Author: Carmel McNamara
The ESA Technology Broker NL plays a crucial role in bridging the gap between space technology and various industries and acting as a key facilitator and connector of industries. By focusing on two main objectives, the broker contacts help to solve industrial challenges with advanced space solutions and facilitate the transfer of terrestrial innovations into space. Its successful Tech Needs Discovery event series is a physical manifestation of the broker’s activities, while via its website the latest available technologies – for space or non-space – are listed.
During 2025, numerous new technology descriptions have been published online across six industries, from electronics to sensors. Access them all via this post or jump straight to the technologies section.
Tapping into the realm of space technology
The transfer of space technologies brings tangible benefits to life on Earth, offering a wide array of practical applications across various industries. These technologies encompass software and hardware solutions incorporating space-derived materials, data compression tools, methodologies, propulsion systems, coatings and sensors. Space solutions turn up in everything from medical devices to sporting equipment, purification systems to quality control measures.
The technology broker’s role involves identifying promising ideas and supporting space companies in exploring new markets. Here below, you will find a selection of technology descriptions from the Dutch space industry with potential terrestrial applications. There are also non-space terrestrial innovations listed that could find an application in space.
Existing technologies with potential for new applications
Each year, ESA’s cutting-edge technologies developed for space missions find new applications on Earth, benefitting daily life. The Dutch broker’s website is a platform for showcasing the available technologies portfolio, highlighting innovations across the Netherlands that are ready-and-waiting for new applications. The technical information cards for each are available for the entire catalogue that has been collated by the broker.
These unique cards, colour-coded by industry, include innovation advantages and suggested market applications so that anyone accessing them can be made aware of the breadth of technologies available from companies across the Netherlands.
The technologies section is one of the most-accessed of all sections on the broker website since it was launched in March 2024. The tech card with the most views since the website went live is the one detailing the lattice composite structures of ATG Europe.
During 2025, there have been fourteen new descriptions uploaded to the website and the top-viewed tech card this year is Zander Labs’ neuroadaptive technology that transforms how humans interact with technology and how artificial intelligence (AI) systems are trained. “Our Zypher sensors – which process brain activity directly on-device for privacy – were developed with real-world applications in mind. We’re seeing interest from automotive, healthcare and defence sectors, as well as applications for space.”
The broker contacts are continually investigating new connections. Want to create awareness of your technology? You too can submit your tech description via here.
NEW TECH DESCRIPTIONS PUBLISHED ONLINE IN 2025 (listed per industry)
Modular Power Management System for High-Performance Satellites
Power management system features modular circuit boards equipped with custom microchips to provide unparalleled performance in power regulation and distribution. The system ensures efficient power conversion and radiation tolerance, making it suitable for satellite missions requiring high reliability and scalability.
Radiation-Hardened Reconfigurable Microchip for High-Reliability Systems
Reconfigurable microchip offers a programmable, software-defined logic structure, enabling real-time updates without requiring hardware modifications. It provides a versatile solution for safety-critical and high-reliability applications.
Direct Air Capture Technology for CO2 Removal
Direct air capture (DAC) system is designed to efficiently remove CO2 directly from ambient air. The technology uses a three-step filtration process for CO2 removal – capturing, isolating and storing – making it available for permanent sequestration.
Direct Air Capture Technology for On-Site CO2 Utilisation
DAC technology removes CO2 directly from ambient air using proprietary sorbent materials and an energy-efficient desorption process. The high-purity CO2 collected can be used on-site for various industrial applications
Neuroadaptive Technology for Enhanced Human-Computer Interaction and AI Learning
Cutting-edge neuroadaptive technology that transforms how humans interact with technology and how AI systems are trained and learn. Through passive brain–computer interfaces and proprietary universal classifiers, the technology can detect mental states and translates them into actionable data.
3D-Printed Heat Pipe Array for Extreme Cooling Applications
The 3D-printed heat pipe array is designed to address cooling challenges in sectors where thermal management is essential. The heat pipe array features a unique geometry and the innovative trapping of 3D-printing powder, allowing it to efficiently disperse heat from high-energy sources.
Autonomous and Fail-Safe Solar Array Rotary Actuator for Small Satellites
This solar array rotary actuator is an innovative autonomous and fail-safe solar array drive assembly designed to enhance the power generation capabilities of small satellites. Its sun-tracking capability operates independently of the satellite’s onboard computer.
Heatless High-Precision Actuators for Advanced High-Tech Machines
The reluctance tuning actuator combines hard magnets and reluctance tuning modules to create a contactless force based on magnetic flux. This innovative design generates movement by pulling ferromagnetic components toward low magnetic resistance regions.
Advanced Nozzle Head for Microfluidics Applications
This advanced nozzle head enables precise fluid handling for microfluidics applications, optimised for minimal flow resistance, accurate droplet generation and stable high-pressure operations. It uses state-of-the-art computational fluid dynamics and precision manufacturing techniques.
Ultra-High-Accuracy Fibre Arrays for High Coupling Efficiency Demanding Applications
These fibre arrays allow for individual and simultaneous manipulation and fixation of closely placed fibres with high precision. The arrays have a high coupling efficiency suitable for Integrated photonic chips and micro lens arrays.
Advanced Over-the-Air Testing with The Wireless Connector
This wireless connector is an advanced reverberation chamber designed to transform antenna and wireless device testing, with internal reflective pyramid for optimised performance and intuitive interface.
High-Speed Free-Space Optical Communication for Point-to-Point Communication and SatCom
The optical modem is a data handling and processing unit for optical communication, designed to receive and transmit high-speed data over a free space optical laser link to and from space. The modem can be adapted for communication between airborne vehicles, ships or directly to space.
Magnetometer-Based Attitude Determination System
The magnetometer-based attitude determination system was initially designed for satellite attitude determination and space environment monitoring. It includes a 3-axis magnetometer, accelerometer and gyroscope, plus embedded microcontroller.
Multi-Purpose Interface Platform for Fail-Safe Testing and Simulation of Electrical Interfaces
The multi-purpose interface platform is a compact, modular and polyvalent system designed for hardware test and simulation, and can support up to 400 electrical interfaces in a single 4U unit. Ideal for building and combining sub-systems into reliable and complex (space) systems.
