On March 11, 2025, we had the pleasure of hosting Space Innovation’s Annual Meeting at HEIG-VD in Yverdon-les-Bains! It was a day filled with insightful discussions, exciting demonstrations, and networking opportunities with our vibrant community of innovators.
Morning highlights:
- Welcome café and a tour of HEIG-VD’s cutting-edge labs: REDS, IAI, IICT, and COMATEC.
- Presentations on key space-related projects:
- SDR Software Design Radio
- DSP Digital Signal Processing (RF, Video)
- Embedded Systems (FPGA, Embedded Software)
- High Performance Acquisition Systems (GS/s, RDMA)
- Imaging Space Objects with Ground-Based Adaptive Optics
- Orbital Debris & Satellite Tracking
- Directed Energy High Power Laser Beams
- Telescope Sites Optical Turbulence Characterization
- ClearSpace (Digital and IT security)
- Robotic Additive & Composite Manufacturing
- Laser-Assisted Fiber Placement
- Large Scale 6-Axis Printing
- Multi-functional Composites (with Integrated Electronics)
After a convivial lunch, Sylvain Pasini gave us a demonstration of aeromodelling, and Andrew Price pitched his poster on spacecraft post estimation on the edge.
In the afternoon, the Space Innovation team discussed its current situation and objectives for the coming years, and some of our members presented their projects:
- Ana Maria Nogareda, General Director of HEIG-VD
Welcome speech - Christine Pirinoli, Vice-Rector for Research and Innovation HES-SO
Presentation of the institution - Amael Cohades, CEO Comppair
Healable composites for space applications - Gabriel Paciotti, Professor HES-SO Valais
3D Printed SMA Actuator - Yann Thoma HES-SO
REACCESS: REconfigurable Asymmetric Cryptography Communications for Embedded Satellite SDLS - Alberto Dassatti, Head of Institute HES-SO
REDS institute and our space projects
Software Defined Radio, Testing, and high-speed data acquisition - Ludovic Monnerat, Swiss Armed Forces Space Domain
Partnership opportunities with the Swiss Armed Forces regarding space
The day ended with a networking aperitif.
We’d like to extend our warmest thanks to HEIG-VD for their warm hospitality, as well as to all the participants and speakers for making the day such a productive and enjoyable experience. We look forward to continuing our collaboration in the future!
The Space Innovation Team
Emmanuelle David, Executive Director
Jean-Paul Kneib, Academic Director
Martine Harmel, Operations Coordinator
Christian Cardinaux, Industry Partnership Manager
Gilles Feusier, Science and Technology Specialist
Lucie Ryser, Communication Specialist
John Maxwell, IT Manager
