Explore the future through the eyes of renowned scholar, Professor Vivianna Fang He!
Join The No.1 NewSpace Event in Europe

10 PANELS | 30 SPEAKERS | 200+ ORGANIZATIONS | 400 PARTICIPANTS
11-12 September 2023
KKL Congress Center
LUZERN (Switzerland)
Verkehrshaus (Planetarium & Space Exhibition)
ABOUT THE EVENT
One City
Two Days
Three Locations
Endless Opportunities
Dear Space Community Members & Friends of NewSpace,
Welcome to our Space Congress Landing Page!
Switzerland is currently revising its space policy and devising a national legal framework for space, recognizing international developments. The Swiss Space Office is seeking inputs to its innovation policy.
The European Space Agency is making similar efforts, having established a Directorate for Commercialization and accompanying Center (ECSECO), and expanding their roles in supporting players of the NewSpace era through its own incubation network (ESA BIC).
The current crossroads and need for new policy and commercial thinking are a call for action to the space community, finding responses solidly grounded in economics and innovation management, learning from other sectors, space verticals and defining viable solutions for economic, environmental, and social sustainability.
For these reasons, the Swiss Aerospace Cluster and Center for Aviation and Space Competence at the University of St. Gallen (in cooperation with Space eXchange Switzerland and ESA European Center for Space Economy and Commerce) are introducing COMMERCIAL SPACE DAYS. Leading space companies will meet with key academics in economics, innovation management and business… discussing entrepreneurship, lessons learned from the space revolution of the last decade and providing inputs for the next era of space commercialization.
The conference highlight will be a panel discussion with leading innovation & space economists Mariana Mazzucato (UCL), Dominique Foray (EPFL), Vivianna Fang He (HSG) and Matthew Weinzierl (HBS). Special Guests: NASA Chief Economist Alexander MacDonald and NASA Commercial Director Dan Rasky.
Considered as the No.1 NewSpace Event in Europe, we will also provide a start-up area, venture points, science fair, career services and opportunities for networking and matchmaking, using our exclusive b2match platform to get in touch with 200+ organisations | 400 participants and speakers.
The Commercial Space Days Event Team is looking forward to welcoming you in Luzern.
Best regards,
René Puls
Managing Director (Swiss Aerospace Cluster)
Event Director (Aerospace Innovation Days 2021-2024)



MEET THE SPEAKERS
The business and academic inputs will be combined in this 2-day space congress, focusing on a progressive discussion by world-class thought leaders, and adding industry updates, disruptive solutions and investors’ views to the event portfolio. Here are some of our confirmed keynote speakers and panelists (list is constantly updated with latest additions/confirmations):

PROGRAM
In addition to speaker inputs and panel discussions, COMMERCIAL SPACE DAYS will host different forums dedicated to NewSpace, Careers, Commercial Space, Constellations, as well as Sustainability, Acceleration and Venture Capital.
Academic Paper Sessions in Space Economy & Commerce will be complemented by a Science Fair for universities and student initiatives. Both days will offer a Business Zone in combination with the B2B Matchmaking Platform (b2match) for pre-arranged meetings.
The social program of Day 1 will feature a cocktail reception onboard the MS Diamant, including a Lake Cruise and transfer to Luzern’s Planetarium (Multi-Media Show) and Aerospace Exhibition Hall (Gala Dinner). Day 2 will conclude with a special keynote (tba) and the ECSECO Space Commerce Awards ceremony.
DAY 1

INDUSTRY UPDATES | KEYNOTES
ACCELERATION & VENTURE CAPITAL
SPACE ECONOMY: SETTING THE SCENE
THE GREAT DEBATE: INNOVATION ECONOMY IN SPACE
LAKE CRUISE
PLANETARIUM
GALA DINNER

SMEs & ENTREPRENEURSHIP
SPACE CAREERS
ACADEMIC PAPER COMPETITION
COMMERCIAL PROGRAMS
SUSTAINABILITY
ECSECO AWARDS
FAREWELL APERO
DAY 2
ALL DAYS

