All Enabling Technologies

Adamant Composites is an engineering and manufacturing powerhouse developing high-end state of the art solutions for Space Defence and Energy markets. Since its foundation in 2012 in Greece the company has successfully completed projects for several institutional and industrial clients such as the European Space Agency and Airbus. Its expertise lies in the design of large deployable structures the engineering and manufacturing of composite and nanoenabled materials in applications such as batteries hydrogen storage tanks, UAV airframes structural components and ground support equipment for satellites and launchers. The company is certified by EUROCERT under EN ISO90012015 00121272 for a range of technical activities covering the end to end process cycle for structures and equipment.

Alex Molds is a Greek, family-owned precision engineering and manufacturing company established in 1986, specialising in high-end machined parts and assemblies, moulds and tools, prototype manufacturing, design optimisation, reverse engineering and metal additive manufacturing. The company operates 5-axis machining, turning, EDM, grinding and metal laser sintering capabilities, works with materials including aluminium, stainless steel, nickel alloys, titanium, copper and engineering plastics, and is certified to ISO 9001 and EN 9100 for aerospace quality management. Its space-related relevance lies mainly in precision manufacturing for aerospace and defence, including complex lightweight metallic components, jigs, tooling and additive-manufactured parts that can support satellite structures, payload hardware, propulsion-related components and other demanding space applications.

The Applied Mechanics Laboratory (AML) is a leading research and technology-development unit at the Mechanical Engineering and Aeronautics Department of the University of Patras. Activities extend across: (i) design, analysis, and optimisation of structures—computational mechanics; (ii) materials and processes development; (iii) non-destructive testing & evaluation—structural health monitoring; (iv) advanced mate-rials characterisation & testing; (v) space and unmanned aerial systems. The laboratory specialises in the area of nanotechnology and advanced materials with a focus on the science, technology development, characterisation, and application of composite materials (e.g., polymers, ceramics), with a strong emphasis on their progressive damage under operational loads, the study of response and damage under dynamic loading (including ballistic, hypervelocity blast, and hail impact, ditching, crash landing), as well as crashworthiness and hardening using high strain rate material models. In addition, the lab works in the field of nano-modified thermosetting resins, elastomers, thermoplastics, and fibre-reinforced compo-sites. Nanocomposites have extensive use in the aviation, automotive, energy storage structures, space, defence, electronics (sensors), and building industries. AML has been awarded more than 100 highly competitive research and innovation projects). It has published scientific journals (785) and volumes (21) in world-recognised mediums. It has filed 12 national, European, and US patents, and founded 2 spin-off companies. AML has been involved in many R&D projects administered by ESA.

BCT Group (Bougatsos Cleanroom / Cooling Technology) is a Greek engineering, contracting and validation company specialising in cleanroom design, construction and certification, industrial HVAC and refrigeration, laboratories, dry rooms and other controlled-environment applications. Its space activities are substantial: BCT Group has designed and delivered specialised cleanroom infrastructure for satellite assembly, integration and testing, including the ESA-supported Hellenic Assembly, Integration & Testing Facility (HAITF) at Hellenic Aerospace Industry, where it acted as a main subcontractor for the cleanroom and supporting infrastructure. The company has also developed cleanroom facilities for nanosatellite-related activities at Greek universities and other space organisations, supporting spacecraft assembly, integration, verification and environmental testing under tightly controlled contamination and environmental conditions.

