GOMSPACE SWEDEN AB

Their core work

GomSpace Sweden AB, operating under the brand Nanospace, is a Swedish SME based in Uppsala that engineers miniaturized hardware subsystems for small satellites and nanosatellites. Their work covers two of the most critical spacecraft subsystems: onboard energy storage and propulsion — making them a rare specialist capable of contributing to multiple aspects of a small satellite's power and mobility budget. They work as a technical partner in European research consortia, bringing precision engineering for space-grade components that must survive launch loads, vacuum, and radiation while fitting into compact form factors. The company appears to be part of the wider GomSpace group, a recognized European leader in commercial nanosatellite platforms, giving their research contributions a direct commercial application pathway.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

With only two projects spanning 2016–2019 and no keyword metadata available, the evolution window is narrow, but the trajectory is readable. Their earliest project (MONBASA, 2016) addressed passive energy storage — getting power into the satellite. Their next project (HiperLoc-EP, 2017) moved to active propulsion — using that power to move the satellite. This progression from stored energy to controlled thrust suggests a deliberate effort to expand their subsystem coverage within the nanosatellite stack. Whether this continued into a broader platform role after 2019 cannot be determined from the available H2020 data alone.

They appear to be building a portfolio of critical nanosatellite subsystems — moving from power storage toward propulsion — which positions them as a potential one-stop hardware supplier for small satellite mission developers.

How they like to work

GomSpace Sweden has participated in H2020 exclusively as a partner, never as a coordinator, which is typical for a hardware-focused SME that contributes specific technical components rather than managing broad research agendas. Their two projects involved small consortia totaling just six unique partners across three countries, suggesting they work in tight, focused teams rather than sprawling multi-partner networks. This profile fits a specialist brought in for a defined engineering deliverable — reliable to engage, but unlikely to take on project management or dissemination responsibilities.

Their H2020 network is small and concentrated: six unique partners across three countries, all within the European space research community. No repeated partners are visible across the two projects, suggesting they connect with different consortia for different subsystem needs rather than maintaining a fixed collaboration circle.

What sets them apart

GomSpace Sweden is one of a very small number of European SMEs with documented R&D contributions to both spacecraft energy storage and electric propulsion — two subsystems that together determine whether a small satellite can operate and maneuver in orbit. Their Uppsala base places them within Sweden's strong space engineering ecosystem, and their connection to the GomSpace group (a commercially active nanosatellite manufacturer) means their research work has a credible route to flight-heritage products. For a consortium building a nanosatellite mission, they offer rare dual-subsystem depth without the overhead of a large contractor.

Highlights from their portfolio

• HiperLoc-EP
  The largest-budget project (€340,581) and the most commercially compelling — low-cost electric propulsion is a recognized bottleneck for the fast-growing small satellite market, making this work directly relevant to both ESA programs and commercial NewSpace operators.
• MONBASA
  Monolithic battery architecture for spacecraft is a niche materials-engineering challenge distinct from standard lithium-ion packaging, signaling genuine deep expertise rather than generic electronics integration.