ARQUIMEA AEROSPACE DEFENCE AND SECURITY SL

Their core work

Arquimea is a Spanish aerospace and defence SME that designs and manufactures space-grade electronics, precision actuators, and sensor systems. Their core work spans radiation-hardened ASICs for satellite applications, hold-down and release mechanisms for spacecraft, and space-qualified Ethernet transceivers. More recently, they have expanded into drone traffic management and path-planning technologies for unmanned aerial systems.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In the early period (2015–2018), Arquimea focused squarely on space hardware — spacecraft actuators, space Ethernet transceivers, microactuators, and precision positioning mechanisms. From 2019 onward, a clear shift occurred toward advanced semiconductor design (radiation-hardened ASICs on 22nm FD-SOI) and drone technologies (UTM path planning). This suggests a company moving up the value chain from mechanical space components toward digital electronics and autonomous systems.

Arquimea is transitioning from a space hardware supplier toward a semiconductor IP provider and autonomous systems integrator, positioning itself at the intersection of space electronics and UAV technologies.

How they like to work

Arquimea operates as both a project leader and a technical contributor — they coordinated 2 of their 8 projects (REACT, SEPHY), both in their core space domain, while participating as a specialist partner in the rest. With 78 unique consortium partners across 19 countries, they maintain a broad European network rather than relying on a small circle of repeat collaborators. This makes them an accessible partner who is experienced in both leading focused space projects and integrating into larger multi-partner consortia.

With 78 unique partners spanning 19 countries, Arquimea has built a wide European network centered on space and aerospace institutions. Their geographic reach is notably broad for a Spanish SME, suggesting strong visibility in EU space and defence research circles.

What sets them apart

Arquimea is one of a small number of European SMEs that can design both the mechanical actuators and the radiation-hardened electronics that go into space systems — a rare combination of hardware and semiconductor capabilities under one roof. Their recent move into 22nm FD-SOI ASIC design places them among a select group working on next-generation European space-grade chips. For consortium builders, they offer the unusual ability to contribute across the full signal chain — from sensors and actuators to the digital ASICs that control them.

Highlights from their portfolio

• EFESOS
  Represents their strategic pivot to semiconductor design — building a complete rad-hard ASIC platform on cutting-edge 22nm FD-SOI, with the largest participant funding (EUR 862K).
• REACT
  Their highest-funded project (EUR 1.08M) as coordinator, developing resettable spacecraft actuators — a product with direct commercial potential in satellite deployment.
• LABYRINTH
  Marks their entry into drone/UAV technologies, a significant diversification from pure space hardware into the growing U-Space market.