A resounding success! With 175 registered attendees, the EPFL Space Day 2026 brought together the entire EPFL space community on 8 May at the Rolex Learning Centre, for a full day running from 9:00 to 17:00. Organised by the EPFL Space Center, the event set out to unite all facets of EPFL's space ecosystem — students, faculties, laboratories, start-ups, and the Presidency — around a shared vision: From Classroom to Cosmos.
Inspiring voices from the top
The day opened on a high note, with EPFL President Anna Fontcuberta i Morral delivering an inspiring address that set the tone for the hours ahead, reminding the audience that “at EPFL, students are not only learning about the future, they are building it”.
Daniel Neuenschwander, Director of Human and Robotic Exploration at the European Space Agency (ESA) and EPFL Professor of Practice in the School of Engineering (STI), then offered a far-reaching keynote on the future of space at European, Swiss, and institutional levels. He outlined a potential project in which EPFL could participate, should it develop a platform to test technologies for space exploration, including establishing a base on the moon.
Emmanuelle David, Executive Director of the EPFL Space Center, presented the breadth of the Center's activities and articulated its role as a connector between the many actors driving space at EPFL — from foundational education to flight-ready projects.
(Learn more in EPFL Space Center’s annual report 2025).
The heartbeat of the community: students and alumni
One of the day's most compelling elements was the visible energy brought by students, space teams, and associations: a reminder that they remain one of the primary drivers of EPFL's space ambitions, both on campus and beyond. PhD researchers, alumni of the Minor in Space Technologies, and spin-off founders also took to the stage, demonstrating that EPFL's influence extends well into industry and research, long after graduation. As Aziz Belkhiria, founder of DPHI Space and former president of EPFL Spacecraft team, noted: “EPFL does not just educate, it produces flight-proven students”; and judging by the calibre of people in the room, the launchpad is in excellent shape.
Guided by Galactic Chloé
To tie the day together with both wit and wonder, the event was hosted by Chloé Carrière, also known as Galactic Chloé. A cosmic music quiz, a fun test on the Minor in Space Technologies, and lively introductions made for a programme that was as entertaining as it was informative.
Networking at the exhibition area
A key objective of the day was to create genuine opportunities for exchange. The exhibition area — open throughout the coffee breaks and lunch — gave students, PhD researchers, and start-ups the chance to present their work, discover one another's projects, and build connections over a coffee. This informal dimension proved just as valuable as the stage programme. In the space world, as in orbit, proximity matters, and the room had plenty of it.
The roundtable: charting EPFL's strategic vision
The afternoon's centrepiece was a panel discussion moderated by Carolyn Crichton, bringing together Claude Nicollier, Davide Bavato, Jamie Paik, Grégoire Bourban, and Edoardo Charbon. The panellists, drawn from diverse backgrounds spanning academia, institution, and exploration, reflected on EPFL's role in shaping the future of space. They underscored the quality and ambition of projects emerging from the institution, and agreed that, with the sector growing rapidly, EPFL is well placed and well advised to seize the moment.
The presence of Claude Nicollier lent the discussion a particular depth and magic. Through his accounts of spaceflight and his vision for both exploration and education, he brought that rare combination of lived experience and forward-looking inspiration that only an astronaut can offer; proof, if any was needed, that some stars are best appreciated up close.
Voices from the day
"I think EPFL is a champion, in fact, in turning projects into spin-offs. If we look at the latest examples, like Dphi Space or Pave Space, I can tell you that a lot of universities around Switzerland, even the big ones, are jealous of what is happening here. Turning projects into startups is very impressive at EPFL." - Grégoire Bourban
"Space is always a place where we dream to be, and we want to bring it closer to us. And now it's more than evident: we're actually talking about people who are directly investing and working on products that are really going to bring us closer to space. And, you know, having a space adventure, a space voyage, is not too far away from us. So, keep that dream alive, everyone, whether you're currently working on it directly or not, regardless." - Jamie Paik
"We are lucky because EPFL is strong, and EPFL is in space (on the ground, but also IN space): EPFL is flying. And we are learning from that. We have strong foundational education, strong associations, strong infrastructures, and we do have (and I love this line from Aziz) 'flight-proven students'." - Emmanuelle David
Looking ahead
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who contributed to making this day such a success. The goal was to bring the EPFL space community closer together, and it was achieved beyond all expectations. Collaboration and synergy were very much in evidence, and we look forward to doing it all again next year!
Event photos available here: https://espace.epfl.ch/epfl-space-day-2026/