On 30 October, the community met at SBIC Noordwijk for Network & Drinks: Defence and Security Edition. The evening explored how technologies developed for space are increasingly used in defence and security, from field safety to AI-based navigation.
The programme combined short pitches with updates from NL Space Campus and SBIC Noordwijk, followed by informal networking. This edition also introduced a new concept where pitchers showcased their hardware and demos at standing tables, allowing participants to explore their technologies up close after the presentations.
Updates from NL Space Campus
Connecting the Curious – 19 November, Bremen
During Space Tech Expo Europe, Connecting the Curious will once again offer students, startups, and young professionals from across Europe a stage. The evening includes three rounds of 30-second pitches and time for informal networking. What started as a small side event has grown into a recognised meeting point for emerging talent and early-stage companies in the European space sector. Only for startups, students, young professionals and NL Space partners.
The event is organised by SBIC Noordwijk / ESA BIC Noordwijk, AVIASpace / ESA BIC Northern Germany, German Aerospace Industries Association (BDLI) , and NL Space Campus, and supported by Dassault Système, ESA BIC Bavaria and ESA BIC Estonia.
Space Meets Manufacturing – European Startup Competition
The European startup competition organised by NL Space Campus, SBIC Noordwijk, and EIT Manufacturing will conclude with the final and award ceremony on 27 November at NL Space Campus. Startups from across Europe will present their solutions to industrial challenges from ArcelorMittal, ESA, and Technoport/ESRIC.
Precision Fair 2025 – 12–13 November, ’s-Hertogenbosch
Space innovation takes the spotlight this year at the Precision Fair, where NL Space Campus will host a dedicated Space Pavilion featuring Aardvark Sensing, Space Oasis Delft, Gravity Gardens, RGS, and NL Space Campus itself. The pavilion will highlight how space technologies contribute to high-tech manufacturing and materials development. At 11:00–11:25 on 13 November, the NL Space Campus and ESA BIC pitches will feature multiple innovative space organisations and their initiatives presented at the Space Pavilion. Each team will have 2–3 minutes to showcase their solutions in a fast-paced and dynamic round, connecting the space and high-tech industries.
Updates from SBIC Noordwijk
Martijn Leinweber, COO of SBIC Noordwijk, shared recent developments from the incubator. He highlighted the Space Meets Manufacturing competition and the upcoming Connecting the Curious event in Bremen, encouraging community members to get involved. He also announced the SBIC Demo Day on 9 December, a celebration of the entrepreneurial community at SBIC Noordwijk. The event will bring together ESA BIC startups, alumni, and SBIC community members to showcase their latest innovations and exchange experiences. A limited number of tickets will be available for external guests.
Pitches
The Defence and Security edition featured five stories showing how space technologies are being reimagined for safety, autonomy, and resilience.
Berry Sanders from Solidflow opened the evening with a presentation about its collaboration with the Ministry of Defence. The company developed the EVE-1, a pressureless oxygen storage system designed for medics in the field. Robust, portable, and safe from explosion risk, the technology was created together with soldiers and medical teams to meet real operational needs.
Peter Deen from the Ministry of Defence followed with a reflection on how partnerships with innovators like Solidflow can influence future doctrines. He encouraged startups to challenge existing approaches and help the Ministry identify needs before they are formally defined.
WREN Aerospace introduced its high-altitude pseudo satellites, autonomous aircraft that operate in the stratosphere and can provide communication, surveillance, and connectivity in remote or disaster-affected areas. The concept bridges the gap between terrestrial networks and satellites, offering a flexible and quickly deployable platform for defence and civil use.
Celestia STS, based in Noordwijk, shared how its long-standing expertise in satellite testing and simulation is now being applied to defence environments. Known for precise work in clean rooms, the company is developing laser communication systems and rugged test equipment for field conditions, ensuring secure data transfer and reliable performance.
Martijn Crijnen from Vydar Group, third-prize winners of the EUDIS Defence Hackathon Netherlands, presented their AI-powered GPS-denied navigation module. Compact, efficient, and fully European-made, the system provides secure navigation when GPS signals are jammed or spoofed.
Each presentation showed how knowledge and experience from space are driving new solutions in defence and security, from field medicine and communication to navigation and autonomy. After the pitches, participants had the chance to see these technologies up close during the live demo session, where teams presented their prototypes and hardware in person.
Next Edition: 27 November
The next Network & Drinks takes place on 27 November and will be held in the light of manufacturing, following the Space Meets Manufacturing theme. Earlier that day, the finale of the European startup competition Space Meets Manufacturing will take place from 14:00 to 17:00 at SBIC Noordwijk.
Organised by NL Space Campus, SBIC Noordwijk, and EIT Manufacturing, the finale marks the conclusion of a months-long competition where startups from across Europe tackled industrial challenges from ESA, ArcelorMittal, and Technoport/ESRIC. Finalists will pitch their solutions to an expert jury and industry representatives, competing for prizes including SBIC community membership, an EIT Manufacturing internationalisation package, and the opportunity to present at major European events in 2026.
The finale is invite-only. Those interested in attending can reach out to Silvia Grätz (silvia.graetz@eitmanufacturing.eu).
Read more about the Finale European Startup Competition: Space Meets Manufacturing
After the finale, the community will gather for Network & Drinks, continuing the conversation on innovation and manufacturing within the Dutch and European space ecosystem.
