Starburst builds a consortium of innovators to reinvent the European Union's space connectivity

September 30, 2021

 In response to the European Commission's call for tenders entitled "New Space solutions for long-term availability of reliable, secure, cost-effective space-based connectivity", Starburst, a start-up accelerator in the aeronautics, space and defence sector, has announced that it is leading a new consortium of innovative companies with the intention to define the new space-based connectivity solution for Europe. Composed of 7 start-ups and SMEs with proven know-how in their respective fields and disruptive product development approaches, this Starburst-led consortium aims to propose the best possible system for efficient, cost-effective and sustainable European space connectivity.

In a context of historical transformation of the global space industry that raises the strategic issues of sovereignty, security and sustainability for governments, the European Commission has launched a call for tenders to define the concept of a new secure space connectivity system.

This call for tenders focuses on SMEs and non-traditional NewSpace start-ups to fully leverage the innovation potential of these companies. The focus of this study is on leading-edge technologies in the field of service provision concepts, system architecture, payload and components.

A disruptive consortium with a long-term vision for pragmatic implementation

Since Starburst's creation in Paris in 2013 and throughout its international expansion, the accelerator has strived to rethink and change the way innovation was done until now in the Aviation, Defence and Space sector, working in concert with all existing public and private stakeholders.

Today, with its central position linking major industry companies, institutional decision makers, new entrants and the sector's major future programs, Starburst has naturally taken the initiative of setting up a consortium of European players at the forefront of innovation in the space connectivity sector, each bringing a key enabler to a disruptive space-based connectivity concept: The European Space connectivity hub.

With its knowledge of the ecosystems and fully aware of the major stakes that this new mission represents for the European Union, Starburst has specially brought together a consortium of 7 European SMEs and start-ups with cutting-edge know-how to join forces and thus propose a concept with a long-term vision:

Alén Space, ANYWAVES, Hemeria, Kinéis, qtlabs, RFA, Spaceit. The consortium will also be reinforced by major strategic partners such as OVHcloud, which will fully enable the proposed solution to ensure the sovereignty of European data.

Objectives of this consortium:

▪ Aggregate multiple and specialized missions to mutualize space access costs and make new connectivity services available through innovative and reliable space technologies.

▪ Connect and reinforce collaboration within the European space ecosystem including large legacy corporates, New Space entrepreneurs and EU citizens.

▪ Ensure long-term sustainability of European sovereign connectivity services.

The designed solution will be deployed from 2027.

For Sandra Budimir, co-founder and CEO Europe of Starburst: "We firmly believe in the importance of Space Europe at a time when new geopolitical challenges are being driven by the acceleration of space technologies. We are very proud to lead this consortium, which fully meets the values and requirements that have driven us since the beginning: to do things differently based on our technological expertise and to transform innovations into market reality.”