EIB InvestEU venture debt powers Aerospacelab’s growth, reinforcing Europe’s leadership in telecommunications, earth observation and space security

EIB InvestEU venture debt powers Aerospacelab’s growth, reinforcing Europe’s leadership in telecommunications, earth observation and space security

(IN BRIEF) The European Investment Bank (EIB) is providing €37.5 million in venture debt to Belgian satellite manufacturer Aerospacelab as part of the EU’s InvestEU programme, supporting the company’s growth in industrial satellite manufacturing and advancing Europe’s strategic autonomy in space. The financing, included in Aerospacelab’s Series B round, will enable the development of larger payload satellite platforms with applications in telecom and earth observation. Aerospacelab’s modular, mass-production approach to satellite constellations positions it to compete globally while reinforcing EU leadership in space technology. EIB Vice-President Robert de Groot, Aerospacelab CEO Benoît Deper, and European Commission representative Thomas de Béthune all underlined the strategic importance of the agreement, which falls under the TechEU Programme’s commitment to mobilise €250 billion for disruptive technologies by 2027. Beyond security and communications, the investment will deliver broad economic and environmental benefits, from climate monitoring to resource management and disaster prevention.

(PRESS RELEASE) LUXEMBOURG, 23-Sep-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — The European Investment Bank (EIB) has announced €37.5 million in venture debt financing for Belgian satellite manufacturer Aerospacelab, strengthening Europe’s autonomy in space technologies and supporting next-generation satellite production.

Backed by the EU’s InvestEU programme, the financing is part of Aerospacelab’s recently announced Series B round and will help scale the company’s research, development, and manufacturing capabilities. The funding will accelerate the development of satellite platforms able to carry larger and more complex payloads, broadening applications for telecommunications and earth observation.

Aerospacelab is spearheading the industrialisation of satellite production with advanced hardware and software systems designed for mass manufacturing of small satellite constellations in record time. This approach positions the company to compete with global leaders like SpaceX’s Starlink while reinforcing the EU’s position in the rapidly evolving “New Space” economy. The EIB’s investment marks its first support for a Belgian space company and for microsatellite manufacturing, building on its track record with European space innovators such as Spire Global, D-Orbit, EnduroSat, Kayrros, Gomspace, LeafSpace, and Sateliot.

EIB Vice-President Robert de Groot emphasised the strategic importance of the agreement: “The EU’s security depends on developing and maintaining autonomous space capabilities, and the EIB is and will remain one of the largest financiers in this area. This venture debt agreement highlights our commitment to raise our financing for European innovators to a record high, making sure that ideas and technologies born in Europe stay and grow in Europe.”

For Aerospacelab, the financing validates its modular approach to satellite production. CEO and founder Benoît Deper said: “Securing this support from the European Investment Bank is key for Aerospacelab. It not only validates our innovative modular approach to industrial satellite manufacturing but also empowers us to scale our operations and deliver European-made satellites to the global market. With this backing, we can accelerate ambitious R&D initiatives and drive the next phase of innovation in the space industry.”

Thomas de Béthune, Head of Representation of the European Commission in Belgium, highlighted the EU’s broader commitment: “This financing agreement, backed by InvestEU, underscores our unwavering support for innovation and strategic autonomy in the European Union. By leveraging InvestEU funding, we are empowering European companies in Belgium to lead in cutting-edge space technologies. Through strategic investments like this, we are ensuring that Europe remains at the forefront of technological advancements, driving economic growth and enhancing our collective security.”

The operation is part of the TechEU Programme, the EIB Group’s flagship initiative to support high-impact European technology ventures. TechEU aims to finance 1,000 European tech champions annually with venture products and mobilise €250 billion by 2027, with €70 billion committed directly by the EIB Group. Priority areas include space technologies with defence applications, aligning with the EU’s ambition to boost resilience, security, and technological leadership.

By reinforcing Aerospacelab’s industrial capacity, this financing strengthens European leadership in telecommunications, earth observation, and security applications, while creating spillover benefits for agriculture, disaster response, natural resource management, and climate monitoring.

The European Investment Bank (ElB) is the long-term lending institution of the European Union, owned by its Member States. The EIB finances investments in eight core priorities that support EU policy objectives: climate action and the environment, digitalisation and technological innovation, security and defence, cohesion, agriculture and the bioeconomy, social infrastructure, a stronger Europe in a more peaceful and prosperous world and Europe’s capital markets union.

The EIB Group, which also includes the European Investment Fund (EIF), signed nearly €89 billion in new financing for over 900 high-impact projects in 2024, boosting Europe’s competitiveness and security. In the last decade, the EIF has backed various venture capital funds investing in early-stage European space companies, and the EIB has become a key financier of New Space. In 2023, the EIB signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Wallonian Region, to develop the space economy.

Approximately half of the EIB’s financing within the EU targets cohesion regions, where per-capita income is below the EU average, while almost 60% of annual EIB Group investments support climate action and environmental sustainability.

High-quality, up-to-date photos of the organisation’s headquarters for media use are available here.

The InvestEU programme provides the European Union with long-term funding by leveraging substantial private and public funds in support of a sustainable recovery. It also helps to crowd in private investment for the European Union’s strategic priorities such as the European Green Deal and the digital transition. InvestEU brings all EU financial instruments previously available for supporting investments within the European Union together under one roof, making funding for investment projects in Europe simpler, more efficient and more flexible. The programme consists of three components: the InvestEU Fund, the InvestEU Advisory Hub, and the InvestEU Portal. The InvestEU Fund is deployed through implementing partners that will invest in projects using the EU budget guarantee of €26.2 billion. The entire budget guarantee will back the investment projects of the implementing partners, increase their risk-bearing capacity and thus mobilise at least €372 billion in additional investment.

Founded in 2018, Aerospacelab is redefining the satellite manufacturing industry with its vertically integrated model and scalable constellation strategy. By combining rapid satellite production with hands-on operations, the company empowers governments, businesses, and organizations with reliable and efficient technologies that enable real-time insights to drive smarter decisions on Earth and power connectivity.

Media contact:

Tim Smit
t.smit@eib.org
+352 4379 – 89076

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SOURCE: European Investment Bank