Swiss Space Office

The Swiss Space Office (SSO) functions as the national executive body responsible for Switzerland's space policy and its implementation. Located within the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation, the office serves as the primary interface between the Swiss federal government and the international aerospace community. Its primary role involves coordinating national interests to ensure Swiss industry and academia remain integrated into global space supply chains, particularly regarding scientific instrumentation and high-precision manufacturing. As the lead agency for a founding member state of the European Space Agency (ESA), the office manages Switzerland's contributions to major collaborative programmes. This includes involvement in the Ariane and Vega launcher families, the Copernicus Earth observation programme, and various space science missions such as CHEOPS. The office facilitates partnerships between Swiss technical universities, such as EPFL and ETH Zurich, and international bodies including NASA and various European national space agencies. Potential partners and commercial entities should verify the specific delegated authorities of the SSO before seeking regulatory approvals, as some functions may be shared with other federal departments. It is also necessary to confirm the current priority areas of the Swiss Space Implementation Strategy, which dictates the allocation of national funding for research and innovation. Organisations should ensure they meet the specific eligibility criteria for ESA-funded projects managed under the office's oversight.