Resilience from Space

Space-based applications have become an integral part of our everyday lives – whether in navigation, communication, Earth observation or traffic and infrastructure management. Space-based services have long been an integral part of economic, social and governmental processes. They make a decisive contribution to the smooth operation of agricultural systems and electricity and transport networks, enable more accurate weather forecasts and ensure the synchronisation of digital infrastructures.

At the same time, the military use of space is also steadily increasing. Orbit is becoming a confrontational space for the major powers – or, as the war in Ukraine has shown, a theatre of direct military action with noticeable effects extending into the civilian sphere.

With the increasing use of space-based technologies, dependencies – and thus vulnerabilities – are also growing. One thing is certain: space is no longer just a field of research, but a security-relevant area of strategic importance. Accordingly, the resilience of the associated applications is also becoming increasingly important.

The upcoming SSF Security Talk will therefore address this complex and highly topical issue. The focus will be on the following questions:

• How dependent are our civil and military infrastructures in Switzerland on space – and what happens if they fail?

• What geopolitical and security dependencies does Europe have in space, and how vulnerable are our satellite infrastructures?

• How do conflicts on Earth affect security in space – and what threatens Earth in the event of a military exchange in orbit?

• How are commercial and dual-use space systems changing the dynamics of modern conflicts – and what does this mean for Switzerland as a neutral country?

• What concrete steps must Switzerland/Europe take to strengthen its resilience in space – technologically, strategically and institutionally?

We cordially invite you to join experts from politics, administration, security agencies and business to discuss our dependence on space and the challenges this presents.