Four cities from across the globe have joined forces to create the Space Cities Network, an international alliance focused on advancing the aeronautics, space, and astronomy sectors.
Announced at the ICCA Congress in Abu Dhabi, the network brings together Lausanne (Switzerland), Christchurch (New Zealand), Houston (USA), and Seoul (South Korea).
This partnership aims to foster collaboration between universities, research centres, government agencies, and private industry to drive space innovation and exploration.
The global space economy, projected to reach $1.8 trillion by 2035, presents vast opportunities, and the network seeks to position its member cities as key players in this growing sector.
Co-Chair Claire Hector-Taylor from ChristchurchNZ Business Events emphasised the network’s potential: “Cities will play an integral, legacy role as hubs for events supporting the space community, hosting conferences, summits, and meetings that bring together industry leaders, researchers, and policymakers.”
The network will be supported by destination marketing organisations from each participating city, aiming to attract major international space events and strengthen local space ecosystems.
Space Cities Network fellow Co-Chair, Gerald Howard from Lausanne Montreux Congress, Switzerland said: “Space is the mirror of humanity and of our community – a quest for tomorrow. A world of exploration and innovation impacting a future that needs support and guidance. Our community, working collectively with Space experts can be one of the keystones of it, and the Space Cities Network is there to help facilitate that.”