PARTNER LOUNGES
SCIENCE FAIR
B2B MATCHMAKING
BUSINESS ZONE
SPECIAL INTEREST FORUMS
CONFERENCE PROGRAM DAY 1
(11ᵗʰ September)
Welcome Coffee & Exhibitions
10:00 – 10:30
Intro & Welcome Address
10:30 – 12:00
Industry Updates & Panel
(Partners)
Networking Lunch & Exhibitions
13:30 – 15:00
Acceleration & Market Dynamics
13:30 – 15:00
Space Innovation Economy: Setting the Scene
Networking Coffee Break & Exhibitions
15:30 – 17:00
The Great Debate of Innovation Economy in Space (Panel)
Social Program
17:15 – 18:15
Cocktail Reception & Lake Cruise (from KKL to Verkehrshaus)
18:15 – 19:00
Sunset Tour (Return to KKL, MS Diamant)
Verkehrshaus*:
18:30 – 19:15
Multi-Media Show (Planetarium)
The SpaceX Story
by NASA & COTS Legend Dan Rasky
19:30 – 21:30
Gala Dinner (Aviation & Space Exhibition)
* Premium Tickets, Partners & Speakers
CONFERENCE PROGRAM DAY 2
(12ᵗʰ September)
Hangover Breakfast & Exhibitions
09:00 – 10:00
Space Community Service for Switzerland (by SXS)
09:00 – 10:00
Space Careers & Young Talents
10:00 – 11:00
Academic Paper Presentations
10:00 – 11:00
ESA Commercial Programs (Part 1)
10:00 – 11:30
The Great Debate - Reloaded: Space Innovation in US, EU and CH
11:00 – 12:00
Academic Paper Presentations
11:00 – 12:15
ESA Commercial Programs (Part 2)
11:45 – 12:30
Space Commercialization: Selected Projects
Networking Lunch & Exhibitions
13:45 – 14:45
Space Business & Opportunities in Switzerland (by SXS)
13:45 – 15:15
Sustainability in Space Keynotes & Panel
Mini Break
15:30 – 16:30
SPECIAL Keynote (tba), ECSECO Awards & Farewell Address (State Secretariate of Switzerland)
Farewell Apero & Networking


TICKETS
Ready for Luzern?
2-Day Congress Pass includes:
-
All Plenary & Special Interest Sessions
-
Workshops, Paper Presentations, Break-outs
-
B2B Matchmaking Platform (b2match)
-
Hospitality Services
-
Access to Business Zone
-
Cocktail Reception (Day 1)
-
ECSECO Awards (Day 2)
Gala Special (Verkehrshaus):
-
Multi-Media Show (Planetarium)
-
Gala Dinner (Aviation & Space Exhibition)

LOGISTICS

Venue
We are welcoming you to one of Switzerland’s most famous and picturesque cities: LUZERN...
...located at Lake Lucerne, in the center of Europe (<45 minutes from Zürich). COMMERCIAL SPACE DAYS will take place in the famous KKL Congress Center (opposite Luzern’s Central Station), across five floors (more than 3'000 sqm of seminar, meeting, presentation & hospitality areas for CSD2023) with breathtaking views of the Swiss Alps, and offering state-of-the-art infrastructure for an immersive congress experience.
Did you know? The KKL venue was home to the ESA Ministerial Council in 2016.
Your Stay
September is known to be the most attractive month for both private and business travel, the city is hosting various cultural events and «showing off» to its guests. Arriving on the weekend or staying a few days longer are options worthwhile.
Given the attractiveness of Luzern and providing a seamless experience to our congress attendees, we have already reserved almost 300 hotel rooms, exclusively for CSD2023 participants at special rates for 2*, 3* and 4* accommodations. Those hotels are in close proximity (walking distance) to the venue or located next to public transport, which is second to none and within 4–7 minutes travel time to the Central Station.
Hotels
Our Congress partners, the Convention Bureau of Luzern and Bucher Travel, have created a convenient Booking Platform for your stay (room rates and conditions are negotiated and favorable compared to other booking engines). Whenever possible, please use the provided platform to benefit from the CSD2023 rates. All hotel rates include breakfast, public transport and we are considering a check-in & luggage service in the KKL venue for all guests, booked through the platform.