The European consortium led by UNSEENLABS and EUROCONSULT has won a concept study for the European Commission aiming to leverage disruptive ideas for an innovative European broadband constellation.

Paris, Berlin, Washington D.C., Montreal, Yokohama, Sydney - December 9, 2021 – New Symphonie, the recently established consortium of 22 European companies, including EXOLAUNCH, has won the European Commission call for tenders entitled “NewSpace solutions for long-term availability of reliable, secure, cost-effective space-based connectivity”.

Selected for its exceptional innovation and familiarity with leading-edge technologies, the consortium led by UNSEENLABS and EUROCONSULT will be awarded a six-month study contract for a total amount of 1.4M euros. Through the study, the consortium members will investigate and recommend to the European Commission the most optimal infrastructure for secure connectivity markets. The study aims at defining the secure connectivity requirements that could be addressed by a European multi-orbit satellite system to be conceptually designed with innovative technologies for an attractive business plan.

Boasting 22 members from no less than 8 countries, New Symphonie is founded on a resolutely multi-national approach at European level. The consortium blends the wealth of experience brought by incumbents UNSEENLABS and EUROCONSULT with the disruptive business models and use cases of small and medium sized businesses driving the advent of “New Space”. The consortium will leverage the new ideas prevalent in the commercial space ecosystem with the technical expertise and market awareness of UNSEENLABS and EUROCONSULT, respectively, to define an innovative EU Space-based Global Secure Connectivity System.

Jeanne MEDVEDEVA, VP of Launch Services at EXOLAUNCH, said “We are very pleased to be part of this Consortium, working together with the 21 most innovative European space companies towards shaping the EU Space-based Global Secure Connectivity System. This project is particularly important as it's one of very few that is granted not to big primes, but to SMEs and start-ups, a sign of enormous confidence reposed in a niche NewSpace competence. An autonomous and resilient space-based connectivity system is critical for strong Europe and Exolaunch with its successful decade-long experience in launch, deployment and in-space logistics services for smallsats is delighted to be the key launch architecture contributor.”

This undertaking stems from the European Commission's ambition to develop secure and resilient global connectivity in response to a rapid digital transformation and to the corresponding rise of cyber threats. This strategic objective was outlined by European Commission President von der Leyen in her State of the Union address of 2020.

Clément and Jonathan GALIC, Co-founders and respectively CEO and CTO of UNSEENLABS, stated “We are delighted that our proposal was accepted and that we can move this work forward together with this great team of innovative companies. The creation of a European leadership in the NewSpace sector on the one hand requires the collaboration of innovative companies between them and on the other, the confidence of the institutions in the innovative capacity of European startups and SMEs. This project meets these conditions, which is why we look forward to turning the New Symphonie vision into reality.”

Pacôme REVILLON, Euroconsult Group's CEO added, “NewSpace, at its core, is about adopting a collaborative, dynamic approach to delivering benefits to the society using space technology. I have no doubt that the New Symphonie consortium reflects the industry we serve and embodies that sentiment. On behalf of the 22 members, we look forward to working with the European Commission on this project and playing our role in an increasingly connected, autonomous and secure European Union for all member states.”

Inspired by Symphonie, the first operational communication satellite launched in 1974 under Franco-German cooperation, the New Symphonie consortium claims its place as the rightful heir of the tradition of technological pioneering and multinational collaboration at the foundation of Europe's leading role in the global space sector.

Olga STELMAKH-DRESCHER, Chief Policy and GR Officer at EXOLAUNCH, said “Strong Europe is on the agenda of many. EXOLAUNCH's special wish is to see a strong NewSpace Europe and this particular project is a perfect opportunity to make it one step closer. We are pleased to be part of this exclusive partnership launched by UNSEENLABS and EUROCONSULT bringing together the most innovative space actors and along with them the myriad of competences to design the EU Space-based Global Secure Connectivity System. The 22 participants are like two soccer teams that instead of playing against each other are playing together towards common goal.”

The entire list of New Symphonie participants represents a diverse, pan-European mix of organizations; AEROSPACELAB (BE), ANYWAVES (FR), AVIO (IT), CAILABS (FR), DE-CIX (DE), EXOLAUNCH (DE), EXOTRAIL (FR), FRESNEL ALLIANCE (FR), GOMSPACE (DK), GREENERWAVE (FR), AAC HYPERION (NLD), INTEGRASYS (ES), KSAT (NO), LOFT ORBITAL (FR), QEST ANTENNA TECHNOLOGY (DE), SATCONSULT (FR), SECURE-IC (FR), SENER (ES), SITAEL (IT), TESAT (DE), TRANSATEL (FR).

About Unseenlabs

Founded in 2015, Unseenlabs is an innovative company of French origin, a European leader in satellite-based RF geolocation of ships at sea. Its proprietary onboard satellite technology allows for the geolocation of any vessel at sea in near-real-time, to the nearest kilometer, from a single nanosatellite. Unseenlabs provides a wide range of maritime stakeholders with accurate and up-to-date vessel position data, enabling better monitoring of activities at sea. Whether it is to meet maritime companies' data needs or help institutions and organizations fight against illegal and anti-environmental behaviors, such as illegal fishing or illegal waste dumping, the Unseenlabs service is a tool to serve the oceans.

About Euroconsult

The Euroconsult Group is the leading global strategy consulting and market intelligence firm specialized in the space sector and satellite enabled verticals. Privately owned and fully independent, we have over thirty years of experience providing first-class strategic consulting, developing comprehensive market intelligence programs, organizing executive-level annual summits and training programs for the satellite industry. We accompany private companies and government entities in strategic decision making, providing end-to-end consulting services, from project strategy definition to implementation, bringing data-led perspectives on the most critical issues. We help our clients understand their business environment and provide them with the tools they need to make informed decisions and develop their business. The Euroconsult Group is trusted by 600 clients in over 50 countries and is headquartered in France, with offices in the U.S., Canada, Japan, Singapore, and Australia.

About Exolaunch

Exolaunch (Germany, USA) is a global leader in rideshare launch, deployment, in-space logistics, and integration services for the NewSpace industry. With a decade of flight heritage and 170 satellites launched on 13 missions across world known launch vehicles, Exolaunch has an industry insight it can leverage to develop one-stop-shop solutions tailored towards meeting customer needs and addressing market trends. Exolaunch executes launch contracts for the NewSpace leaders, the world's most innovative start-ups, research institutions, government organizations, and space agencies. The company manufactures advanced lightweight and flight-proven separation systems named CarboNIX to deliver the best-in-class integration and deployment services for small satellites. Exolaunch is also developing a line of environmentally conscious space tugs named Reliant to provide last-mile delivery services and remove space debris reliably. Exolaunch is committed to making space accessible for everyone and to promoting safe, sustainable, and responsible use of space.