Argotec and UniBap Forge Strategic Partnership to Power Next-Generation Satellite Missions

August 14, 2025 – Salt Lake City, Utah — Fresh off the momentum of the 39th Annual Small Satellite Conference, two standout players in the smallsat industry—Unibap Space Solutions AB (Sweden) and Argotec Srl (Italy)—have announced a 3.5-year strategic framework agreement to supply Payload Data Processors (PDPs) for Hawk satellites and future compatible space missions. The agreement runs until the end of 2028 and cements their role as leaders in on-orbit edge computing for Earth observation and beyond.

A Partnership Born in the IRIDE Program

The collaboration between Argotec and UniBap began within the IRIDE program, a landmark Italian space initiative. As part of IRIDE, Hawk for Earth Observation (HEO) satellites—designed, built, and operated by Argotec—were equipped with UniBap’s high-performance PDPs, including the proven iX5 edge computing platform.

This partnership has already achieved two historic milestones:

• Record-time development of HEO satellites.

• Europe’s largest single launch of satellites for one constellation.

Why This Matters for the Future of Space Missions

HEO satellites are more than just advanced Earth observation tools—they’re autonomous data processing hubs in orbit. Argotec’s edge computing solutions, powered by UniBap’s hardware, run onboard image processing algorithms that accelerate mission responsiveness by delivering optimized, ready-to-use data in near real-time.

Key features include:

• Argotec’s Software Framework: A modular, computation- and machine learning–focused system compatible with UniBap PDPs, enabling deployment of both first- and third-party applications.

• Real-Time Decision Capability: Reduces the need for constant downlinking of raw data, speeding up actionable insights for public utility services, defense, and environmental monitoring.

• Scalability to New Missions: The joint technology stack is already being integrated into future satellite platforms, expanding its role in upcoming space programs.

Strategic Alignment with SmallSat 2025 Themes

At this year’s Small Satellite Conference 2025, autonomy, on-orbit AI, and cross-industry collaboration were key talking points. The Argotec–UniBap partnership is a real-world example of these trends:

• Autonomy: HEO satellites think and process before they transmit.

• AI Integration: UniBap’s iX5 and iX10 platforms accelerate Argotec’s cognitive applications.

• Cross-Industry Collaboration: Merging Swedish space computing expertise with Italian spacecraft engineering.

Executive Perspectives

David Avino, CEO of Argotec, highlighted the innovation edge:

“Our satellites embody excellence in innovation and performance, thanks to advanced edge computing capabilities that enable real-time data acquisition and processing directly on board. Our successful collaboration with Unibap has led to the development and validation of an onboard image processing software framework — a competitive asset whose robustness has already been proven.”

Johan Åman, CEO of UniBap, emphasized the long-term vision:

“With the successful launch into space of the first eight IRIDE HEO satellites including Unibap's iX5 hardware and software, we are delighted to continue to build on this partnership. The new framework contract covers iX5, iX10, and future generations of our high-performance edge computer solutions.”

Positioning for the New Space Economy

The framework agreement is more than a supply contract—it’s part of a broader strategy to deliver industrialized, unconventional solutions for the New Space Economy. With missions becoming more data-driven and autonomous, Argotec and UniBap’s combined capabilities are well-positioned to influence the next decade of satellite technology.

As seen at SmallSat 2025, the smallsat sector’s future hinges on maximizing onboard intelligence—and this partnership exemplifies that vision.

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