Bitrezus is focusing on reducing the risk of cyberattacks against space assets, using a combination of embedded H/W and blockchain technology to create an extra level of security. Bitrezus enables critical opcode consensus in real-time among untrusted partners for resilient and cyber-proof operation of both space and ground infrastructure. Current satellite systems were not designed with full cybersecurity in mind. They have weak encryption and use legacy systems that are not easily patched or updated. Addi-tionally, existing cybersecurity solutions rely on terrestrial stations becoming a single point of failure and performance bottleneck and are hardly scalable due to their centralized nature. Based on reports, a cyberattack on the Global Positioning System alone could cost $1 billion a day. Our solution, Astropledge, is targeted towards the satellite manufacturing segment (upstream) and the satellite services, including ground operations. Our focus is the EU, with the European space industry being the second largest in the world, estimated to be worth €53-62 billion. Approximately 1700 satellites will be launched every year un-til 2030, and in the next decade we will witness a trend in the increase of mega-constellations, largely composed of smallsats, with 60% of those in the Satcom industry. Our vision is to be able to evolve As-tropledge to become a central component for intelligent diagnosis and self-healing of the software and firmware existing in the components and subsystems of the space asset and are vital for its operation. Af-ter 2026, our goal is to identify market opportunities in other industries internationally, such as manufac-turing, maritime, energy, and others. We envisage a subscription-based model including hardware and software support and an SLA model for node maintenance, system, and hardware-level upgrades.

The Control Systems Laboratory (CSL), which belongs to the School of Mechanical Engineering of the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA), has years of recognised experience in mechanisms, robotics, and automation systems, including space robotic systems. The NTUA-CSL was established in 1981, and over the years, its central theme has been expanded to cover advanced automation technologies, encapsulating the long prior expertise of its staff in leading academic and industrial institutions of the European Union, Canada, and the U.S. It is an internationally recognised centre for R&D in robotic technologies, with worldwide international contacts in industry, government, and the EU. Current projects and interests are in the areas of space systems and space robotics, quadruped legged all-terrain robots, soft robotics, microrobots and micromechanisms, design and development of novel mechatronic systems, modelling and control of complex dynamical systems, real-time control systems, haptic devices and prostheses, emulator and simulator technologies, and aerial and underwater robotics.

The Composite and Smart Materials Laboratory (CSML) of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Ioannina conducts research and education in advanced composite materials and structures, with particular emphasis on multifunctional materials, smart structures, durability, fracture and fatigue, non-destructive evaluation, process monitoring and micro-/nano-composite manufacturing. Established in 2007, the Laboratory combines experimental mechanics, materials characterisation and sensing techniques to study structural performance and develop advanced composites with enhanced mechanical, electrical and thermoelectric properties. Within the space ecosystem, these capabilities are especially relevant to lightweight structures, multifunctional materials, structural health monitoring, advanced manufacturing and qualification of materials for demanding aerospace and space environments.

EMTECH SPACE S.A., is a Greek company specializing in Modelling, Simulation & Validation (MSV), active in the research, development and commercialization of innovative space technology solutions. Delivers high-assurance, mission-critical software and engineering tools designed to address complex system requirements, combining institutional quality standards with agile engineering methodologies.

FEAC Engineering P.C. is an engineering & consulting company, highly specialized in Simulation Driven Product Development & physics-based Digital Twins. The company is based in Greece and operates in the global market by developing and providing specialized simulation software and consulting services, to solve challenging & complex engineering problems. FEAC’s worldwide awarded services range from Computer Aided Design (CAD) drafting, advanced multiphysics Finite Element Analysis (FEA), Boundary Element Analysis (BEM) and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) to Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) and design optimization techniques. There is extensive experience in project management & certification of products (CE marking) as well. FEAC combines 1D-simulation (aka system simulation) with detailed 3D simulation techniques (CFD, FEM, BEM) to build up a comprehensive Digital Twin of the process or object/assembly, not only in the phase of the development, but also in the phase of realization (manufacturing process) and operation (under operational conditions). This allows FEAC to create a Holistic Digital Twin throughout the product’s lifecycle. Our expertise is to develop multi-physics, high-fidelity simulations that couple structural mechanics, heat transfer, fluid flow, electromagnetics, acoustics, etc., and represent the mechanical behavior of components under complex environmental conditions. Due to the company’s high expertise in Simulation, Siemens Digital Industries Software has appointed FEAC Engineering as the exclusive authorized partner of its CAE portfolio in the countries of Greece, Cyprus & Malta. FEAC develops PITHIA-CP, a world-leading Boundary Element Solver for Cathodic Protection Digital Twins, which is used by SIEMENS as an add-on on its Simcenter 3D software portfolio. FEAC has offered its expertise in physics-based simulations to numerous engineering companies, product manufacturers from a wide range of industries, research centers and universities yielding to an impressive portfolio of delivered projects.

