PROJECT PARTNERS

RWTH Aachen University is one of Europe's leading universities for science, engineering and technology. Founded in 1870, the university is home to more than 45,000 students and around 260 institutes across nine faculties, making it one of Germany's largest and most research‑intensive technical universities. As a member of the TU9 Alliance of leading German Institutes of Technology and numerous European research networks, RWTH Aachen University combines world‑class academic excellence with a strong focus on innovation, technology transfer and industrial collaboration. Three different organisational units of RWTH Aachen University contribute to the smartCASE project: RWTH-MMI The Institute for Man-Machine Interaction (MMI) is part of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology and has a long-standing track record in space robotics. RWTH‑MMI specialises in the modelling, simulation and analysis of complex technical systems, machine-to-machine and human-machine interaction, and intelligent systems for space, industrial, automotive and forestry applications. Its expertise in Digital Twins enables the development and operation of advanced Cyber‑Physical Systems, supporting the convergence of virtual and physical environments. Within smartCASE, RWTH-MMI will develop Digital Twins and a Virtual Testbed providing high-fidelity, one-to-one virtual representations of satAPPs that can be interconnected to test, analyse, optimise and validate their behaviour across different operational scenarios. These capabilities will underpin the development of the satAPP OS and support the project's virtual verification and validation activities. RWTH-MMI also brings extensive expertise in open-source software development and will provide the robotic manipulators for the ground-based test environment, as well as the AixCAVE visualisation platform for the analysis and assessment of virtual test results. RWTH-SLA The Institute of Structural Mechanics and Lightweight Design (SLA) is part of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and has been involved in the DLR-funded iBOSS projects since their inception in 2010. Its key research areas include methods and optimisation, Structural Health Monitoring, dynamics and aeroelasticity, as well as space applications. The institute focuses on the development of advanced modelling and simulation methods, together with the design, sizing, optimisation and validation of load-bearing structures. Notable application examples include crash structures for vehicles, rotor blades for wind turbines and fairings for launch vehicles. As an expert in structural design, RWTH-SLA played a key role in the development of the iBOSS concept and has built extensive expertise in the design and development of modular satellite systems. A major outcome of the iBOSS project was the development of the iSSI® interface technology, which is now being commercialised by iBOSS GmbH. The iSSI® was tested and qualified for its in-orbit technology demonstration in RWTH‑SLA’s facilities. Within smartCASE, RWTH-SLA will contribute with its expertise in structural design, sizing and testing to support the development and qualification of the satAPP structures, ensuring that modular functional units meet the mechanical requirements of future satellite architectures. RWTH-EUPM RWTH-EUPM belongs to the Division 4.2 – Management of Third Party Funds. It supports large-scale international collaborations from proposal preparation to implementation, with proven strengths in coordination and partner communication.

iBOSS GmbH is a German company based in Aachen that advances key technologies for In‑Space Servicing, Assembly and Manufacturing (ISAM). Its intelligent Space System Interface (iSSI®) enables modular spacecraft architectures and plug-and-play operations and is already utilised by international stakeholders for laboratory testing and ISAM technology development. Since 2017, iBOSS has operated as a commercial entity, supplying iSSI® laboratory models worldwide and engaging with customers across space agencies, industry and academia. The iSSI® successfully underwent an in-orbit technology demonstration on the International Space Station’s Kibō module in 2022 in cooperation with Skycorp. Building on this achievement, iSSI® hardware was launched aboard Sidus Space’s LizzieSat-3 mission in 2025 in collaboration with Arkisys, enabling post-launch connection and integration capabilities for future on-orbit operations. iBOSS is a sustaining member of CONFERS and actively contributes to shaping best practices and standards for the emerging ISAM ecosystem. Within smartCASE, iBOSS will provide technical expertise and further evolve the iSSI® technology, leveraging its unique flight heritage and demonstrated capabilities. Beyond the technical contribution, iBOSS will provide strategic value through its first-hand insight into global ISAM developments, industrial practices and emerging requirements, gained through its active engagement with international stakeholders across the ISAM community.

Argotec Srl is an Italian company headquartered in Turin, with additional facilities in Italy, Germany and the United States. The company specialises in the design, development, integration and operation of advanced small satellite systems and technologies for human spaceflight. The company combines expertise in mission design, mechanical, thermal, electronic and software engineering with in-house assembly, integration, testing and qualification capabilities. Argotec develops microsatellites (10–250 kg) for complex missions, including operations in challenging environments such as deep space. With around 200 employees and a state-of-the-art production facility capable of manufacturing more than 50 satellites per year, Argotec is one of Europe's leading providers of high-performance small satellite solutions. Within smartCASE, Argotec will provide the expertise in mission design needed to further develop and complement the mission concept and its specification, as well as their heritage in space electronics development to build a scalable and smart power and electronics infrastructure of the smartCASE. Furthermore, their experience in space system integration will be fundamental to build the smartNAVIGATOR, the satAPP providing full orbit and attitude determination, through a seamless integration of COTS sensors and proprietary electronics in a single module.

Veoware BV is a Belgian company founded in 2016 and located in Leuven, which empowers satellites with next-generation high agility motion control solutions. The company develops advanced Attitude Control Systems (ACS) for small and medium satellites, combining innovation with modularity and European heritage. Its flagship product line, the VEOCMG’s, are the first miniaturised and modular Control Moment Gyroscopes (CMG’s) developed and qualified in Europe. These actuators deliver up to ten times higher agility than traditional reaction wheels while reducing power consumption and micro-vibrations. By transferring CMG technology from large, strategic spacecraft into the 50–500 kg satellite class, VEOWARE provides a sovereign, ITAR-free capability that strengthens Europe’s competitiveness and autonomy in space. Within smartCASE, VEOWARE’s expertise in CMG design, modular architectures and in-orbit validation will enable the development of the smartMOTION satAPP, a plug‑and‑play agility module based on the VEOCMG’s. This will ensure high-performing, fuel-efficient attitude control across diverse mission scenarios, providing a key capability for the smartCASE ecosystem.

IENAI Space SL is a Spanish company founded in 2019, dedicated to enabling advanced mobility solutions for the next generation of small satellites. The company operates across facilities in Madrid (headquarters), Barcelona and Uppsala (Sweden), combining expertise from different European innovation ecosystems. At the core of IENAI Space’s activities is the WSpace Mobility Store, an end-to-end space mobility solution integrating mission analysis and operations software with a portfolio of modular and customisable electric propulsion systems for small satellites (less than 100 W). These propulsion systems are based on the company’s patented technology, which uses ionic liquids (molten salts) as propellant and enables the extraction and acceleration of ions through a compact, efficient and scalable approach. By combining advanced propulsion hardware with digital mission planning and operations capabilities, IENAI Space provides enabling technologies for more flexible, autonomous and sustainable satellite operations. Within smartCASE, IENAI’s expertise on electric propulsion systems will allow the consortium to develop the smartPROPULSION satAPP. This satAPP is a key enabler for capabilities such as satellite life extension, controlled deorbiting and the retrofitting of existing space assets with collision‑avoidance functionalities.

RIF e.V. is an independent non-profit research institute dedicated to bridging the gap between academic research and industrial application. Through its strong focus on technology transfer, RIF develops innovative solutions for complex engineering challenges, particularly through the modelling, simulation and analysis of systems in realistic application environments. In the space sector, RIF combines environmental modelling and physics-based simulation with state-of-the-art artificial intelligence and networking technologies to develop virtual testbeds for space applications. The core element of this approach is the VEROSIM multi-domain simulation platform, which enables the creation of realistic Digital Twins and the seamless integration of virtual and physical systems across industrial and disciplinary boundaries. Within smartCASE, RIF provides the Virtual Testbed environment, in which the Digital Twins of all satAPPs are developed, integrated and tested. This enables the development and execution of the Pilot Mission in a fully virtual environment, allowing early validation and system-level testing, even long before hardware is available.

EurA Italia Srl is the Italian branch of the EurA group, an innovation and technology consultancy that, for more than two decades, has supported companies, research institutions and public bodies in transforming technical ideas into funded projects and market-ready solutions. The group combines deep sector expertise with extensive knowledge of regional, national and European funding instruments to accelerate innovation and technology transfer. Based at the Tecnopolo Tiburtino in Rome, at the heart of the capital’s high-technology district, EurA Italia supports Italian organisations throughout the entire innovation cycle, from project conception and partner identification to proposal preparation, funding acquisition, feasibility assessment and project implementation. The company specialises in technology transfer and project management, with particular expertise in the space sector, further strengthened through its co-management of an incubation programme supporting space-related startups. In addition, EurA Italia supports ESA in activities aimed at promoting the commercialisation of space-related expertise and technologies. Within smartCASE, EurA Italia contributes by bringing a commercial and market-oriented perspective to the satAPP architecture and ecosystem, ensuring alignment with market needs, customer requirements and lifecycle cost considerations. It also integrates lessons learned from other ISOS-related initiatives (e.g. ESA missions) to identify potential showstoppers, overlaps and key inputs for a commercially relevant system design and supports communication and dissemination activities to increase visibility of ISOS and smartCASE results among stakeholders and the broader European public.