Startup Rankings
Top Space Propulsion Startups in Switzerland 2026
Last updated · 8 companies · compiled from public data sources
Switzerland's space propulsion ecosystem spans eight companies across Lausanne, Villeneuve, Nyon, Bex, Saint-Blaise, Davos, and Bioggio. These firms develop components, systems, and services for propulsion, satellites, and orbital operations, with six holding ESA BIC accreditation.
Collectively, the group has raised over USD 300 million in recent years through seed rounds, Series funding, and EU grants. Recent developments include Series C funding for Neural Concept, a USD 40 million seed round for PAVE Space, and hydrogen fuel cell advances from EH Group Engineering.
- 1.
Neural Concept
Lausanne · €254.1M disclosed funding
Neural Concept offers AI-powered engineering software that optimizes product design and simulation across industries including propulsion and aerospace. The Lausanne company recently closed a USD 100 million Series C round led by Growth Equity at Goldman Sachs Alternatives and launched its AI Design Copilot at CES 2026.
Sources: EU CORDIS research projects, ESA Space Solutions / ESA BIC
- 2.
PAVE Space
Villeneuve · founded 2024 · €323.4M disclosed funding
PAVE Space develops in-space logistics and propulsion systems for orbital operations and satellite deployment. Founded in 2024 and based in Villeneuve, the company secured a USD 40 million seed round from Visionaries Club and Creandum, and signed a Memorandum of Understanding with ESA for in-space infrastructure development.
Sources: ESA Space Solutions / ESA BIC
- 3.
EH Group Engineering
Nyon · founded 2017 · €75.9M disclosed funding
EH Group Engineering designs compact hydrogen fuel cell stacks and systems for marine, aviation, and stationary power applications. The Nyon-based firm, founded in 2017, has raised over USD 32 million from investors including Safran Group and the AWS Clean Energy Accelerator, and recently partnered with Advent on high-temperature proton exchange membrane technology.
Sources: ESA Space Solutions / ESA BIC
- 4.
Coactum
Bex · €4.4M disclosed funding
Coactum develops satellite positioning and movement solutions for Earth orbit operations and in-space transportation. The Bex-based ESA BIC alumnus has received ESA Boost program co-funding for propellant storage system development.
Sources: ESA Space Solutions / ESA BIC
- 5.
Alpes Lasers
Saint-Blaise · founded 1998 · €47M disclosed funding
Alpes Lasers manufactures Quantum Cascade Lasers for aerospace, defense, and scientific applications. Founded in 1998 in Saint-Blaise, the company has received over EUR 10 million in EU R&D funding through Horizon Europe and EUROSTARS projects, and recently unveiled the GLIDER tunable mid-infrared laser source.
Sources: EU CORDIS research projects
- 6.
Davos Instruments
Davos · founded 2016 · €278k disclosed funding
Davos Instruments produces high-precision solar radiometry measurement equipment for ground and space-based applications. The 2016-founded company received support from ESA BIC Switzerland and recently established a partnership with NPL Management Limited for pyroelectric detector development.
Sources: ESA Space Solutions / ESA BIC
- 7.
Cfs Engineering
Lausanne · €4.5M disclosed funding
Cfs Engineering provides computational fluid dynamics and structural analysis services for aerospace and propulsion systems. The Lausanne firm has received EU grant funding including support for aircraft multidisciplinary optimization and reusable launch vehicle design.
Sources: EU CORDIS research projects
- 8.
Saphyrion SaGL
Bioggio · €2.8M disclosed funding
Saphyrion designs radiation-hardened ASICs and GNSS systems for space applications and urban air mobility. Based in Bioggio, the company has received over EUR 1 million in EU research funding and recently made its upgraded chipset and advanced GNSS-inertial units available for drone applications.
Sources: EU CORDIS research projects
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Companies are ranked by a composite score of disclosed funding, programme participation (ESA BIC, EU research projects), cross-source presence, and data recency, all compiled from public sources. If your aerospace startup belongs on this list, sign up and we'll review it for the next update.