Space exploration has long been a driver of innovation and a symbol of national prestige, and Taiwan is positioning itself as a key supply chain player in the global space industry.
To align with global trends and strengthen its space industry, Taiwan's Small and Medium Enterprise and Startup Administration (SMESA), the Ministry of Economic Affairs, organized the Taiwan Accelerator Plus (TAcc+) International SpaceTech Startup Supporting Program.
This program, executed by the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI), aims to attract international SpaceTech startup talent to Taiwan, assist Taiwan-based SpaceTech startups in accessing global markets, and foster partnerships between enterprises and startups for global expansion. This year, TAcc+ invited eleven startups from seven countries to Taiwan to connect with local research institutions and supply chain players.
Focus Areas and Targeted Startups
The 2024 program emphasizes satellite manufacturing, sensing and imaging technologies, and critical components for rocket manufacturing. It targets mature startups from Europe, India, the Asia Pacific region, and Japan. AICRAFT and Reflex Aerospace are among the selected startups of satellite manufacturing, including satellite bodies, payload, and subsystems.
AICRAFT
Founded in November 2020, AICRAFT is an Australian-based company focused on making artificial intelligence (AI) more adaptable to onboard platforms, especially in challenging environments like space.
AICRAFT's mission is to address the technological gaps in space by developing AI solutions that reduce the need for large, power-hungry systems while enabling efficient data processing in real-time. Space, with its extreme conditions and limited resources, has been identified as one of the most complex environments for technological development, making it the primary focus for AICRAFT's innovative products.
AICRAFT offers a range of AI-powered devices known as the Pulsar family, designed for low-power, high-performance computing onboard satellites. These devices help process vast amounts of data in space, with applications across a variety of fields, from environmental monitoring to disaster response.
Pulsar Lite: The entry-level device in the Pulsar family, Pulsar Lite is designed for compact platforms like 1U to 3U nanosatellites, small rovers, and copters. It is an ideal onboard computer for missions where space and power are extremely limited but AI processing is still required.
Pulsar: A more advanced co-processing unit, Pulsar is typically used in satellites of 6U size and above. It separates satellite navigation and data processing tasks, ensuring that high-performance computing can be carried out independently. Pulsar is often connected to communication systems to transmit processed insights, making it invaluable for applications such as greenhouse gas emissions measurement, real-time meteorology, and ship detection. It can also be used for monitoring environmental changes like water level rise or deforestation.
Pulsar Pro: Designed as a miniature server for space, Pulsar Pro is ideal for the real-time processing of radar data or large volumes of Earth observation data from telescopes. Primarily used in small satellite missions, it can also be integrated into SATCOM satellites for efficient management of communications and internal workloads. Pulsar Pro supports ultra-fast computing, enabling applications such as iceberg detection, flood monitoring, land cover changes, and real-time sea state estimation or debris collision avoidance.
AICRAFT's edge computing devices are engineered to deliver exceptional performance in a compact form factor, consuming significantly less energy compared to traditional alternatives. Their key advantage lies in their flexibility: AICRAFT devices can handle both small and large computational tasks, which is a critical distinction from other solutions that are typically more restricted in the range of workloads.
The reduced power consumption is particularly advantageous for space missions. With a longer battery life, especially during periods when satellites are in Earth's shadow and reliant on stored energy, AICRAFT devices ensure continuous performance. For example, the Pulsar device has been demonstrated to process ship detection data faster than a desktop computer while consuming 20 times less power and occupying a fraction of the desktop's space. For satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO), AICRAFT expects to provide continuous data processing throughout an entire orbit, far surpassing the typical 10-30 minutes of operational uptime offered by conventional systems.
In addition to their superior performance and energy efficiency, AICRAFT's devices are designed with radiation-tolerant features. These include latch-up and bit-flipping protection, ensuring that the devices remain immune to radiation effects. This is a key benefit for space operations, where radiation exposure can otherwise cause long-term damage to sensitive equipment. With these features, AICRAFT guarantees mission assurance for extended periods, even in the harshest conditions.
AICRAFT is also actively exploring new growth opportunities, particularly in Taiwan, a global hub for high-tech electronics and manufacturing. Sponsored by TAcc+, the company recently visited Taiwan to explore potential collaborations and expand its supply chain. The company sees Taiwan's advanced electronics industry as a strategic advantage, helping to reduce production costs and increase access to cutting-edge technology. They are interested in establishing partnerships to promote AI adoption through innovative products and discussing collaborative projects that could accelerate the development and market entry of several ongoing designs.
