On November 12, 2024, Johann Richard and Jennifer Wadsworth from the European Space Deep-Tech Innovation Centre (ESDI) came to EPFL to present their new funding program “quantum technology for space”.
Co-hosted by the Center for Quantum Science and Engineering (QSE) and the EPFL Space Center, the event brought over 30 researchers and members of industry to EPFL for an informative presentation that explained how ESDI can help support projects focused on developing and implementing quantum technologies for space.
The ESDI is a deep-tech centre of excellence in Switzerland under the leadership of ESA, implemented in partnership with the Paul Scherrer Institut (PSI). Their mission is to bring more of Switzerland’s deep-tech to the European Space Agency (ESA), and more of ESA to Switzerland. To this end, they have a Phi-Lab at ESDI, managed by Wadsworth, for fostering novel, use-inspired, interdisciplinary research “under one roof” through projects such as quantum for space.
The presentation of Richard and Wadsworth explained this Phi-Lab program and the kinds of projects they are looking to fund. Along with this presentation, which was also offered on Zoom, Wadsworth and Richard held of one-on-one meetings with a few interested researchers, engineers, and members of industry to help them hone their ideas and submit their projects.
“It was particularly exciting to be able to present at the jointly organized EPFL QSE - Space Center event, as we were able to reach not only space scientists but also, importantly, the quantum research community,” says Wadsworth. “It’s a key goal of ESDI and the Phi-Lab to involve in our activities the deep-tech communities who may not yet have experience in working with the space sector in order to familiarize them with the great collaboration potential.”
This event and collaboration between the QSE Center and EPFL Space Center followed a joint roundtable on Quantum and Space that took place at the EPFL Engineering Industry Day in March 2024.
“It was a true pleasure to welcome Johann Richard and Jennifer Wadsworth to EPFL,” says Philippe Caroff, executive director of the QSE Center. “From our Center's perspective, it is most important that we can enable, together with the EPFL Space Center, new collaboration and funding opportunities that will build further ties between our communities, leading to advances in quantum for space, space for quantum, and then, quantum in space.”