The Swiss Space Office (SSO) recently presented the outcomes of the ESA Ministerial Council (CM25), outlining major programmatic decisions and new opportunities for the Swiss space ecosystem. With a record €22.3 billion subscribed (+31% compared to CM22), ESA is entering a new phase marked by long-term program stability, increased private sector involvement, and a growing emphasis on security and resilience. Switzerland confirmed a contribution of CHF 781 million, maintaining its position as ESA's 7th largest contributor. This commitment ensures continued access for Swiss institutions—including EPFL—to ESA procurements and competitive tenders across all major program lines.
Key program areas relevant to EPFL
- Exploration (E3P): Focus on LEO Cargo Return Service, Gateway, Argonaut, and technology development for future deep space missions.
- Space Transportation: Continued investment in launcher evolution and cargo return capabilities.
- Connectivity & Telecom: Strong Swiss participation in ARTES 4.0, Moonlight, and technologies preparing for EU IRIS².
- Earth Observation & Climate: Opportunities in WIVERN, next-generation gravimetry, Copernicus, Digital Twin Earth, and the new European Resilience from Space (ERSEO) initiative.
- Space Safety: Advancements in Vigil, RAMSES, ADRIOS, and COSMIC.
- Navigation: New competitive tenders for CELESTE (LEOPNT) and OpStar.
- PRODEX & GSTP: Continued support for national and technology development activities, with updated requirements for industry participation.
The SSO also announced a leadership transition: Renato Krpoun will step down this summer at the end of the Swiss ESA presidency. His successor will oversee major Swiss-linked missions such as HummingSat, ClearSpace, AlpStar, and RAMSES.
Emmanuelle David, Executive Director of the EPFL Space Center, noted: “This ministerial demonstrates that, despite a challenging financial context, ESA has managed not only to maintain but to increase its budget. Switzerland’s contribution has also risen—partly due to the exchange rate—and the overall outlook remains positive, with strong engagement and many opportunities for our community. We are also witnessing a significant shift towards the creation of the new European Resilience programme. Beyond these major initiatives, ESA continues to serve as an essential stepping stone for the technological development of future European infrastructure. This summary does not cover early stage technology development opportunities, such as OSIP or the Technology Development Element, and I encourage the EPFL community to reach out to us to learn more.”
Support for EPFL researchers
The EPFL Space Center supports EPFL researchers and the Space Innovation Network engaging with ESA and the SSO by providing:
- Access to ESA Star for answering ITTs and invoicing
- Strategic guidance on ESA technology development plans
- Coordination with SSO on project specific topics
- Training and information sessions, including the annual ESA funding event co-organized with the EPFL Research Office
For ESA Star access, contact martine.harmel@epfl.ch.
For programme guidance, contact gilles.feusier@epfl.ch.