AICRAFT is keen to establish partnerships with technology integrators, space camera manufacturers, communication system developers, and satellite designers. These collaborations could lead to the integration of AICRAFT's AI-powered devices into existing satellite platforms, enhancing their capabilities and broadening their market potential. The company also sees opportunities to support AI model designers and educational initiatives, offering their products as training tools for universities and organizations focused on AI software development.
AICRAFT and LETSCOM MOU Signing during TAITRONICS & AIoT Taiwan 2024. AICRAFT (Left), Dr. Lewis Chen, General Director of CIS at ITRI (Middle), Mr. Randson Huang, General Manager of LETSCOM (Right). Credit: TAcc+
Gaining valuable insights and collaborating opportunities
AICRAFT said "Even though we knew Taiwan was a top destination for manufacturing and electronics, visiting the region firsthand was truly eye-opening. It has given us valuable insights into the possibilities of collaborating with local suppliers and partners." This cooperation will give AICRAFT a wider choice in terms of electronics and cost reduction and empower the company.
AICRAFT's discussions with Taiwanese organizations, including the Taiwan Space Agency (TASA) and ITRI, have been promising. The strong engagements during the TAcc+ program have already resulted in the company signing MoUs with LetsCom (CubeSat and ground station support), Tron Future (onboard radar processing for drones and satellites), and Syscom Computer Engineering (advanced computing support). AICRAFT is optimistic about the potential for growth and collaboration in the region and plans to follow up with key stakeholders after returning to its headquarters in Australia.
Oct. 24th Reflex and Tron Future Tech MOU Signing. Reflex (Left), Ms. Chia-Ying Wu, Deputy Director of Small and Medium Enterprise and Startup Administration, Ministry of Economic Affairs (Middle), Ms. Claire Chang, Business Development Specialist of Tron Future Tech (Right). Credit: TAcc+
Reflex Aerospace GmbH
German startup Reflex Aerospace was founded in 2021 by Walter Ballheimer and Alexander Genzel. They've assembled a team with over 40 successful space missions, from small CubeSats to Mars orbiters. The company has secured three commercial contracts and is the fastest and most cost-efficient company to have achieved flight readiness for its first ESPA-Class satellite.
By leveraging the latest techniques in satellite development and production and prioritizing mission requirements from the beginning of the design process, Reflex is modernizing the process of sending a payload to orbit. Reflex's ability to rapidly deliver high-performance satellites allows customers to keep up with the latest innovation cycles and maintain their competitive edge.
Reflex stands apart by applying cutting-edge commercial manufacturing techniques to satellite manufacturing, dramatically decreasing assembly and integration times.
They have already demonstrated their ability to deliver on these ambitious promises. Media Broadcast Satellite (MBS) wanted to launch a cutting-edge payload with demanding performance requirements to space on what would be their first space mission. Reflex was able to host this payload on their first mission: SIGI. From order to delivery, SIGI was completed in a record-setting 18 months.
With the trip to Taiwan, which is a key player in the Pacific, Reflex seeks a deeper understanding of the Asian market through meaningful engagements and insights, to explore market dynamics and discover industry trends.
To achieve that, it expects to meet with potential partners, especially payload providers, and engage with current and prospective customers. Reflex said it is committed to discussing and providing cutting-edge solutions for national interest challenges such as secure satellite communication and Earth observation technologies, vital for applications such as border control and disaster management.
Considering local presence to establish strategic partnerships
Reflex Aerospace makes particular note of Tensor Tech, which is already a partner of the German startup, supplying several critical systems for its future missions. For example, SIGI, scheduled to be launched on the SpaceX Transporter 12 mission has several Tensor Tech components.
Impressed by Tensor Tech's expertise, Reflex is exploring expanded collaboration opportunities in Taiwan. They are evaluating establishing a local industrial base with Taiwanese partners, including Tensor Tech, Rapidtek, and Tron Future, to build long-term strategic partnerships in the region.
Through the TAcc+ program, Reflex has gained valuable insights into Taiwan's dynamic space sector and established connections with key players like Tron Future and Rapidtek, among other institutional and commercial partners. These relationships are central to its Asian expansion strategy and offer mutual benefits: Taiwanese space companies gain access to global markets while Reflex strengthens its presence in the region.
Oct. 8th Taiwan Space Agency (TASA) Visit. TASA Deputy Director General Chung-Huei Vicky Chu (row 1, fifth from the left). AICRAFT (row 2, first from the left), Reflex (row 2, fourth and fifth from the left). Credit: TAcc+