Space Innovation
Space Innovation is a Lausanne-based Swiss non-profit network hosted at EPFL that connects 40+ industrial and academic space-sector partners, providing members access to test facilities, events, training, and a Swiss space ecosystem platform.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersLausanne, Switzerland
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Space Innovation does
Space Innovation is a Swiss non-profit network organization hosted at EPFL in Lausanne that connects more than forty industrial and academic partners active in the country's space sector. It serves as the convening body between Swiss universities, research institutes, and space-sector companies, providing members with access to a curated network, a portfolio of Swiss test facilities, technology-transfer support, and industry events such as the Annual Meeting, ESMATS, IAC, and Space Tech Expo Europe. The organization's product surface is institutional rather than commercial: a members-only extranet, the annual Members Profiles publication, the interactive Swiss Space Ecosystem mapping platform, MOOCs and workshops (including Claude Nicollier's 'Space Mission Design and Operations'), and outreach programs such as MINT Vaud and 'Elargis tes Horizons' aimed at students and early-career professionals.
The underlying platform is essentially a coordination layer anchored at the EPFL Space Center. Space Innovation sits alongside the eSpace division under the EPFL Space Center umbrella, which was unified in 2023 and placed under Executive Director Emmanuelle David in February 2025. The network's technology footprint is operational (member directory, extranet, mapping platform, event infrastructure) rather than proprietary space hardware; member organizations such as Venturi Space (Artemis lunar rover), ClearSpace (debris removal), and Picterra (satellite-image analysis) are the parties developing space technology, while Space Innovation provides the connective tissue.
Commercially, Space Innovation does not sell products or license IP. Revenue mechanics are membership-based and not publicly disclosed, with the organization sustained by member dues, project-related funding from institutional stakeholders (ESA, SERI/Swiss Space Office, Space Exchange Switzerland), and EPFL's hosting relationship. Customers in effect are members, segmented horizontally into industrial partners and academic institutions, plus students reached through education and outreach. Geographic scope is Switzerland, with growing European-level convening presence through co-organization of symposia but no commercial distribution outside the country.
Space Innovation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Space Innovation
- Legal name
- Space Innovation
- Website
- https://space-innovation.ch
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Space Innovation is a Lausanne-based Swiss non-profit network hosted at EPFL that connects 40+ industrial and academic space-sector partners, providing members access to test facilities, events, training, and a Swiss space ecosystem platform.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Space Innovation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Space Industry Network and Ecosystem Services
- akta.pro primary industry
- International Science, Technology & Space Cooperation Organizations (BPADAAAK)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Technical Committees, Working Groups & Expert Panels (BPADANAB)
Keywords
Where Space Innovation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Lausanne
- HQ country
- Switzerland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Space Innovation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels8 records
Space Innovation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Space Innovation operates a Swiss national membership network of over 40 industrial and academic partners active in the space sector, offering members access to expertise, curated test facilities, collaborative projects, an interactive ecosystem platform, an annual Members Profiles publication, and industry events such as the Annual Meeting and co-organized symposia like ESMATS. The organization does not manufacture hardware or sell commercial software products; rather, it functions as a facilitation, networking, and technology-transfer layer hosted at EPFL.
Product overview
Space Innovation operates as a network organization rather than a traditional product company. The organization functions as a constellation of space competencies across Switzerland, connecting over forty industrial and academic member organizations. Core offerings include the Space Innovation Network itself (providing member services, expertise access, and test facility coordination), the Members Profiles publication (showcasing member capabilities), and the Swiss Space Ecosystem Platform (interactive map for exploring the network). Space Innovation does not develop or sell commercial products; instead, it facilitates collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and technology advancement among Swiss space sector entities.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Space Innovation Network Membership Swiss national membership network connecting over 40 industrial and academic partners in the space sector; provides members with access to expertise, curated test facilities, collaborative opportunities, the members-only extranet, and a shared platform for advancing space technologies and innovation.
- Swiss Space Ecosystem Platform Interactive mapping platform and directory enabling exploration of the Swiss space industry network and member capabilities, allowing users to discover members by competence, location, and domain.
- Members Profiles Publication Annual publication showcasing member organizations, their capabilities, and areas of expertise within the Swiss space ecosystem; distributed as a PDF resource to members and stakeholders.
