Space Cafe ja Launch into Space Tampereella
There was a heaps of space-spiced buzz in Tampere last week!
It all started on Tuesday 12 May 2026, when the Tampere Startup Association (Start Up Nation Finland) launched a new event series with the first Space Café held in the centre of Tampere at Crazy Town’s co-working space. SpacEconomy was also invited to take part.
Then on Wednesday 13 May, Tampere University and the SpacEconomy project organised the Launch into Space networking event at the university’s Kampusareena. Over a hundred people from different parts of the space sector attended – researchers, companies, students, and enthusiasts.
What was originally planned as a small student event quickly grew into a much larger gathering as interest surged. The programme was expanded to include a visit by a NASA delegation, which included former NASA astronaut Timothy “Tim” Kopra, also known in Finland as the “sisunautti” as his family is originates from Finland.
Heidi Kuusniemi and Tim Kopra in discussion.
The goal of the Launch into Space event was to strengthen multidisciplinary collaboration and support the growth of the space sector in the Tampere region. During the day, attendees heard presentations on university research and perspectives from companies.
Research conducted in Tampere was showcased across a wide range of topics — from the use of satellite data to materials research and imaging technologies. The event also highlighted the upcoming Noodi research and innovation environment as well as the important role of students in the development of the field.
In the company talks, ICEYE, Beyond Gravity and Northbase shared practical applications and growth prospects in the sector. Business Tampere emphasised the potential of the space economy as a regional growth driver. The clear common message from the speakers was that Tampere has strong expertise that can be applied to the space sector, and there is a strong will for closer collaboration between research and industry.
Particular interest was sparked by the group of experts visiting Finland from the United States, which drew a large audience and media attention.
Representing Voyager Technologies, Kopra spoke about his experiences living on the International Space Station and emphasised the importance of collaboration, curiosity, and courage in the development of the space sector. He also reminded the audience that the future of the field is built on multidisciplinary expertise.
Scott Rodriguez, Program Manager for Voyager’s collaboration with the NASA HUNCH student programme, spoke about NASA’s Artemis programme, which aims to return humans to the Moon and establish a permanent presence there.
The networking and poster session at the end of the event was very lively: participants engaged in active discussions and formed new connections. The enthusiasm suggested there was a genuine need for this kind of networking event.
The Launch into Space event showed that interest in the space sector is growing and that Tampere has excellent potential to become a significant hub of expertise in the field.
The space buzz had already started the previous evening when Tampere Startup Association launched its new Space Café series with the first space-themed event on 12 May 2026 at Crazy Town’s co-working space in central Tampere.
The SpacEconomy project was also invited to participate.
The atmosphere was warm and conversational from the start, with around thirty participants. Events like this are especially valuable as they bring together actors from different micro-ecosystems, enable networking, and strengthen the entire national space sector.
Presenting their academic projects were Minna Pura from Laurea University of Applied Sciences (partner in the EU-funded AEROFUSE project) and Ali Arslan from the University of Vaasa, who spoke about the Nordic Hub focused on space data.
The business side was represented by speakers Tommi Rasila (North Base), Tommi Lampila (Xiphera) and Ebra Gohari (Caraventures). The perspective of space students and the latest updates were shared by Deniel Must from Aalto Space Association.
A common theme among the speakers was cross-sector collaboration in the space industry. One actor has ground stations, another has launch infrastructure, a third has satellite data, a fourth turns that data into services, and a fifth ensures cybersecurity. Very few players can cover the entire value chain alone. Because technological investments in the space sector are often massive and the field is highly multidisciplinary, collaboration is not just beneficial – it is almost essential.
Multidisciplinarity was also highlighted in the panel discussion, which included Ia Hyttinen alongside Tommi Rasila, Ali Arslan, and Tommi Lampila.
An explosively growing sector needs new talent. It is important to keep public discussion about the growth of the space industry alive so that it also attracts people who are not yet involved. One recognised bottleneck is the fragmented nature of space education pathways, but the SpacEconomy project is developing solutions for this as well.
The shared message was clear: it is not too late to get involved. In fact, the biggest growth in the space sector is still ahead.
The space industry needs new professionals, and there is room for people from many different backgrounds. Perhaps most importantly, the people already working in the field are very open and encouraging. Newcomers are genuinely welcomed!
Text by: Johanna Haveri and Ia Hyttinen
Photos: Dipanjan Das / Startup Nation Finland and Johanna Haveri