Swiss State Secretary Hirayama attends space summit in Paris

(CONNECT) State Secretary Martina Hirayama took part in the International Space Summit in Paris on 9 and 10 September 2026, where as a top civil servant she represented Switzerland. At the summit convened by French President Emmanuel Macron, high-level representatives from politics, science, business, the military, and civil society shared views on space and its future, according to a statement from the Swiss government.

The summit aimed to foster an open and direct dialogue on the future of space travel and the exploration of low Earth orbits. Switzerland is a founding member of the European Space Agency (ESA) and has participated in almost all its activities since 1975. Swiss companies and research institutions make important contributions to ESA missions. During bilateral meetings at the summit, Martina Hirayama advocated for greater European involvement in space exploration, emphasizing the growing role played by the private sector. ce/ww