- Curated Swiss Test Facilities Access
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 38,000 students have completed the MOOC 'Space Mission Design and Operations' delivered by Claude Nicollier, with over 2,000 earning certification
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Space Innovation
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Space Innovation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Space Innovation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- EPFL Space CentercoreSpace Innovation (formerly Swiss Space Office / Swiss Space Network) and eSpace were unified under the EPFL Space Center structure in 2023. Emmanuelle David was promoted to Executive Director of the EPFL Space Center in February 2025, overseeing both eSpace and Space Innovation divisions.
- EPFLcoreSpace Innovation is hosted at EPFL and serves as a connector between EPFL's academic research capabilities and the broader Swiss space industry.
- ESA (European Space Agency)coreESA is a key stakeholder; Space Innovation promotes ESA calls, training courses, and events to Swiss members. ESA co-organised ESMATS 2025 with Space Innovation, EPFL, and CSEM.
- Venturi Spaceminor
- ClearSpaceminor
- CSEMcore
- Almatechminor
- FHNW (University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland)minor
- HES-SO / HEIG-VDminor
- Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HSLU)minor
- Space4Impactminor
- Swiss Space Office (SERI/SSO)core
- Space Exchange Switzerlandcore
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Space Innovation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- UKspace: The trade association of the UK space industry, linking UK companies, academia, and government stakeholders. It is the closest functional equivalent to Space Innovation at a national level in another major European space economy.
- Netherlands Space Office (SpaceNed): Dutch national space coordination body connecting industry, research institutes, and government. Similar national-level convening role in the Dutch space ecosystem as Space Innovation plays in Switzerland.
- Commercial Space Federation: US trade association of commercial space industry participants. Plays the equivalent industry-association convening role for the American commercial space sector.
- ASD-Eurospace: The European space industry trade association representing the wider European space manufacturing and services sector. It plays the same convening/advocacy role for the European space industry that Space Innovation plays at the Swiss national level.
Others
- European Space Agency (ESA): Intergovernmental space agency and Space Innovation's Core strategic partner. Not a peer in the commercial sense, but adjacent as the dominant European space ecosystem convener with which Space Innovation co-organizes events and channels programs to Swiss members.
- CSEM: Swiss technology innovation center listed as a Core strategic partner. Provides test and research infrastructure that Space Innovation routes to members; a key ecosystem enabler rather than a direct competitor.
Direct peers
- Space4Impact: A Swiss-based space ecosystem initiative explicitly listed as a Core strategic partner. Both organizations convene and promote space sector stakeholders with similar network-orchestration functions.
- Space Exchange Switzerland: Swiss national space ecosystem platform explicitly listed as a Core strategic partner. It plays a complementary role to Space Innovation in connecting Swiss space actors, making it the most direct peer.
- SKACH (Swiss-Korean Air-Space Cooperation Hub): Swiss-Korean aerospace cooperation network referenced in Space Innovation's own Instagram posts alongside EPFL Space Center. It plays a similar network-bridging role between academic/industrial partners in a related ecosystem.
Emerging players
- Swissmem: Swiss mechanical and electrical engineering industry association. While broader than space, it serves as a comparable Swiss industry-association model with similar membership, events, and advocacy mechanics that Space Innovation uses for the space vertical.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Space Innovation social profiles
Digital presenceSpace Innovation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Space Innovation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Space Innovation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Space Innovation M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Space Innovation
What does Space Innovation do?
Space Innovation operates a Swiss national membership network of over 40 industrial and academic partners active in the space sector, offering members access to expertise, curated test facilities, collaborative projects, an interactive ecosystem platform, an annual Members Profiles publication, and industry events such as the Annual Meeting and co-organized symposia like ESMATS. The organization does not manufacture hardware or sell commercial software products; rather, it functions as a facilitation, networking, and technology-transfer layer hosted at EPFL.
Is Space Innovation a public or private company?
Space Innovation is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was Space Innovation founded?
Space Innovation was founded in 2013. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Space Innovation based?
Space Innovation is headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland, in the Europe region.
Who are Space Innovation's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are UKspace, Netherlands Space Office (SpaceNed), Commercial Space Federation and ASD-Eurospace. Others are European Space Agency (ESA) and CSEM. Direct peers are Space4Impact, Space Exchange Switzerland and SKACH (Swiss-Korean Air-Space Cooperation Hub). Swissmem is listed as an emerging player.
Does Space Innovation have an API?
No public API is recorded for Space Innovation.
What industry is Space Innovation in?
Space Innovation's product category is Space Industry Network and Ecosystem Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPADAAAK, International Science, Technology & Space Cooperation Organizations, with a secondary code of BPADANAB, Technical Committees, Working Groups & Expert Panels.