Space technology: Lithuania’s promising space start-ups

Through a series of concrete corridors at the University of Venensus, I have led Lithuania; Viva murals are given in the Soviet era, and it appears to be an unlikely location for the super -technology laboratory that works on a laser communication system.

But this is the place where you will find the Astrolight headquarters, which is a six -year -old running start, just collected 2.8 million euros ($ 2.3 million; 2.4 million pounds) to build what he calls the “visual data highway”.

You can think about technology as invisible internet cables, designed to connect satellites to the Earth.

With the expectation of 70,000 satellites For the next five years, it is a market that has a lot of capabilities.

The company hopes to be part of the shift from traditional radio -based communications, to laser technology faster, safer and widespread.

Astrolight space laser technology can also have defense applications as well, which is presented in time Russia’s current aggressive position Towards her neighbors.

Astrolight is already part of the Diana Project in NATO (North Atlantic Defense Innovation), which is an incubator, created in 2023 to apply civil technology to defense challenges.

In the case of Astrolight, NATO is keen to take advantage of his rapidly advanced laser connections to transfer decisive intelligences in defense operations – which is what the Lituanian navy is already.

He approached Astrolight three years ago in search of a laser allowing ships to communicate during the silence of the radio.

So we said, “Well – we know how to do this for space. It seems that we can also do this for ground applications. ”Astrolight is the founder and CEO of Laurynas Maciulis, which is based in the Lithuania capital, Vilnius.

For the army, its company’s technology is attractive, as it is difficult to intercept the laser system.

Mr. Maciulis adds: It is also related to “low spread”

“If you turn on your radio transmission in Ukraine, you will immediately become a target, because it is easy to follow. So with this technology, because the information is transmitted in a very narrow laser beam, it is very difficult to discover it.”

At a value of about 2.5 billion pounds, the defense budget in a small Lithuania when it compares it to larger countries like the United Kingdom, which spends about 54 billion pounds annually.

But if you look at defensive spending as a percentage of GDP, Lithuania spends more than many large countries.

About 3 % of GDP is spent on the defense, and this is scheduled to rise to 5.5 %. In comparison, defensive spending in the UK deserves 2.5 % of GDP.

A recognized strength in specialized technologies such as Astroight lasers, 30 % of space projects in Lithuania received the European Union financing, compared to the national Mediterranean of the European Union of 17 %.

“Space technology has become a rapid integrated element increasingly in the strategy of defense and the broader flexibility in Lithuania,” says defense expert.

Space technology can often have civil and military uses.

Mr. Genys gives an example of DELTA BIOSCINECES DELTA BIOSCINECES, which is preparing for the International Space Station to test the radiation -resistant medical vehicles.

“Despite its development of space light, these innovations can also support special operations forces that operate in high radiation environments,” he says.

He adds that the Vilnius -based Kongsberg Nanoavionics has obtained a large contract to manufacture hundreds of satellites.

“Although this infrastructure is primarily, this infrastructure has potential connections with double -use use, encrypted use, actual time, monitoring, and surveillance via the East NATO wing,” says Mr. Genys.

It goes alongside the laser technology in Astrolight is the independent satellite navigation system in which Blackswan Space has evolved.

Blackswan Space allows satellite programming and re -placing it independently of the human being in the Earth’s monitoring center, as its founders say, they will not be able to keep pace with the huge size of the satellite that is launched in the coming years.

In a defensive environment, the same technology can be used to destroy a remote satellite, as well as to train soldiers by creating battle simulation.

But the degree of sales of the Lithuanian army was not necessarily clear, Thomas Malaneoskas, the chief trade official of Blackswan Space.

It is also concerned that government financing for the sector does not match the level of innovation from which it comes out.

It indicates that instead of spending $ 300 million on a US -made drone, the government can invest in a group of small satellites.

“Build your own ability to communicate and intelligence in enemy countries, instead of a drone that will be shot down in the first two hours of the conflict,” says Malinauskas, who is also based in Velanis.

“It will be a big boost for our small space community, but also, it will be a long -term sustainable value and sustainable for the future of the Lithuanian army.”

EGLė Elena šataitė is the president of PACE Hub, an agency based in Vilnnis that supports space companies as part of the government -funded innovation agency in Lithuania.

“Our government, of course, realizes the reality of where we live, and we have to invest more in security and defense – and we must recognize that space techniques are those that enable defense techniques.”

The country’s Minister of Economy and Innovation, Lucas Savikas, says that he understands the concern of Mr. Malinoskas and is looking at government spending to develop space technology.

“Space technology is one of the highest value for creating added value, as it is famous for its horizon; many space -based solutions are in line with biotechnology, artificial intelligence, new materials, optics, information and communication technology and other areas of innovation,” says Mr. Savickas.

Whatever happens with government financing, the appetite for innovation is still strong.

“We always have to prove to others that we belong to the global theater,” says Dominicas Milasius, co -founder of the biological science sciences.

“And all we do is the geopolitan … We must build critical value offers, science and other critical techniques, to make our allies understand that it is good to protect Lithuania.”