About
l4space |
Image credit: NASA
History, Mission and Objectives
At the initiative of Professor Véronique Dehant, Louvain4Space was established in 2017 to bring together space research expertise across UCLouvain and to foster the development of interdisciplinary collaborations in both research and education. The network aims to structure existing expertise, support the emergence of collaborative projects, and enhance the visibility of space-related activities.
A Multidisciplinary Approach
Space-related activities at UCLouvain draw on expertise from several sectors, including Science and Technology, Health Sciences, and Humanities and Social Sciences. Louvain4Space builds on this cross-disciplinary dynamic by fostering interactions between disciplines and encouraging the integration of different scientific approaches.
The network contributes to UCLouvain's commitment to developing high-impact interdisciplinary research.
Today, the network brings together more than 100 members.
Strong Regional Roots and Global Engagement
Louvain4Space is fully embedded in the regional ecosystem and develops close collaborations with Belgian academic partners, Walloon industrial stakeholders active in the space sector, as well as regional and federal public authorities.
Louvain4Space is actively involved in regional Walloon initiatives such as Space4ReLaunch and JRI4Space, and contributes to the working groups of the Groupement des Industries Wallonnes Aéronautiques et Spatiales (GIWAS). It is also represented within Wallonie Espace and the SkyWin Aerospace Competitiveness Cluster.
Over the years, Louvain4Space has actively contributed to Belgian Space Week and Switch to Space events, regularly organising activities on the Louvain-la-Neuve campus to foster interactions between students and the space industry.
In parallel, Louvain4Space researchers are involved in numerous international projects and participate in European programmes, notably Horizon Europe and ESA programmes. These activities contribute to strengthening UCLouvain's position within global space research networks and collaborations.
UCLouvain's Industry Partners
Louvain4Space researchers regularly collaborate with a broad network of UCLouvain industry partners, including: