Advanced Space Technologies as a Key to a Sustainable Future / 29.01.2025

On January 28, 2025, a discussion on the importance of innovation in space technologies took place at the Central Library of Celje, accompanying the opening of the exhibition "Can Technology Save the World?" The event was organized by the Embassy of Switzerland in Slovenia, the company Lek, a member of the Sandoz Group, and the Jožef Stefan Institute.

The exhibition highlights innovative solutions from public institutions and private companies in Slovenia and Switzerland, showcasing best practices in the fields of clean water, recycling, biodiversity, access to energy resources, green mobility, and the circular economy. Space technologies play a crucial role in these efforts, as they are key to sustainable development.

Distinguished guests participated in the discussion: Minister of Economy, Tourism, and Sport of the Republic of Slovenia Matjaž Han, Ambassador of the Swiss Confederation to Slovenia Gabriele Schreier, Director of the European Space Deep Tech Innovation Center (ESDI) Johann Richard, CEO of Lek and President of Sandoz Slovenia Gregor Makuc, and Prof. Dr. Igor Mekjavić, Head of the Laboratory for Gravitational Physiology at the Jožef Stefan Institute. Mekjavić is recognized as one of the leading experts in environmental physiology, particularly hypoxia. His work contributes to research aimed at improving the health and well-being of astronauts during long-duration space missions and habitation on the Moon or Mars. His research has attracted the attention of space agencies, leading to the enhancement of the European research center in Planica with a short-arm centrifuge designed to study the effects of centrifugation on the human body in space conditions.

The speakers emphasized that innovation and international cooperation play a crucial role in the development of space technologies. These technologies not only enable space exploration but are also indispensable in addressing global environmental challenges. Switzerland, as a founding member of the European Space Agency (ESA), and Slovenia, which became a full member on January 1, 2025, hold a significant role in the advancement of cutting-edge technologies that will shape a sustainable future.