EIC Corporate Day with Thales Alenia Space in Turin: a pragmatic look at startup–prime collaboration in NewSpace
- ›The European Innovation Council and Thales Alenia Space co‑hosted an EIC Corporate Day in Turin on 20–21 May 2025 to showcase nine EIC-backed deep tech startups.
- ›Startups spanned photonics, AI accelerators, distributed cloud storage, quantum AI, photovoltaics, zero-knowledge proofs, coatings, sovereign processors, and thermal management for space.
- ›The two-day format combined reverse pitches from Thales Alenia Space, five-minute startup pitches, and one-to-one meetings aimed at pilots, procurement and strategic partnerships.
- ›Event underscored opportunities for corporate–startup collaboration but tangible outcomes will depend on pilots, flight qualification, procurement cycles and clear commercial pathways.
- ›The EIC Corporate Partnership Programme continues to target large corporates interested in open innovation and offers curated matchmaking and acceleration services.
EIC Corporate Day with Thales Alenia Space in Turin
On 20 and 21 May 2025 the European Innovation Council and Thales Alenia Space ran a Corporate Day at Thales Alenia Space’s Turin site. The event was presented as the culmination of a tailored engagement under the EIC Corporate Partnership Programme, in which the EIC sourced and prepared a selection of EIC-backed startups with capabilities relevant to Thales Alenia Space’s business lines. Over two days representatives from the prime contractor and nine startups went through reverse pitches, short technical demonstrations, and matched one-to-one meetings to explore pilots, procurement and investment opportunities.
Why Thales Alenia Space took part
Thales Alenia Space positioned the Corporate Day as a chance to combine the prime’s engineering and system integration capability with the disruptive potential of startups. Delphine Knab, Senior Vice President Strategy, Innovation, Mergers & Acquisitions and New Business Initiatives at Thales Alenia Space said the visit created momentum and that the company sees strong potential for impactful partnerships. The company also highlighted existing engagement with EIC instruments such as the EIC Pathfinder and EIC Business Acceleration Services.
From the EIC side Michiel Scheffer, President of the Board at the European Innovation Council, framed the multi-year collaboration with Thales Alenia Space as an example of European cooperation to bring deep tech innovators to market. The EIC stressed that the Corporate Day aimed to accelerate concrete interactions between industry decision-makers and EIC beneficiaries.
Who participated from the startup side
Nine EIC-backed companies were selected for the Corporate Day. They were chosen for technologies that map to multiple Thales Alenia Space strategic priorities including telecommunications, Earth observation, high-performance computing and in-orbit systems.
| Company | Country | Core technology or offering | Relevance to space applications |
| Alcyon Photonics SL | Spain | Metasurface-based solutions for photonic integrated circuits | Compact, high-performance optical components for communications and sensors |
| Axelera AI Bv | Netherlands | AI acceleration hardware and software optimised for computer vision | Onboard processing for satellite imagery and real-time analytics |
| Cubbit Srl | Italy | Distributed cloud storage that encrypts and shards data across locations | Sovereign, geo-resilient storage with claimed cost savings for ground and space data |
| Multiverse Computing SL | Spain | Quantum and quantum-inspired AI solutions including model compression | Optimization and AI model efficiency for satellite workloads and planning |
| Nexwafe GmbH | Germany | Innovative photovoltaic wafer technology | Potentially higher efficiency or lower-cost photovoltaic cells for space power |
| Sedicii Innovations Limited | Ireland | Identity verification and zero-knowledge proof solutions | Secure authentication and privacy-preserving identity for ground and space systems |
| Sia Naco Technologies | Latvia | Advanced surface coatings and material treatments for extreme environments | Thermal, abrasion and radiation-resistant coatings for spacecraft |
| Sipearl | France | European sovereign high-performance computing processors | Processors designed for critical infrastructure, potentially for space-qualified compute |
| Tera Srl | Italy | Thermal management solutions and advanced materials for space | Radiators, heat pipes and thermal controls suitable for spacecraft environments |
What happened during the two days
The Corporate Day began with reverse pitches from Thales Alenia Space. These sessions outlined the prime’s strategic needs, technical constraints and procurement approach. Startups then delivered five-minute pitches each followed by a three-minute question and answer slot. Planned one-to-one meetings between startup teams and Thales representatives rounded out the programme. The EIC described the format as a business acceleration service designed to prioritise concrete follow-up such as pilots, proofs of concept and commercial discussions.
Technical concepts and why they matter for space
What this means for NewSpace startups and for Thales Alenia Space
The Corporate Day model creates an efficient interface between prime contractors and startups. It can fast track discovery, clarify requirements and start commercial conversations. For startups, direct access to system integrator decision-makers is a valuable rare opportunity. For the corporate, these events expand scouting channels and de-risk early engagement.
However tangible outcomes are not guaranteed. Space systems follow long procurement and qualification cycles. Key obstacles include flight qualification of hardware and software, certification and standards compliance, export control and data sovereignty rules, long sales cycles to large primes, and the need for pilots with clear success metrics. Many vendor claims about cost reductions or performance improvements are valid only with specific assumptions and at scale. That is why pilots, independent testing and stepwise integration are essential before procurement or investment decisions.
The EIC Corporate Partnership Programme in context
The Corporate Day is one activity under the EIC Corporate Partnership Programme, part of the EIC Business Acceleration Services. The programme is positioned as a long-running attempt to bridge startups and large corporates across Europe. The EIC states that since 2017 it has organised dozens of initiatives involving a broad roster of corporate partners and more than one thousand EIC-funded startups and scaleups.
| Metric | EIC reported figure |
| Corporate Partnership initiatives since 2017 | 72 initiatives with more than 120 corporate partners |
| Startups and scaleups involved | Over 1 200 EIC-funded startups and scaleups |
| Corporate representatives engaged | Over 2 500 senior corporate representatives |
| Reported satisfaction | 92 percent satisfaction rate among EIC companies in programme evaluations |
The EIC also highlights that different formats deliver different results. In-person single-corporate events typically produce more business deals while online and multi-corporate formats increase reach. Corporates are expected to meet minimum size and reach criteria to join the programme, and they are asked to sign a declaration of intent.
A pragmatic assessment
Corporate Days can accelerate conversations and surface technically promising matches. They are not a substitute for clear integration roadmaps, procurement alignment and funded demonstration projects. Startups benefit from focused feedback on compliance needs and integration constraints. Corporates must be prepared to adapt processes so pilot cycles do not stall while startups run out of runway.
For public stakeholders and funders the predictable next step is to align innovation support to the realities of flight qualification and long procurement cycles. That may include co-funded demonstration calls, support for testing and certification, and mechanisms to shorten industrial adoption timelines while preserving safety and sovereignty requirements.
Practical next steps and how to engage
Startups that participated described the access to decision-makers as exceptional. Cubbit’s CEO Alessandro Cillaro said the event gave them a rare chance to showcase their value proposition directly to Thales Alenia Space. The EIC is actively seeking large corporations with an open innovation mindset to join future Corporate Partnership activities. Corporates interested in partnering are invited to contact the EIC Corporate Partnership Programme through the EIC Business Acceleration Services channels.
The EIC also promotes its Business Acceleration Service catalogue and newsletter as ways for beneficiaries and corporates to stay aware of open calls, partner opportunities and sector-focused services.
Bottom line
The Turin Corporate Day with Thales Alenia Space illustrates how curated corporate–startup interactions can surface usable technology for complex sectors like space. The event succeeded at matchmaking and dialogue. Turning those conversations into pilots, certified hardware, long term procurement or strategic investment will require follow-through, realistic timeframes and shared commitments on testing and certification. The EIC and participating corporates appear to recognise these constraints and present Corporate Days as the first step in a longer collaboration trajectory rather than a final outcome.
Disclosure and context: this article is based on event material and public statements provided by the European Innovation Council, Thales Alenia Space and participating companies. Vendor claims about performance and cost reductions have not been independently verified here. Readers should treat early-stage performance claims with caution and look for independent testing and contractual terms before drawing commercial conclusions.
Further information
For companies and corporates interested in participating in the EIC Corporate Partnership Programme the EIC website offers details on criteria and upcoming Corporate Days. The EIC Business Acceleration Services newsletter and the EIC Community channels provide updates on open calls and programme activity.