications Infrastructure – HellasQCI, a project coordinated by GRNET – National Infrastructures for Research and Technology, operating under the auspices of the Greek Ministry of Digital Governance, is a concrete example. Other participants of the meeting have had or are planning similar collaborations in the promising field of space.
The event developed across three key levels: institutional, transnational, and space industry. During the meeting best practices in the field were exchanged and the conclusions of the discussions are expected to strengthen and expand relations between the two countries’ organizations and companies in the space sector. Additionally, the event could facilitate the development of science and innovation through potential new targeted institutional initiatives and programs promoting advanced technological solutions in space sciences.
The strong collaborative spirit was evident by the participation of representatives from the space industries of both countries. On the Swiss side IDQuantique, Synopta, Thales Alenia Space-CH, Swissto12, Decentriq, Viasat, CSEM (Centre Suisse d’Electronique et de Microtechnique) and the Swiss Space Industry Group (SSIG) participated. On the Greek side Leo Space Photonics, Thales Alenia Space-GR, OHB Hellas, ES Systems, Planetek, Hellas Sat, Teletel, Cloudsignals and ISD participated.
Finally, the event was an opportunity to define future actions and objectives to strengthen cooperation between the two countries, driving advancements in the development and investment in cutting-edge space technologies for the ultimate benefit of citizens.
The Programme Committee of the event was comprised of Dr. Renato Krpoun, Head of the Swiss Space Office (SSO) under the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation SERI, Nikolaos Doukas, Head of the Section for Economic & Commercial Affairs of the Greek Embassy in Bern, Prof. Ioannis A. Daglis, President of the Hellenic Space Center, Dr. Jorge Sanchez, Director of ESA BIC Greece, Chairman si-Cluster and Dr. Thanassis Potsis, Chairman of the Hellenic Association of Space Industry (HASI).
The event was attended by honourable and distinguished guests: Prof. Konstantinos Karantzalos, Secretary General of Telecommunications & Post, Dr. Renato Krpoun, Head of the Swiss Space Office (SSO) under the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation SERI and Prof. Emeritus Stefanos Kollias of National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) and Chairman of GRNET’s (National Infrastructures for Research and Technology) Board of Directors.
The event was organized by the Embassy of Greece in Bern and the Embassy of Switzerland in Athens and took place under the auspices of the Greek Ministry of Digital Governance. The event was co-organized by the Swiss Space Office (SSO) under the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation SERI, the Hellenic Space Center (HSC) operating under the auspices of the Ministry of Digital Governance, the Hellenic Space Technologies and Applications Cluster (si-Cluster), the Hellenic Association of Space Industry (HASI) and the European Space Agency Business Incubator Centre Greece (ESA BIC Greece).
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