SXS- Space Exchange Switzerland

What SXS- Space Exchange Switzerland does

Space Exchange Switzerland (SXS) is a national platform for the promotion of space activities in Switzerland, established in 2021 and funded by the Swiss Space Office (SSO) of the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI). Its current mandate covers 2025 through end of 2028. SXS operates as a consortium of five Swiss academic institutions — EPFL (leading house), ETH Zurich, University of Zurich, FHNW, and USI — coordinated from Lausanne with presence in Zurich and Lugano. The platform serves students, young professionals, researchers, Swiss authorities, companies, startups, and the general public through a coordinated portfolio of services: career counseling with a network of 60+ counselors, SXS Movetia grants supporting ESA internships, a professional training portal hosted at FHNW, the National Point of Contact (NPOC) for Earth observation satellite data, ESA business support including technology harmonization participation, public engagement through Space Clubs and large-scale events, and the FOCUS SPACE video series.

SXS's technology footprint is coordination-oriented rather than product-oriented. Core technical assets include the NPOC service for satellite Earth observation data access (covering time series analysis, glacier and snow monitoring, land cover mapping, and forest monitoring) and participation in ESA's Technology Harmonisation advisory processes (THAG and CTB), covering topics including actuators, avionics, on-board software, radiation effects, and ground station technology. The platform operates an event-based, multi-channel engagement model — including the Swiss Space Beacon newsletter, FOCUS SPACE video series, career events, and large public engagement events such as Fantasy Basel and Air & Space Days — and facilitates Swiss entities' access to ESA entry-level programs, the Graduate Trainee Programme, and Young Professional opportunities.

SXS is not a commercially operating entity and has no commercial pricing. Its revenue model is entirely public funding from SERI/SSO under a multi-year mandate; there are no venture capital or private equity investors, no subsidiaries, and no disclosed revenue figures. The platform's "customers" are the Swiss government (as funder) and the diverse stakeholder groups it serves across the Swiss space ecosystem. Go-to-market is community-led, relying on the consortium partner network, events, and direct engagement at universities and public venues.

Name

SXS- Space Exchange Switzerland

Legal name

Space Exchange Switzerland

Website

https://space-exchange.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Space Exchange Switzerland (SXS) is a publicly funded national platform promoting space activities in Switzerland. It coordinates career counseling, Earth observation data access, public engagement, and ESA business support through a consortium of five Swiss universities led by EPFL.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

National Space Coordination Services

NAICS

Space Research and Technology (927110), Management Consulting Services (54161)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Learning Technology & LMS/LXP Implementation (BPACANAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Learning Experience Platforms (LXP) & Learning Portals (EDAFAAAB)

Keywords

• Space sector promotion
• Earth observation data
• Career counseling services
• Professional space training
• ESA business support

Headquarters

HQ city

Lausanne

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Public Funding: SXS is a national platform funded by the Swiss Space Office (SSO) of the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI/SSO). The consortium continues its mandate from 2025 to end 2028.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

SXS is a national coordination platform that promotes space activities in Switzerland by providing career counseling with a network of 60+ sector counselors, professional space training through the SXS Training Portal, public engagement via Space Clubs and outreach events, ESA business support including THAG/CTB technology harmonisation representation, and the National Point of Contact (NPOC) service that helps authorities, researchers, companies, startups, and schools access and use Earth observation satellite data. Funded by the Swiss Space Office (SSO) of SERI and operated by a consortium of five Swiss universities led by EPFL, it also facilitates Swiss-European Mobility Programme (SEMP/Movetia) grants for student internships at ESA and other space institutions.

Product overview

SXS (Space Exchange Switzerland) is a national platform for promoting space in Switzerland, funded by the Swiss Space Office of SERI. The consortium of five Swiss universities (EPFL as leading house, ETH Zurich, University of Zurich, FHNW, and USI) offers a portfolio of coordination services including career counseling with a network of 60+ counselors, SXS Movetia mobility grants for ESA internships, a professional training portal, the National Point of Contact (NPOC) for Earth Observation satellite data access, Space Clubs for public education (Planet-Club, Galaxy-Club, Cosmos-Club), ESA business support with technology harmonization, the FOCUS SPACE video series, and organization of major space events. The platform operates as a service-oriented coordination body rather than a technology product company.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SXS National Space Promotion Platform National coordination platform funded by the Swiss Space Office (SSO) of SERI that promotes space activities in Switzerland through career support, professional training, public engagement, and ESA business support; operated by a consortium of five Swiss universities led by EPFL.
• Career Counseling & Support Services Structured career counseling and ESA application support for Swiss students and young professionals entering the space sector, delivered via a network of 60+ counselors and young professionals; supported 689 ESA entry-level program applications.
• SXS Movetia Grants for Space Internships Swiss-European Mobility Programme (SEMP) grants supporting Swiss students for internships at ESA and other space institutions outside Switzerland, with monthly grants of CHF 440 (Europe) or CHF 500 (outside Europe).
• SXS Professional Training Portal Online training platform hosted by FHNW that provides space sector training materials, webinars, and on-site courses for Swiss space professionals; supported 400+ students at MEET ESA career events in October 2025.
• National Point of Contact (NPOC) for Earth Observation Service hosted at the University of Zurich that helps Swiss authorities, researchers, companies, startups, and schools access and use satellite Earth observation data for applications including time series analysis, glacier and snow monitoring, land cover mapping, and forest monitoring.
• Space Clubs (Planet-Club, Galaxy-Club, Cosmos Club) Educational club programs for different age groups — Planet-Club for children (2nd–4th grade), Galaxy-Club for 5th–9th grade, and Cosmos-Club for adults (16+) — featuring hands-on space activities and citizen science; 116 clubs organised.
• Business Support with ESA Guidance on ESA processes, connections with European partners, technology harmonisation support, and representation of Swiss interests in THAG (Technology Harmonisation Advisory Group) and CTB (Component Technology Board); 49 Swiss entities active in the European Harmonisation Process.

