Portuguese Space Tech Firm Neuraspace Secures €15.6M to Scale AI Defense Platform

Portuguese space technology company Neuraspace has secured €15.6 million in financing to scale its AI-powered Space Domain Awareness (SDA) and Space Traffic Management (STM) platform. The investment arrives as the orbital environment becomes increasingly congested, necessitating sophisticated tools to protect critical satellite infrastructure from accidental collisions and intentional threats.

The funding round comprises private investments from Lince Capital, Explorer Investments, and Armilar Venture Partners, supplemented by grants from Portugal's Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP). This capital injection follows a period of rapid commercial scaling; Neuraspace reported revenue growth exceeding 350% in 2025. The company currently monitors more than 600 satellites for a diverse portfolio of commercial and institutional clients, including the European Space Agency (ESA), Spire Global, GEOSAT, NanoAvionics, Sidus Space, and U-Space.

Evolution of Orbital Security

Founded in 2020 by CEO Chiara Manfletti, Neuraspace originally focused on utilizing artificial intelligence to combat space debris. The company has since pivoted to address a broader spectrum of risks through "NeuraspaceDEF," a dual-use solution designed for government and defense sectors. This expanded mission targets modern counterspace activities, including GNSS spoofing, jamming, and cyberattacks.

According to Manfletti, the company's mission has evolved to match operational realities, noting that safety and security are now "two sides of the same operational problem." This shift reflects a broader industry trend where the distinction between accidental orbital hazards and deliberate interference has blurred.

Strategic Implications for Europe

The investment is a significant step toward strengthening Europe's technological sovereignty in space. By integrating proprietary optical sensing infrastructure with AI-driven risk assessments, Neuraspace reduces the continent's dependence on external surveillance capabilities. This autonomy is critical for the safety of the next generation of military and commercial missions operating in a volatile orbital environment.

Neuraspace's integration into the defense ecosystem is already well-established. The company holds active contracts with NATO and the Portuguese Air Force and has been selected as a prime contractor by the European Commission for Defence and Space.

Future Outlook

Neuraspace intends to use the new capital to enter its next growth phase, focusing on the delivery of AI-enabled operational services. As the company expands, the industry will monitor how its dual-use capabilities scale to meet the demands of institutional defense missions. The primary objective remains the creation of a sovereign European layer of defense capable of ensuring the longevity of satellite assets against an evolving array of orbital threats.