Call for Proposals 2025 at the ESA Phi-Lab Switzerland:
Phi-Lab Switzerland: Space × Quantum:
Projects are selected and the programme has kicked off!
Phi-Lab Switzerland Space × Quantum
Programme – Cohort kick-off,
setting the sails for 2026
The Phi-Lab Switzerland Space × Quantum Programme has officially launched as a cohort, followed by the individual kick-off of five pioneering projects over recent weeks. With the sails firmly set for 2026, the programme brings together a diverse group of industry and academic partners to accelerate quantum innovation for space and terrestrial applications.
These five projects were selected for their originality, their focus on solving problems that matter to users, their collaborative strength, and their systems-level approach. They will accelerate progress from laboratory demonstrations to market-ready products that result in a 10X improvement in compactness, performance, and reliability to transform quantum sensing from laboratory instruments into commercially viable products for applications in space and on Earth.
The selected projects are:
Quan2M (2HS AG, METAS)
Mission: To develop and test high-performance nanomaterial quantum devices.
MONARQ (CSEM, FEMTOPRINT SA, BFH)
Mission: Create a compact, robust, sugar cube-sized laser stabilization module using Rubidium MEMS cells.
HyClock (VERSICS AG, PSI, ETH Zürich)
Mission: Shrink optical atomic clocks onto a photonic chip for portable, space-ready precision timing.
LINQS (CCRAFT SA, EPFL)
Mission: Build a universal photonic chip for light generation, modulation, and control for a wide range of sensors.
MQ-SoC (University Geneva, ID Quantique)
Mission: Create a fast, compact quantum encoder for secure communication and navigation
Each consortium brings a novel solution, addresses real-world needs, demonstrates effective teaming across industry and academia, and considers the broader system implications for quantum technologies in space and on Earth. Together, their projects represent a complete and deployable vertical stack of quantum technologies and combine sensing, timing, and secure communication, with clear commercial and strategic benefits.
Under active guidance from the Phi-Lab Program Manager, the consortia will not only work on their own projects, but also within the cohort as a whole, benefitting from the collective expertise and perspectives from the diverse teams.
More about the Technology challenge:
We asked: What if every satellite could carry a quantum sensor the size of a shoebox?
Quantum sensors can detect minute changes in gravity, magnetic fields, time, and other quantities with atomic precision. They have the potential to revolutionize how we measure our world. However, many of these capabilities remain confined to controlled laboratory environments, limiting their ability to address urgent commercial and societal needs such as water resource management, infrastructure monitoring, and autonomous navigation.
The current state
While quantum sensors can demonstrate 100–1000 times better precision than classical devices, they require sophisticated infrastructure: often room-sized setups, complex electronics, and continuous expert oversight. Their high cost and operational complexity remain major barriers to commercial adoption, despite their transformative potential across multiple industries.
Coming soon: Video interviews with each consortium, offering a closer look at the projects and real-time progress.
Space x Quantum Projects selection
LinQs
LinQs Build a universal photonic chip for light generation, modulation, and control for a wide range of sensors.
CCraft SA l EPFL
Quan2M
2HS l Metas
To develop and test high-performance nanomaterial quantum devices.
MonarQ
MonarQ Create a compact, robust, sugar cube-sized laser stabilization module using Rubidium MEMS cells.
CSEM l Femtoprint SA l BFH
MQ-SoC
MQ-Soc Create a fast, compact quantum encoder for secure communication and navigation
University of Geneva l ID Quantique
HyClock
Hyclock Shrink optical atomic clocks onto a photonic chip for portable, space-ready precision timing.
Versics AG l PSI l ETH Zürich
FAQ
Can I request a preliminary check before submitting my application?
To have your proposal reviewed and to assess its viability in relation to the call criteria, please contact Markus Schoelmerich at markus.schoelmerich@esdi.ch.
How can I stay informed about upcoming calls and updates?
The best way to stay updated on ESDI’s open calls and other news is by subscribing to our newsletter and following us on LinkedIn.
Is Quantum x Space the only call available, or will Phi-Lab Switzerland offer other calls in the future?
Phi-Lab Switzerland has two additional calls planned: one on materials, scheduled for autumn 2025, and another on data, planned for 2026. This list may expand over time. To ensure you never miss an update, we recommend subscribing to our newsletter.
Who can I contact for questions regarding intellectual property, equity, or other contractual matters?
For any inquiries related to intellectual property, equity, or other contractual matters, please contact Markus Schoelmerich at markus.schoelmerich@esdi.ch.
Is there someone available to answer technical questions or provide expert guidance during the application process?
The ESDI team is available to support you with any technical questions you may have. Additionally, we collaborate with partners who possess specific expertise to ensure your questions are answered thoroughly. The first point of contact for technical inquiries is: markus.schoelmerich@esdi.ch.
What is the earliest possible start date (T0) for my project?
The earliest possible start date (T0) for your project is once the contracts are signed, which we expect to happen by Summer 2025.
Questions Regarding Funding Details
For any question according to the funding please check the attached document: ” Funding overview” or check the OSIP webpage or contact: markus.schoelmerich@psi.ch.
What is the expected TRL at the end of the 24 months?
Regarding the expected delivery, we don’t necessarily expect a market-ready product at the end, but a path to commercialisation in the future should proposed. While TRL is a useful guide, it’s not the only factor. A project is expected to demonstrate a 10x improvement in compactness, performance, or reliability to transform quantum sensing from laboratory instruments into commercially viable products for applications in space.
Could this be considered a “consortium” under the call's definition, even if all partners are within the same legal entity?
In principle, yes. However, we encourage assembling a consortium with a variety of expertise and skills, ideally from different institutions or sectors, to enhance diversity, which aligns with the goals of the call.
Is it acceptable to submit a small-scale proposal led by a single lab focused on a specific contribution, in response to needs identified during the profile-seeking session?
While small-scale, focused contributions are valuable, the call is primarily structured around full project proposals submitted by consortia. If you are considering a single-lab proposal, we encourage you to position it as part of a broader consortium effort, ideally as a targeted contribution addressing identified needs from the profile-seeking session. You may also consider collaborating with other teams to form or join a consortium where your expertise can be integrated. For this matter we will be happy to put you in contact.
In the case of multiple labs collaborating, should internal cost allocations be treated as subcontracting, or is there a different mechanism expected for internal cost-sharing within the same legal entity?
A collaboration between several laboratories within the same legal entity can still be considered a consortium under the call’s definition, provided that multidisciplinary competences are clearly demonstrated. However, we strongly encourage forming consortia that include partners from different institutions or sectors (e.g., industry, research organizations). This approach aligns with the call’s emphasis on cross-sector innovation and multidisciplinarity. If your proposal remains within a single institution, ensure that the complementary expertise of the labs is well articulated and clearly defined in the proposal.
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Jennifer Wadsworth
Head of Phi-Lab
PSI
