By: Nana Appiah Acquaye
Lausanne-based
aerospace company SWISSto12 has secured €73 million in new funding from
European Space Agency (ESA) member states through the HummingSat ARTES
partnership project, strengthening its position in the geostationary satellite
market.
The
funding will support the accelerated development and industrialization of
HummingSat, SWISSto12’s compact geostationary telecommunications satellite
designed to deliver high performance in a smaller, more cost-efficient
platform. The satellite is being developed in close collaboration with ESA
under the agency’s public-private partnership framework, which aims to foster
innovation and competitiveness in Europe’s space industry.
SWISSto12,
which specializes in satellite systems and radio frequency products, said the
investment will enable the transition of HummingSat from development into full
industrial production, responding to growing demand from commercial and
institutional customers for flexible and scalable geostationary satellite
solutions.
The
HummingSat programme is part of ESA’s Advanced Research in Telecommunications
Systems (ARTES) initiative, which supports the development of next-generation
satellite communications technologies in partnership with European industry.
Through this collaboration, ESA member states are backing new satellite
platforms intended to enhance Europe’s autonomy and competitiveness in the
global telecommunications sector.
With
the additional funding, SWISSto12 is expected to expand its manufacturing
capabilities and further mature the HummingSat platform, positioning it as a
new-generation geostationary satellite solution tailored to evolving market
requirements.
