ESDI: technology-intensive research for the space sector and beyond
On 27 May, the official opening ceremony of the European Space Deep-Tech Innovation Centre (ESDI) will take place at the Paul Scherrer Institute in Villigen (AG). The ESDI will support and accelerate the development of innovative space technologies and make them available for commercial use.
22.05.2025
Development of this competence centre already began back in 2022 when the European Space Agency (ESA) and Switzerland signed a Memorandum of Cooperation. The aim was to intensify cooperation between the ESA and Switzerland and establish a competence centre allowing the ESA and its member states to harness the excellence of the Swiss research and higher education landscape.
For the period 2023–2025, Switzerland has allocated just under CHF 3 million of its national space programme budget to the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) for creation of the ESDI. For its part, the ESA has contributed around CHF 6.4 million. The PSI will provide the necessary floor space for the ESDI, which the ESA will run in collaboration with the PSI.
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First call for proposals relating to quantum science
Work at the ESDI has already begun and its first research platform, ESA Phi-Lab Switzerland, has been launched, with three research programmes: Quantum, Materials and Data. Alongside the ESA, the ETH Domain has also contributed around CHF 7 million to this endeavour. The first call for projects on quantum sensor technologies was issued in the spring of 2025, with a total of around CHF 3 million in allocated funding. Calls for projects for the other two research programmes will follow at the end of 2025 and early 2026.
While the European space sector will certainly benefit from the technologies developed, the projects are also explicitly intended for applications in other industries.
Deep-Tech
Deep-tech is technology-intensive research that pushes the boundaries of possibility. Through cutting-edge research and technical breakthroughs, the aim is to develop technologies for a wider range of users, including the private sector. Deep-tech has a broad time horizon and requires a long-term vision and adequate funding.
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Martina Schwab
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Simone Keller
