Finnish satellite imaging firm ICEYE secures €9.4m from Polish fund for defence expansion

Finnish space technology company ICEYE plans to strengthen Poland’s defence capabilities with high-resolution radar satellites.

ICEYE professionals testing an ICEYE SAR satellite in an anechoic chamber. Photo by ICEYE.

Text Martti Asikainen, 1.9.2025 Photo: ICEYE (ICEYE professionals testing an ICEYE SAR satellite in an anechoic chamber).

Nauha, jossa FAIR:in yhteistyökumppanien logot.

ICEYE, the Finnish satellite imaging company that operates a constellation of radar satellites, has secured €9.4m (£8.1m) in funding from Polish venture capital fund Vinci as it expands its defence and intelligence capabilities across Europe.

The Espoo-based firm, founded in 2014 by Rafał Modrzewski and Pekka Laurila, develops microsatellites equipped with synthetic aperture radar (SAR) technology that can capture high-resolution images of Earth in all weather conditions, day or night.

The investment from Vinci S.A., part of Poland’s BGK Group, will fuel expansion of ICEYE’s satellite constellation and strengthen its position in Poland’s defence sector through programmes including the recently signed MikroSAR agreement with the Polish Ministry of National Defence, which aims to enhance the country’s satellite-based intelligence capabilities.

“Our investment in ICEYE means that Poland is entering a completely new segment of the satellite industry at an early stage,” said Bartosz Drabikowski, chief executive of Vinci S.A. “High-quality satellite data is used both in defence and intelligence operations, as well as in preventing and resolving the effects of natural disasters.”

Advanced radar technology drives growth

ICEYE’s satellites deliver imagery with resolution up to 25cm and high revisit frequency, enabling precise monitoring for applications spanning defence, intelligence, disaster response, agriculture and environmental management. The technology provides near real-time data for situational awareness, risk assessment, and operational planning.

Since its founding, the company has launched 44 satellites as of January 2025 and continues expanding its constellation by deploying more than 20 additional satellites annually. The firm, which employs over 700 people globally and has raised more than $500m in total funding to date, serves clients including national defence ministries, international organisations and private sector customers.

The fresh capital will also drive development of applications across crisis management, disaster response, agriculture and environmental monitoring as the company seeks to expand its global reach and advance innovation in space-based Earth observation.

Strategic importance for European space sector

According to Modrzewski, the investment represents a significant validation of space technology’s growing importance. “We are extremely pleased that Vinci, together with the BGK Group, recognises the strategic need to invest in space technologies, whose importance for security and the global economy is constantly growing,” said the CEO and co-founder. “This is an investment in the future that will serve Poland.”

The deal highlights growing investment in European space technology as governments seek to reduce dependence on foreign satellite capabilities for critical defence and intelligence operations. Poland has been particularly active in developing its space sector as part of broader efforts to modernise its military capabilities amid regional security concerns.

ICEYE’s SAR technology represents a significant advancement in satellite imaging, as traditional optical satellites cannot penetrate cloud cover or operate effectively in darkness. The radar-based approach allows continuous monitoring regardless of weather conditions, making it particularly valuable for defence and disaster response applications.

The company’s rapid satellite deployment schedule reflects the growing demand for frequent, high-resolution Earth observation data across multiple sectors. With geopolitical tensions driving increased interest in sovereign space capabilities, European firms like ICEYE are positioned to benefit from government initiatives to develop domestic satellite intelligence capabilities.

White logo of Finnish AI Region (FAIR EDIH). In is written FAIR - FINNISH AI REGION, EDIH
Euroopan unionin osarahoittama logo

Finnish AI Region
2022-2025.
Media contacts