SWISSto12, a Lausanne-based aerospace company, has secured €73 million in funding to develop its HummingSat satellite, a compact geostationary telecommunications system. This investment from European Space Agency (ESA) member states highlights the growing importance of digital sovereignty within the space sector. The project aims to provide agile, cost-effective satellite communication solutions, addressing challenges in the space economy. The funding comes through the ESA’s Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems (ARTES) HummingSat Partnership Project. The financial support was backed by pledges from Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Sweden, Norway, and Canada. This funding will accelerate HummingSat’s development, industrialization, and manufacturing capacity. HummingSat’s development is critical for enabling satellite sovereignty, providing nations with independent communication capabilities. This project is particularly significant for customers seeking to expand transponder capacity and deploy sovereign capabilities. The first launch of HummingSat, which will be for SES, is scheduled for 2027. SWISSto12 is at the forefront of the shift towards smaller, more efficient satellite solutions. The company’s innovative use of 3D-printing technologies for radio frequency components further enhances the project’s technological advancement. The company is also working to develop phased-array antenna technologies.

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Publication: EU-Startups

Published: January 21, 2026 at 08:30 AM UTC

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