SWISSto12’s compact satellites are revolutionising space
SWISSto12, a leading enabler of the new space economy, has developed a new compact, cost-effective yet high-performance geostationary satellite, HummingSat. Swiss Export Risk Insurance SERV provides cover for the SME, enabling it to establish itself successfully in the international satellite communications market. Today, SWISSto12 is one of the fastest-growing aerospace companies in Europe.
16.09.2026
Satellites have transformed life on Earth: without them, there would be no navigation systems, no accurate weather forecasts and no live television footage from the other side of the world. Satellites fulfil a wide range of functions and orbit the Earth at different altitudes along different trajectories.
One particular type of satellite is the so-called geostationary satellite, which is positioned above the equator and orbits the Earth at exactly the same speed as the Earth rotates. As a result, when viewed from the Earth’s surface, geostationary satellites always appear in the same position, which is useful for television, for example, because the satellite dish only needs to be aligned correctly once to receive a signal.
Patented 3D printing for revolutionary satellite technology
A local Swiss company has been making a global impact on the geostationary satellite market for several years now. Founded in 2011 as a spin-off from EPFL, SWISSto12 celebrates 15 years of purposeful innovation in the space sector this year. The company builds payloads for any mission, on any platform, in any orbit. Its advanced payloads are also hosted on HummingSat, the company’s proprietary geostationary satellite for commercial and government use, built at its expanded industrial and commercial site in Renens. This state-of-the-art satellite weighs only around one tonne, making it up to five times lighter than conventional satellites of the same type. It can be produced much more quickly and is up to ten times cheaper to manufacture and launch into orbit.
SWISSto12’s payloads benefit from unique, patented 3D printing processes. SWISSto12 holds no fewer than 40 patent families for 3D printing technologies in novel satellite systems, payloads, radio frequency antennas and products – more than anyone else. Using its patented designs and manufacturing processes, SWISSto12 builds high-performance, high-availability RF radio frequency products and advanced array antenna systems.
Collaboration with industry leaders
SWISSto12’s partners and customers include the largest companies and organisations in the satellite communications market. Strategic among the partners is the European Space Agency (ESA). HummingSat is developed in partnership with the ESA – in a Partnership Project within the Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems (ARTES) programme.
In 2023, the British company Inmarsat (now part of Viasat) awarded SWISSto12 a contract to supply three HummingSats. Inmarsat is one of the world’s largest providers of mobile communications solutions and operates a network of its own satellites covering almost the entire surface of the Earth. The new satellites are intended to help improve the reliability of the mobile network.
To finance the production of the three satellites and avoid liquidity bottlenecks, SWISSto12 has raised external capital. The company also contacted Swiss Export Risk Insurance SERV, which assisted it in securing a bank working capital facility loan worth 40 million Swiss francs and insures this facility. This enabled SWISSto12 to commence production of the three satellites without having to raise additional capital to manage liquidity.
The customer’s commitment to its supplier
The arrangement of the loan for SWISSto12 involved not only the company itself and SERV, but also the customer, Inmarsat.. Inmarsat actively championed SWISSto12’s cause to ensure it gained access to the necessary financing and insurance cover. Julien Schaar, who managed the deal on behalf of SERV, was impressed by this commitment: “I have rarely seen a buyer go to such lengths for its supplier.” In addition to the customer, SWISSto12’s shareholders also played a part in providing the necessary guarantees for the loan insured by SERV. “All these dedicated stakeholders have helped to make this groundbreaking project a reality,” says Julien Schaar with conviction.
Today, SWISSto12 is one of the fastest-growing aerospace companies in Europe. “We look forward to continuing to support and assist SWISSto12 with its international growth plans in the future,” says Julien Schaar.
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