spring 2026 After more than 40 years of operating satellites built by external partners, Luxembourg-based operator SES is opening a new chapter by bringing core satellite de- velopment and manufacturing in-house to the Grand Duchy for the first time. According to CEO Adel Al-Saleh, this strategic shift is a logical response to the sector’s rapid transforma- tion. The industry has become extremely dynamic and competitive, with fast technological change and par- tially fragile supply chains. To reach its next stage of development, SES will build greater in-house expertise and assume more control over design, integration and technology, all while maintaining its collaboration with international partners. For SES, basing this industrial expansion in Luxem- bourg was an obvious choice. The company benefits from excellent local engineers, an advantageous loca- tion and crucial state support for the industry. The new activity will be hosted at Luxembourg’s Space Campus in Kockelscheuer, which is designed to serve the entire national space sector. The campus will feature spe- cialised test facilities that would typically be too costly for individual firms to develop on their own. As a result, this will foster cooperation between public and private stake- holders and encourage business growth. The initiative will also cultivate new high-tech ex- pertise within the country, developed through collabo- ration with the University of Luxembourg and interna- tional recruitment. © SES INNOVATION AND R&D