Space Economy

The space economy is one of the fastest-growing and most strategic sectors worldwide. According to MarketsandMarkets, the global space market is expected to reach $1.7 trillion by 2034, driven by key segments such as satellite telecommunications, hyperspectral Earth observation, in-orbit manufacturing, and autonomous capsules. The latest ESA Report on the Space Economy 2024 confirms this trend, showing that in 2024 global public investments in space reached €122 billion (+9% vs. 2023) while private investments amounted to €7 billion (+20%). Europe accounted for €12.6 billion in public and €1.5 billion in private investments but holds only 6% of the global upstream market (production and launches).

To address this gap, Slovenia stands out thanks to the strategic collaboration between Paradigma d.o.o., Engmotion d.o.o. and Inkubator Sežana. This partnership integrates advanced RF design, high-precision CNC manufacturing, and a supportive innovation ecosystem to strengthen Europe’s technological sovereignty in space applications.

Based in Sežana, Paradigma d.o.o. is a growing company in the development of high-frequency RF communication systems operating in K/Ka/Q/V bands (up to 42.5 GHz) for CubeSats, SmallSats, drones, and SOTM terminals. Its product portfolio includes K- and Q-band transmitters, Ka+UHF receivers, and Ka-band transponders. Paradigma is an ESA partner and takes part in strategic European projects such as COCHISA, focused on ITAR-free beamforming chips. The company is recognized for its full-stack approach, offering end-to-end RF design, space-grade industrialization, and rapid prototyping.

Engmotion d.o.o., also based in Slovenia, is a company specialized in the design and production of advanced mechatronic systems for applications in the medical and pharmaceutical sectors, as well as in other strategic fields including space, electronics, and critical industrial technologies. The company has extensive expertise in the production of high‑precision CNC components. In cooperation with Paradigma, it manufactures shielded housings, thermal dissipators, RF flanges, and supporting structures using advanced materials such as special Aluminum Alloys, Ti‑6Al‑4V, OFHC copper, and PEEK. Its machining and assembling capability are very flexible and precise. Each component is delivered with EN 10204 3.1 certifications, full quality control documentation, and complete traceability, ensuring compliance with the highest standards for space, medical, and strategic industry applications.

Inkubator Sežana plays a key role in Slovenia’s innovation ecosystem, supporting high-potential startups and SMEs through infrastructure (P2 2025 - Sežana: Inkubator Sežana), mentoring, international networking, and access to European funding opportunities. Thanks to this environment, companies like Paradigma and Engmotion have been able to scale their activities and take part in high-impact European and global projects in space, robotics, industrial automation, and biomedical sectors. The incubator has organized high-impact events related to space, such as the NASA Space Apps Challenge Sežana 2024 (NASA Space Apps Challenge Sežana 2024 - Inkubator Sežana), which included a boot camp, hackathon, and a dedicated KIDS program to inspire younger generations. It also supports startups through initiatives like the P2 program of the Slovene Enterprise Fund, the Creative Start‑up Programme for people with hearing impairments, and international networking via the EU‑LAC Digital Accelerator. In addition to mentoring, it provides coworking spaces, conference rooms, and labs, offering a complete support infrastructure for high-tech companies in sectors including space, robotics, industrial automation, and biomedical technologies.

This collaboration showcases how Slovenia can contribute to Europe’s space competitiveness by combining advanced RF engineering, precision CNC manufacturing, and a supportive entrepreneurial ecosystem. While Europe captured 22% of global private investments in space in 2024 (€1.5 billion, +56% vs. 2023), its upstream market share remains limited to 6%. Strengthening integrated value chains like the Paradigma-Engmotion-Inkubator cluster is essential to foster European industrial value and job creation in a sector that has already reached over 62,000 FTEs in the European upstream industry (+9% in 2023).

Keywords: Space Economy Slovenia, Paradigma Engmotion Inkubator Sežana, CNC manufacturing for satellites, RF technologies for CubeSats, ESA Space Economy 2024, European space supply chain.