Quantifiable outcome

• 689 student applications to ESA entry level programs supported
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• EPFL (École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025EPFL serves as the leading house for the SXS consortium. Grégoire Bourban works at EPFL as Head of Space Exchange Switzerland within the Vice-Presidency for Innovation. EPFL coordinates overall SXS activities and contributes to career and training initiatives.
• ETH ZurichcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerETH Zurich is a key consortium partner contributing to technology harmonization activities, career support, and industrial relations. Deborah Müller represents ETH Zurich in SXS activities.
• University of ZurichcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity of Zurich hosts the NPOC (National Point of Contact) for Earth observation satellite data. Claudia Röösli serves as Head of NPOC. Contributes to research support and satellite data consultation services.
• FHNW (University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFHNW contributes to outreach and public engagement activities, professional training, and hosts Lukas Schmid for outreach coordination.
• USI (Università della Svizzera italiana)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUSI contributes to career and alumni activities, hosting Silvia Invrea as Career and Alumni Director. Involved in organizing career events and counseling support.
• SERI/SSO (State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation / Swiss Space Office)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSXS is funded by the Swiss Space Office of SERI. The mandate continues from 2025 to end 2028. SSO provides strategic direction and funding for the national platform's activities.
• ESA (European Space Agency)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSXS supports the Swiss delegation at ESA through participation in THAG (Technology Harmonisation Advisory Group) and CTB (Component Technology Board). Facilitates Swiss entities' engagement with ESA programs, career opportunities, and technology harmonization.
• MovetiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSXS Career partners with Movetia to offer Swiss-European Mobility Programme (SEMP) grants supporting internships in the space sector at ESA and other space institutions.
• Fantasy BaselminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSXS maintains a presence at Fantasy Basel with an interactive booth, raising awareness of Swiss space activities at this major pop-culture festival.
• Swiss Museum of TransportminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSXS participates in Air & Space Days at the Swiss Museum of Transport in Lucerne, offering hands-on space activities for visitors.
• Swiss Space MuseumminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSXS partners with Swiss Space Museum for organizing the Space & Science section at Fantasy Basel and other public engagement activities.
• NCCR PlanetSminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNational Centre of Competence in Research PlanetS collaborates with SXS on public engagement activities and space outreach events.
• SKACHminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSKACH collaborates with SXS on organizing the Space & Science section at Fantasy Basel.
• astroedu.chminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSXS participates in astroedu.ch, a platform bringing together institutions involved in astronomy and space education, sharing hands-on activities and practical advice.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• European Space Agency (ESA): ESA is the supranational space organisation of which Switzerland is a Member State, and with which SXS directly interfaces via THAG and CTB. Comparable as the broader incumbent that SXS feeds into and supports at the Swiss national level.

Emerging players

• Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC): Global non-governmental organisation supporting young space professionals and students, with national points of contact in many countries. Comparable to SXS in its focus on the next-generation space talent pipeline and career support, but at a global, volunteer-led scale.
• International Space University (ISU): Interdisciplinary space education institution offering professional development, executive space courses, and a global alumni network. Comparable to SXS in the professional training and space education layer, but specialised in formal graduate-level programmes rather than national coordination.

Direct peers

• CNES (Centre National d'Études Spatiales): France's national space agency, the largest contributor to ESA, coordinating French space activities across industry, research, and education. Comparable to SXS as the official national platform for space promotion, ESA interface, and Earth observation/data access, scaled to a much larger national ecosystem.
• Netherlands Space Office (NSO): Dutch national space agency responsible for coordinating Netherlands space activities, ESA contributions, and public engagement. Comparable to SXS in its small-country, public-platform model focusing on ESA alignment and ecosystem coordination.
• UK Space Agency: UK's national space agency serving as the government's official interface to ESA, coordinating space industry, research, skills, and education. Directly comparable to SXS as a national coordination body for space promotion, career support, and ESA engagement, but at national-agency scale.
• DLR (German Aerospace Center): Germany's national aerospace center and space agency, providing research, technology development, and space industry coordination. Comparable to SXS in acting as the official national coordinator for ESA engagement, technology harmonisation, and talent development, though at much larger scale.
• Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG) - Aeronautics and Space Agency (ALR): Austria's national space programme office, embedded in FFG, coordinating Austrian space activities, ESA contributions, and industry support. Comparable to SXS in its small-country, government-funded model for space promotion and ESA engagement.
• Belgian Federal Science Policy Office (BELSPO) - Space R&D Programme: Belgium's federal coordinator for space R&D, ESA contributions, and national space policy. Comparable to SXS as a small-country national coordination entity for space activities and ESA representation.
• Italian Space Agency (ASI): Italy's national space agency coordinating space R&D, industry, and ESA participation. Comparable to SXS as a national coordination body, with USI in the SXS consortium providing an Italian-language link to ASI's ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/sxs_space
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@Space-Exchange-Switzerland
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sxs-space-exchange-switzerland
• Instagraminstagram.com/spaceexchangeswitzerland

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about SXS- Space Exchange Switzerland