‘Space technology should improve life on Earth’ – Barbara Frei-Spreiter on the Swiss space programme, caught between the global market and security policy

Since April 2026, Dr Barbara Frei-Spreiter has been at the helm of Beyond Gravity, the largest Swiss aerospace supplier operating internationally, with 12 sites across six countries. She is taking the helm of this federally-owned company at a time of two major turning points: in 2025, Parliament decided to retain control with the federal government; space has been Switzerland’s official military domain of operations since October 2025; and, following a year of losses, the group is in the midst of a turnaround. In an interview with the SATW, Beyond Gravity’s new CEO explains why dependence is Switzerland’s greatest vulnerability, where she draws the line between commercial business and security considerations, and why a country without its own rocket can still be a leading player in the space sector.