World Region – Europe

The European Space agency has selected Novocomms to be the antenna specialist in a proof-of-concept positioning initiative. It involves sampling broadband satcom signals in Ku/Ka bands for other users to determine their position. These are dubbed Signals of Opportunity (SOOP). The Birmingham-based company will be part of a consortium led by Telespazio UK, in a €800,000 contract. This is a ...

With a budget of close to €55m, European chip makers have set out to reduce waste, pollution and energy consumption throughout their supply chain. 58 partners, including large companies, SMEs, research institutes, universities and industry associations, will spend three yeas on a project named Genesis, aligned with the European Green Deal and European Chips Act, and coordinated by French research lab ...

The European Space Agency has released ESA Strategy 2040, outlining how it plans to approach the “challenges and opportunities” of space up to 2040. Its stated aim is to “Lead and orchestrate European space excellence to build a more prosperous, resilient, independent and inspiring life for all of Europe”. Goals The agency says its strategy is framed around five goals, ...

The European Space Agency (ESA) has selected Tyvak to build the first CubeSat for the Rapid Apophis Mission for Space Safety (Ramses) mission. This mission aims to rendezvous with the asteroid 99942 Apophis. The mission will accompany it during its relatively close – but non-threatening – flyby of Earth. This will occur on April 13, 2029. ESA is providing €4.7 ...

Yesterday the EC charged Google with favouring its own services over rivals in its searches and has ordered Apple to further open iOS to rivals’ connected devices. The EC says it is merely enforcing the terms of the 2022 Digital Markets Act. However many will see it as the EC  throwing down the gauntlet to the new US administration which ...

Ams Osram has received EU Commission approval for funding to develop a new semiconductor manufacturing facility in Austria. The investment grant – under the European Chips Act – is up to the value of €227 million. The proposed fab, on its Premstätten existing site, will produce next-generation optoelectronic sensors, said the company. In total, the company plans to invest €567 ...

Infineon has got EC approval for European Chips Act funding for its Dresden fsb. The award still needs sign-off from the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK). The fab  is already receiving support under the EC’s IPCEI ME/CT (“Important Project of Common European Interest on Microelectronics and Communication Technologies”) innovation program. Total government funding for the €5 ...

The Dutch military is turning to Maxar Intelligence, the Earth Observation specialist, for the provision of geospatial intelligence, via imagery and data. The U.S. company has won a contract worth €13.6m ($14.4m). Specifically, the Netherlands Ministry of Defence has taken a four-year subscription to the Maxar Geospatial Platform (MGP) Pro. Geospatial intelligence The deal will see Maxar data support the ...

Virgin Galactic Holdings is partnering with the Italian civil aviation authority to study the feasibility of hosting suborbital spaceflight operations from the very south of Italy. Specifically, the US-based company will be working with Ente Nazionale per l’Aviazione Civile (“ENAC”). They will be investigating the feasibility of using the Grottaglie Spaceport in Puglia. Suborbital “Development of world-class spaceports in premier ...

ION-X, the electrospray propulsion specialist, has raised €13 million in a funding round. It will enable the company to industrialise the production of its ion thrusters. The company now aims to produce 200 ion thrusters per year – which manoeuvre small satellites – by 2028. This will be done at its future production facility in the Île-de-France region. ION-X The ...