Hellenic Aerospace Industry (HAI) has as its major mission to deliver services and products to the Armed Forces of the Hellenic State. By implementing an extrovert strategy, HAI has achieved expanding its cus-tomer base and establishing itself as a reliable partner of the leading aerospace industries. Operating with state-of-the-art production processes and highly qualified personnel, HAI offers high-performance prod-ucts and quality services. HAI’s vision is to be a technologically advanced manufacturer, and to pursue cooperation and coordination with the leading aeronautical and defence industry of Europe and maintain a dominant place in the major area of the eastern Mediterranean. HAI’s headquarters are in Athens, while plants, production areas, and supporting units, a total area of 1,684,000m² with a covered surface of 170,000 m², are situated in Schimatari-Viotia, Greece.

Heron Engineering provides engineering services in the aeronautics and space domain—from ongoing development projects to R&D projects. The main activity of the company is the provision of services in the areas of mechanical design and stress analysis, both metallic and composite, and the development of computational software and tools for the aerospace industry.

HTR-V is a Greek robotics engineering company specialising in advanced autonomous systems for demanding terrestrial and space applications. Building on decades of experience in field robotics, HTR focuses on two principal space domains: planetary exploration and in-orbit servicing, developing robotic platforms, mechanisms, actuation and control systems for operation in harsh and unstructured environments. Its capabilities include autonomous ground vehicles, robotic systems for satellite capture and servicing, terramechanics testing and advanced simulation tools. HTR has also developed and patented an all-metal, elastic variable-stiffness rover wheel for planetary mobility. The company has participated in numerous ESA and European R&D programmes, combining mechanical engineering, mechatronics, sensing, control and robotic autonomy to support next-generation exploration and orbital robotics missions.

Intracom Defense S.A. (IDE) located in Koropi, Attica, Greece, is one of the largest electronic systems providers in the defense and security sector in Greece. IDE is a private company which designs, develops and manufactures State-of-the-Art (SotA) communications and electronic systems, unmanned systems, Command, Control and Communication systems (C3), missile electronics, testing equipment and advanced software applications. Moreover, the Company participates in joint multinational development and production programs in co-operation with major international defense systems manufacturers and research organizations.

The company invests annually a significant amount in Research and Technology programs to advance technological innovation. IDE collaborates and maintains strategic partnerships with internationally renowned companies with the purpose of jointly conducting research and co-developing new products and services in the aforementioned fields.

In order to facilitate the rapid design and development of technologically advanced, high-quality products and systems, IDE operates sophisticated Research and Development (R&D) Laboratories and Manufacturing Infrastructure within its facilities.

IDE is actively advancing its position in the space sector, leveraging a growing track record of ESA- and EU-funded R&D projects to build a mature technological footprint centered on SatCom and resilient communications. Moving beyond initial capabilities, the company strategically invests in specialized talent and cutting-edge facilities to address critical dual-use challenges. IDE’s core focus encompasses next-generation 5G/B5G/6G Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN), robust connectivity, and solutions designed for operations in GNSS-denied environments. Complementing its domain engineering expertise, IDE has the capacity to offer comprehensive Assembly, Integration, and Testing (AIT) as well as specialized environmental testing, establishing itself as a key technological partner in the evolving space ecosystem.

