Biotechnet held its 4th annual Meet-Up on the topic of space biology.

Quick Facts

• January 26, 2026 at the KKL in Luzern
• 80 participants: academic (55), industrial (20), government and associations (5)
• 3 presentations, 1 panel, 3 flash projects
• Sponsored by: SATW
• Organized by: Biotechnet, HSLU

Next event:

• January 2027

Session overview

Laura Suter-Dick and Oya Tagit, FHNW / Biotechnet: Welcome and overview of Biotechnet platforms

• Biotechnet thanked Laura Suter-Dick for her service as president and welcomed new president Oya Tagit. Oya presented Biotechnet's 7 technology platforms and 1 training platform.

Marcel Egli, HSLU: Exploring the uncommon for the common good

• Marcel gave an overview of space biology research from the early 1980s to the present, emphasizing different types of research that have been done in space or in other microgravity environments. He covered the evolution of bioreactors on missions over the years. He underlined areas of human health where findings in space bio can be translated for our benefit on earth: back pain, muscle deterioration, and others.

Matteo Moretti, USI: 3D bioprinting in space

• Matteo took us on a deep dive into 3D bioprinting in space, including the magnetic bioassembly of spheroids, the bioprinting of meniscus constructs, and bioprinted liver constructs. He mentioned a new volumetric bioprinting technique in microgravity called xolography, which enables the rapid production of various soft and hard materials without support. He explained how the latest devices combine bioprinting and cell cultures and highlighted the differences between bioprinting on Earth and in space.

Stefan Lübcke, Yuri: Science Taxi and Microgravity Ageing Experiments

• Stefan shared the current state-of-the-art in micro reactors for space biology, including Yuri's s company's space shells and space taxis, called Biospin, Biocube, and Bioforge. From the perspective of a leading SME, he provided insights into the commercial applications of space biotechnology and encouraged scientists in attendance to get involved now in order to participate in upcoming missions.

Panel: Experience performing biology experiments in space, accessing test platforms and funding

• Floriah Kehl (ETH Space), Célia Metry (Prometheus Life Technologies) and Fabrice Rottmeier (Almatech) kicked off the panel by explaninig the differences between astrobiology and space biology and in which of those fields they are active in.
• They discussed why it's important to go to space and do research there - a fundamental part of knowing more about our universe and where we came from.
• They told us about opportunities to obtain funding through the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF), Innosuisse, ESA and NASA, EU grants, and private funding (venture capital), and described what helped them secure different types of financing.
• They also shared that Switzerland has excellent positioning to be a top player in space research - through its excellence in innovation and ability to collaborate with the ESA and NASA.
• They highlighted that Swiss investors will need to be a bit more gutsy if we want this field to reach its full potential.