Grégoire Bourban on the Power of International Collaboration in the Space Sector

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As one of the four founding members of the Space Cities Network, Lausanne contributes its expertise in innovation and research to this global initiative.

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HQ Global

3rd Dec, 2024

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Interview

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Grégoire Bourban, Head of Space Exchange Switzerland (SXS) and Lausanne’s Space Cities Network Ambassador, is at the forefront of fostering international partnerships in the space sector. As one of the four founding members of the Space Cities Network, Lausanne contributes its expertise in innovation and research to this global initiative and with Switzerland’s reputation as a global leader in innovation and home to world-renowned universities and companies, Grégoire highlights the vital role cross-border cooperation plays in advancing space research and development. In this exclusive HQ interview, he shares insights into the importance of collaboration, the vision behind the Space Cities Network, and how it can catalyse global innovation in the space industry.

The Space Cities Network has recently been launched as an international platform for cooperation in the space sector. Why do you think cross-border cooperation is essential to advance space research and development?

Space activities are only possible through international cooperations. This is essential for research and development, especially for a country like Switzerland. We are a leader in innovation with state-of-the-art universities and worldwide recognised companies. However, due to the size of our country, we need to work at the international level to develop partnerships. This is true for a variety of domains and obviously for space. As a full member State of the European Space Agency, we have access to all the missions of the agency, the related services and the data collected. We contribute to them with unique technologies, products and sub-systems. All that would not be possible without cross-border cooperation.

As Head of Space Exchange Switzerland (SXS), you work with a diverse consortium of academic and industrial partners. What challenges do you face in coordinating these collaborations, and what strategies have you found most effective in building strong partnerships?

As a consortium of five universities, Space Exchange Switzerland benefits from a strong nationwide network. This extensive reach and our own personal experience allowed us to establish close ties with the space community right from the start. Then it was actually about making clear to everyone that Switzerland has extensive possibilities in the space sector.National events gathering the actors in the space domain appeared to be a successful way of exchanging experiences and creating the feeling of belonging to the same community. An official national presence at an international event or conference is also a good way of strengthening the links between the Swiss actors. This was the case at the 75th International Astronautical Congress 2024 in Milano, where Space Exchange Switzerland organised the Swiss pavilion. Finally, open calls for project funding, involving several partners, boost the interest in discovering new partners to push further space research and development.

The Space Cities Network brings together cities with unique strengths in space innovation. How do you see this network supporting the broader space industry, particularly fostering links between governments, academic institutions and private companies?

Having a visible and dynamic network with recognised members enables new opportunities to support the ecosystem better. As a researcher or industrial, we may not have the time to think about visibility and the importance of communication, especially in a domain where public money is involved. The Space Cities Network should play an important role in this area thanks to its international character, the strong links with local major actors in the space domain and with local authorities. It may support the development of stronger links between the members of the network which will eventually be beneficial to all the space actors.

Countries around the world have different space programmes, priorities and ambitions. In your experience, how can nations with different goals and capabilities effectively collaborate on a common approach to space development?

For Switzerland, this is pretty straightforward since we are a full member State of the European Space Agency, and therefore, we contribute to the common goals as defined by the 22 member states. Of course, it is possible within this international endeavour to give some priorities where the country identifies a strategic interest or has existing specific competencies. Apart from defence capabilities, where countries are looking for sovereignty and commercial initiatives with high competition, space activities imply a common approach and push countries to collaborate. This is also used as a diplomatic element for governmental discussions. The example of the International Space Station is particularly interesting since the international collaboration is still existing between Americans, Europeans, Japanese and Russians despite the geopolitical context.

What are the key benefits for these countries and international associations in working together, and how does the Space Cities Network help to facilitate this collaboration?

Cooperation in the space domain means sharing competencies, experiences, infrastructures and capabilities. This may reduce the costs and lower the barrier to access space assets and data. Without international cooperation, some countries would not be able to develop space activities. The Space Cities Network may facilitate collaboration with joint events, regular communications, and common goals. It will be important to stay close to the ecosystem's needs, gather information and needs to provide the best support.

This interview is part of HQ’s ongoing exploration of the Space Cities Network and its impact on the space sector. Don’t miss our initial interview with Gérald Howard, Senior Business Development Manager at Lausanne Montreux Congress, and Claire Hector-Taylor, Business Development Manager – International at ChristchurchNZ, where they discuss the Network’s launch and transformative goals. Read more here.

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