INASCO HELLAS has been a pioneer in aerospace innovation, specializing in high-performance CFRP Composites and Metallic structures, for Space and Aeronautical vehicles of all types. As a high-tech SME, the company excels across the full aerospace product lifecycle – from design, manufacturing, and assembly to integration, testing, and space-qualified product assurance. The company plays strategic roles in landmark ESA projects including the PLATO exoplanet hunter, JUICE’s Jupiter exploration, and the EnVi-sion Venus orbiter. It contributes to next-generation EO systems like TRUTHS and Copernicus while driv-ing technological advancements through R&D programs for novel manufacturing methods. Recognized for excellence, INASCO HELLAS earned Airbus’ 2018 award for exceptional work on JUICE’s EM integration and was crowned National Business Champion at the 2015-2016 European Business Awards. As a key partner in the Clean Sky 2 Joint Undertaking, it helps integrate revolutionary technologies in aircraft. The company holds leadership positions in Greece’s space sector through board membership in the Hellenic Association of Space Industry and the si-Cluster.

The Institute of Robotics (I.RO.) of the Athena Research Center was formally established in 2023 as Greece’s first research institute dedicated specifically to robotics science and technology. It builds on the pre-existing Robot Perception and Interaction Unit and conducts research across robotics, artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, perception, human–robot interaction and intelligent control. Within the space ecosystem, I.RO.’s expertise is particularly relevant to autonomous navigation, robotic perception, manipulation, AI-enabled inspection and operation in unstructured or hazardous environments, supporting future applications in planetary exploration, orbital servicing, autonomous spacecraft systems and remote inspection.

The Center for Security Studies (KEMEA) is a public research and advisory body supervised by the Hellenic Ministry of Citizen Protection, supporting national and European security policy through research, studies, training and participation in EU-funded programmes. Its activities cover areas such as critical infrastructure protection, cybersecurity, border and maritime security, civil protection, crisis management and emerging security technologies. Within the space ecosystem, KEMEA is relevant primarily through security and resilience applications that may rely on satellite communications, Earth Observation, geospatial intelligence and space-enabled situational awareness for the protection of critical infrastructure and public safety.

The Laboratory of Robotics & Automation of the Democritus University of Thrace (DUTH) focuses on advanced robotics and intelligent systems for industrial and environmental applications. Key areas include: Autonomous robot exploration; Place recognition; SLAM and Semantic mapping; Anomaly and Novelty detection; Human-Robot interaction; Machine learning; Robotic manipulation; UAVs; Embedded systems; Industrial automation.

The Laboratory of Technology and Strength of Material (LTSM) is part of the Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering Department of the University of Patras. LTSM educates undergraduate and postgraduate students in the fields of materials science and technology and analysis and strength of structural components and structures. The laboratory conducts fundamental and technological state-of-the art research. Finally, the laboratory provides specialized services related to the characterization of materials technological properties and mechanical behaviour, as well as their technical certification. Furthermore, Laboratory provides services in resolving technical issues concerning phase analysis, strength evaluation and design of structural components and structures, as well as the analysis of structural failures. LTSM has participated in over 100 EU-funded research projects.

NanoQ covers all the processes needed for the development of novel nanomaterials with high reliability standards. Its vision is to become the nanomaterials interface that the academia and the industry needs. The company designs development processes for specialised nanomaterials to be used in environmental, biomedical, engineering, pharmaceutical, and space applications. It supports the upscaling of processes to high TRLs and MRLs, submission of scientific and technical proposals, coordination of research actions, and industrial production operations. NanoQ has access to cutting-edge instrumentation in advanced facilities in Greece and abroad to provide its customers services with high reliability standards. Its core business focuses on Nanomaterials Chemistry & Technology, Polymer Nanocomposites Chemistry & Technology, Process design, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) Analysis, and Techno-Economic Analysis.

The Research Lab of Advanced, Composite, Nano Materials & Nanotechnology (R-NANO) of the School of Chemical Engineering at the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) conducts research in the design, production and characterisation of advanced, composite and nanostructured materials. Its activities include carbon-, polymer- and ceramic-based nanomaterials, fibre production and treatment, composite manufacturing and circularity, additive manufacturing, chemical synthesis, chemical vapour deposition, polymer processing and advanced materials characterisation. Within the space ecosystem, R-NANO is particularly relevant to lightweight and multifunctional materials, advanced composites, surface treatments, additive manufacturing and material systems for demanding aerospace and space environments.