A partnership built on shared expertise
The Switzerland SailGP Team and H55 are embarking on a new partnership to explore knowledge exchange and technology collaboration around clean and energy-saving innovations. The initiative unites leaders from sailing and aviation to push the boundaries of performance and sustainability while demonstrating Switzerland’s leadership in clean technology.
SailGP, the global league where identical high-speed foiling catamarans compete in stadium-style racing, has made sustainability a core value since its inception. The league is powered by clean energy at events and works to showcase the role of sport as a testbed for climate innovation. In the same way, H55 has positioned itself as a pioneer of electric aviation, delivering modular propulsion systems that redefine what is possible in the air.
From the racecourse to the skies
H55 was co-founded by aviation pioneer André Borschberg as a spin-off from Solar Impulse, the first electric plane to fly around the world. With more than 20 years of experience and five electric aircraft flown, the Swiss company has become a world leader in certified aviation electric propulsion systems. Its modular Energy Storage Systems and Electric Propulsion Units are designed to be lightweight, certifiable, and adaptable to different aircraft types, from short take-off and landing planes to eVTOLs.
On the water, the Switzerland SailGP Team is led by three-time Olympian Sébastien Schneiter. Competing in one of the world’s fastest-growing global sailing leagues, the team has embraced SailGP’s sustainability ethos while showcasing Swiss innovation on the international stage. The collaboration with H55 reflects a shared drive to push performance while minimising environmental impact.
Shared challenges, shared opportunities
Both sailing and aviation face similar challenges in balancing energy efficiency, lightweight structures, and uncompromising safety. Marginal gains in design and system performance can translate into breakthroughs for entire industries. By combining insights from high-performance racing and advanced electric propulsion, the partnership aims to accelerate solutions that reduce emissions, save energy, and inspire wider adoption of clean technologies.
As André Borschberg explains: “SailGP – along with its teams such as the Swiss boat – and H55 share the same ambition: to make our respective worlds cleaner and more efficient by advancing technological solutions that maximise the use of renewable energies in mobility. Switzerland offers an exceptional foundation for this mission, with its outstanding technical universities, cutting-edge research laboratories, and strong network of innovative companies.”
Looking ahead
For Schneiter, the partnership is a natural fit: “Just as SailGP pushes boundaries in sustainable sport and technology, H55 is redefining what’s possible in aviation. Together, we aim to inspire new ways of thinking about performance, innovation, and a cleaner future.”
While the collaboration is still in its early stages, it represents the first step in a longer-term journey. More details will emerge in the months ahead, but for now the Switzerland SailGP Team and H55 are clear on their shared ambition: to bring together two high-performance worlds in pursuit of clean innovation.
