Simera Sense chose Flanders as a European base for its central location as well as the region’s local domain ecosystem. Not only is Simera Sense procuring its high-performance sensors from Flanders-based players, the company also has various local clients in the region. In partnership with Open Cosmos (UK), for example, Simera Sense was selected to be part of the Phi-Sat-2 mission, an AI-enabled Earth Observation CubeSat supported by the European Space Agency.

Initially, Simera Sense’s new office in Flanders will serve as a marketing and sales hub, but it will also support clients with the assembly, integration and testing of the company’s optical payloads.

With its move, Simera Sense positions itself to tap into the global Earth Observation data and service market, which is expected to grow to an USD 8 billion by 2029. According to consulting and analyst firm Euroconsult, more than 50 new space companies have announced that they want to launch Earth observation satellites over the next decade. This represents about 1,800 small satellites, the majority of which will be lighter than 50 kg. According to Johann du Toit, the CEO of Simera Group, this is the market that Simera Sense seeks to target through their office in Flanders.