Starlab Hackathon – From Ideas to Space-Ready Concepts

For 30 hours, students worked on space missions of the future. Space stations in low Earth orbit were once state-driven and are now becoming part of an entrepreneurial space economy.

The Starlab Space Mission Hackathon bridges research on new technologies with targeted support from industry mentors. Students, early-career researchers, engineers, and founders from Switzerland and Germany develop feasible mission concepts with commercial potential. With direct feedback from 10 entrepreneurial and academic experts, participants have the chance to transform their ideas into application-oriented, execution-focused space missions.

The hackathon aims to create a new field of innovation at the intersection of science, entrepreneurship, and the space industry. Together with our partners, ranging from national space agencies in Germany and Switzerland to student space organizations and platform providers, its impact extends beyond the event itself: interdisciplinary talent becomes visible, project ideas take shape, and collaborations can emerge.

From a waitlist of 260 students and researchers, sixty were invited to the Innovation Park Zurich, where they worked in teams to develop viable concepts for the commercial use of Starlab. Participants travelled from various universities in Germany and Switzerland and represented disciplines such as sociology, mechanical engineering, biotechnology, psychology, and game design.

The challenge: within 30 hours, participants had to develop a concept for the commercial use of Starlab. The space station is scheduled to begin operations in low Earth orbit in 2029. By then, as the International Space Station (ISS) is retired, human activity in orbit will increasingly shift toward a commercial space economy. This transition requires new and actionable ideas.

The format connects high-potential talent with real industry expertise in an emerging market. It creates a focused environment for translating frontier science into application-oriented concepts. It aims to grow through strong collaboration across academia, industry, and the space ecosystem.

• Starlab
• Universität Zürich
• Universität Stuttgart 
• Bundesverband studentischer Raumfahrt
• Deutsche Raumfahrtagentur
• aris 
• Center for Space and Aviation Switzerland and Lichtenstein
• Yuri
• The aerospace Länd
• Innovation Park Zurich
• eesa
• Business Incubator Centre Switzerland

1. TRAINING SESSIONS
   4 online preparatory sessions to prepare participants for the space mission.
    

2. HACKATHON KICKOFF
   The event kicks off with mission preparation and a meeting with mentors. Participants will learn solid fundamentals, attend informational sessions, and have time for teamwork.
    

3. MISSION DEVELOPMENT + PRESENTATION
   Intensive concept development (30 hours), full-day support from mentors, and short thematic input sessions. The project presentation will be followed by a keynote speech, the awards ceremony, and the closing party.

The next space mission business hackathon is in planning for October/November 2026.

Please get in touch with us: 
Jeannette Bours, Lead Communications