Switzerland has long been synonymous with precision engineering, neutrality, and scientific rigor. Now, those same qualities are being channelled into the New Space economy through the Space Systems Innovation Platform (SSIP), founded by Paulo Pinhero in 2025.
Based at Technopark Luzern in the heart of Central Switzerland, SSIP is an independent platform dedicated to accelerating applied innovation across space. Born from the NASA Space Apps Challenge Lucerne, it has since evolved into a structured ecosystem connector — bridging Swiss and European research institutions, SMEs, corporates, startups, and international partners.
A particular area of focus is microgravity. SSIP treats the microgravity environment not as a research curiosity but as an industrial enabler — a platform condition that unlocks manufacturing processes, biological behaviours, and material properties simply not replicable on Earth. Within that, biotech in microgravity is emerging as one of the most commercially compelling frontiers: from protein crystallisation and drug development to tissue engineering and biomanufacturing in orbit. SSIP is actively building the collaborative infrastructure — connecting labs, life science companies, and in-orbit platform operators — to move this field from experiment to application.
What sets SSIP apart more broadly is its focus on execution rather than aspiration. The platform translates research and technological capability into tangible outcomes: prototypes, pilot missions, and commercial projects. Its approach is deliberately Swiss — precise, neutral, and IP-sovereign — enabling global collaboration without compromising strategic control over data or intellectual property.
A key upcoming event is the Global Orbital Infrastructure Summit (GOIS), taking place on 25 June. Hosted under the SSIP umbrella, GOIS is designed to convene decision-makers, technologists, and investors around the emerging architecture of orbital infrastructure.
SSIP’s commitment to strengthening the New Space ecosystem extends beyond events. Through strategic partnerships — including with the Center for Space and Aviation (CSA) of Switzerland and Liechtenstein — SSIP is collaborating with other institutes in the emerging orbital economy, ensuring that innovation developed contributes to a resilient, competitive, and globally connected space sector.
Space Systems Innovation Platform
https://www.ssip-pl.ch/
Global Orbital Infrastructure Summit 2026
https://gois.ssip-pl.ch/