EU-Switzerland Agreement 2026: what changes for technology and space companies

Key data

Swiss companies and institutions can now compete and collaborate in European space programmes such as Galileo and Copernicus under the same conditions as those of any EU Member State. This is a direct consequence of Council Decision (EU) 2026/792, of 24 February 2026, which approves the signature of a comprehensive package of bilateral agreements between the EU and Switzerland.

The specific agreement on Switzerland's participation in the EU Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) applies provisionally from the date of its signature, without waiting for formal ratification. For the Spanish technology and space sector, this has immediate implications in terms of both competition and business opportunities.

What does this regulation establish?

The EU Council approves through this Decision the signature of a comprehensive package of bilateral agreements with Switzerland aimed at consolidating, deepening and expanding relations between both parties. The most relevant agreement for the business sector is the one regulating Switzerland's participation in EUSPA.

The key elements of the agreement are as follows:

• Switzerland accesses European space programmes Galileo and Copernicus under conditions equivalent to those of Member States.
• Participation in EUSPA applies provisionally from 24 February 2026, the date of signature of the agreement.
• The agreement is part of a broader package designed to strengthen Switzerland's integration into the European single market in the fields of high technology and innovation.
• Swiss companies and institutions will be able to access contracts, tenders and projects linked to these space programmes.

This agreement represents a significant change compared to the previous situation, in which Switzerland had more limited and differentiated access to the European space ecosystem.

Economic and operational impact

The impact for Spanish companies in the sector occurs in two directions:

The European space sector is a highly specialized market where the entry of new players with technological capacity such as Switzerland can redistribute participation shares in EU-funded contracts and projects.

Who does it affect?

• Technology companies that participate or aspire to participate in Galileo or Copernicus projects.
• Space sector companies with contracts or tenders linked to EUSPA.
• Research institutions that collaborate with European space programmes.
• Public bodies linked to the management or use of Galileo and Copernicus data.
• Technology startups and scale-ups that develop applications based on European space data.
• Consultancies and advisory firms that work with clients in the aerospace or high-technology sector.

Practical example

A Spanish geolocation company that until now competed mainly with EU companies for contracts to develop applications based on Galileo data will find, from 24 February 2026, that Swiss companies in the same sector can submit applications for the same tenders on equal terms.

At the same time, that same Spanish company can now explore the formation of a consortium with a Swiss technology partner to jointly access larger-scale projects within the EUSPA framework, taking advantage of the technological complementarity between both countries.

This dual scenario—more competition, but also more collaboration possibilities—is what companies in the sector should analyse to define their strategy in the coming months.

What should companies do now?

1. Evaluate the competitive landscape: Identify whether your company participates or aspires to participate in tenders or projects linked to Galileo, Copernicus or EUSPA, and analyse which Swiss companies operate in your same segment.
2. Explore collaboration opportunities: Map potential Swiss technology partners with whom to form consortia to access larger-scale European projects.
3. Review tender strategy: Adapt proposals and differential value proposition taking into account that the competitive ecosystem expands with Swiss players from 24 February 2026.
4. Inform R&D and business development teams: Communicate internally the implications of the agreement so that technical and commercial teams can incorporate it into their planning.
5. Monitor the evolution of the package of agreements: This agreement is part of a broader package of EU-Switzerland relations. Monitoring subsequent developments may reveal new implications for other sectors or business areas.

Official source