MAGELLIUM SAS

Their core work

Magellium is a French SME specializing in geospatial data processing, Earth observation, and space robotics. They develop software and algorithms for satellite data exploitation — from gravity field analysis and groundwater monitoring to autonomous navigation systems for planetary rovers. Their work bridges space technology and environmental applications, turning satellite measurements into actionable products for understanding Earth's water cycle, gravity field, and subsurface dynamics.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

Magellium's early H2020 work (2016–2019) centered on space robotics — autonomous navigation, data fusion for rovers, and sensor integration for exploration missions. From 2020 onward, their focus clearly shifted toward Earth science applications: satellite gravimetry, groundwater monitoring, magnetic field analysis, and water cycle observation. They have not abandoned robotics (CoRob-X in 2021), but the center of gravity has moved from space exploration toward using space-derived data to understand Earth systems.

Magellium is evolving from a space robotics specialist toward a dual-capability firm combining planetary robotics with Earth observation data products, making them increasingly relevant for environmental monitoring projects.

How they like to work

Magellium operates primarily as a partner (6 of 7 projects), contributing specialized technical components rather than leading large consortia. They coordinated PULSAR, their largest-budget project, suggesting they can lead when the topic aligns tightly with their core robotics expertise. With 42 unique partners across 13 countries, they maintain a broad but not deeply repetitive network — indicating they are sought after as a technical contributor by diverse consortia rather than locked into a fixed group of collaborators.

Magellium has collaborated with 42 unique partners across 13 countries, showing a well-connected European network for an SME of their size. Their partnerships span both space agencies/institutes and environmental research groups, reflecting their dual expertise.

What sets them apart

Magellium sits at a rare intersection: they combine hands-on space robotics engineering (rover autonomy, data fusion, cooperative robots) with deep expertise in Earth observation data processing (gravimetry, geophysics). This dual capability means they can contribute to both planetary exploration and terrestrial environmental monitoring projects — a combination few SMEs offer. Based in the Toulouse aerospace cluster, they have direct access to France's space ecosystem while remaining small enough to be agile technical partners.

Highlights from their portfolio

• PULSAR
  Their only coordinated project (EUR 658,750), focused on ultra-large space structure assembly — demonstrates leadership capability and ambition beyond typical SME scope.
• GRACEFUL
  Largest single funding (EUR 664,514) in a prestigious ERC Synergy Grant, probing deep Earth interior using gravity and magnetic field data — signals high scientific credibility.
• CoRob-X
  Cooperative robot teams for exploring lava tubes on planetary surfaces — an unusual and forward-looking topic combining their robotics roots with extreme environment engineering.