Tavernier Tschanz advised SWISSto12 in its HummingSat contract with ESA for the development of a small telecommunication satellite

A small but powerful European telecommunications satellite – the first of a series – is to be developed under a contract entered between ESA, the European Space Agency, and SWISSto12 SA.

SWISSto12 will lead a consortium of European companies with established space technology and heritage. The new HummingSat Partnership Project, co-funded by ESA, offers an opportunity for high returns on investment to industry and participating states. The first satellite in this new product range is due for launch in 2025.

The slimline satellite will be placed into geostationary orbit some 36,000 kilometres above the Earth, from where it will stream data or broadcast television. Measuring just one cubic metre, the small HummingSat will be one tenth the size of conventional geostationary satellites. The HummingSat Partnership Project is part of ESA’s efforts to support fast, dynamic and agile private space firms to foster innovation and promote the competitiveness of the European space industry.

SWISSto12 is a leading developer of advanced engineered radio frequency (RF) products for telecommunications, EW and radar applications in the aerospace industry. The company’s patented 3D printing technologies and associated product designs are unique to deliver lightweight, compact, highly performing, and competitive RF products and sub-systems. SWISSto12 is the fastest growing Swiss aerospace company, spun off from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL), is privately owned and backed by prominent Swiss and European Investors.

Tavernier Tschanz advised SWISSto12 in this transaction

The team was led by Jacques Bonvin.