This summer, ESA Phi-Lab Netherlands welcomed its first participant: Dunedain Space (along with consortium partners). Dunedain’s CEO Ignacio Reyes Raffo responded to ESA’s open call for projects with commercial potential and was successfully selected for the programme. Jointly run by NL Space Campus and SBIC Noordwijk, the Dutch Phi-Lab has three thematic priorities: Earth observation, secure (laser) satellite communication; and positioning, navigation and timing. Dunedain Space’s research focuses on using state-of-art science to develop technology for identifying and monitoring objects that are currently difficult to locate in Earth’s orbit. Here, we welcome Ignacio to the space business community and you can discover more about his research in the full interview on the NL Space Campus website.
The next ESA Phi-Lab NL selection deadline is 20 Oct 2025!
The ESA Phi-Lab Netherlands is part of the wider Phi-Lab network of the European Space Agency that focuses on maturing technology in response to needs coming from the commercial world. Each Phi-Lab has themed focus areas and creates a sustainable ecosystem for innovation, providing comprehensive support to selected economic operators, including intellectual contributions and a range of services under one roof.
The Dutch Phi-Lab operates an open call for projects and the programme is run by NL Space Campus and SBIC Noordwijk, supported by Netherlands Space Office and ESA Commercialisation Gateway, along with a dynamic community of partners from the Dutch space ecosystem.
“I’m very excited about our collaboration with the ESA Phi-Lab here in Noordwijk. What makes it unique is that it supports us on all fronts – technological, scientific, business and network.”
IGNACIO REYES RAFFO
Focus on space situational awareness
Earlier this month, the Netherlands Space Office published a new report that examines whether – and how – space situational awareness could be used to verify responsible behaviour in space. With space getting ever more crowded, it is vital to know which satellites are in Earth’s orbit and to be able to track their movements. For objects in space that are currently difficult to locate and monitor, Dunedain Space’s project could be the answer.
“We’re using a variety of techniques ranging from astrodynamics to photometry and artificial intelligence, applying them in the area that we are working on, which is space situational awareness,” Ignacio comments. “We aim to excel in detecting, tracking, and monitoring objects that are currently difficult to locate in Earth’s orbit, utilising techniques that differ from those employed by others. We aim to achieve this and have a successful, healthy company as a result.”
EXTRACT OF NL SPACE CAMPUS’ INTERVIEW: “The first project consortium selected to receive funding and support through ESA Phi-Lab Netherlands is headed by Dunedain Space. Recently, Elena Quinteros from NL Space Campus sat down with Ignacio Reyes Raffo, CEO of Dunedain Space, to discuss the consortium’s journey so far, what drives their mission, how the Phi-Lab programme helps accelerate their development and what lies ahead.” Discover more
Dunedain Space joins space business community
Since signing the ESA Phi-Lab NL contract in July 2025, Ignacio has been at SBIC Noordwijk on a regular basis. In August, he gave a presentation about his company to fellow space business entrepreneurs (pictured) and, this month, took part in the ESA Technology Broker NL’s Tech Needs Discovery event (report of which will be available via the broker website here).
On how he feels about joining the Phi-Lab programme, Ignacio says: “I’m very excited about our collaboration with the ESA Phi-Lab here in Noordwijk. What makes it unique is that it supports us on all fronts – technological, scientific, business and network.”
Contracted ESA Phi-Lab NL participants can join as an SBIC community member and play a key role in the space business community.
APPLY TO ESA PHI-LAB NETHERLANDS
ESA Phi-Lab Netherlands has a permanent open call for research project ideas in the areas of: Earth observation; positioning, navigation and timing; and secure (laser) satellite communication. Selected research projects will benefit from an innovation seed funding of €200K and receive extensive guidance, support and coaching from academic and commercial experts in their respective fields. Additionally, teams will have access to facilities, workspaces and a network of experts and partners. The collaboration between research institutions and the market segment can yield radical innovations and new, sustainable businesses. esaphilab.nl
Where research breeds innovation for emerging space market!
Discover everything you need to know about the ESA Phi-Lab NL programme.
