Greenerwave and the EIC Accelerator: Flat Satellite Antennas

Greenerwave, founded in Paris in 2015 as a spin-off of the Institut Langevin, a laboratory of ESPCI Paris and CNRS, makes flat satellite antennas that steer their beam with reconfigurable metasurfaces and software rather than costly electronics, cutting power use and cost. It was selected in the EIC Accelerator's March 2023 cut-off with blended finance and received an EU grant of €2.49 million for a Ka-band flat panel terminal, a €3.56 million project that ran from December 2023 to November 2025, according to CORDIS. The application forecast €152 million of revenue in 2030.

The final report says Greenerwave developed "the first Ka single aperture electronically steerable antenna covering the full Ka band", including the military band, and built a terminal that communicated with geostationary satellites while stationary and on the move, according to the CORDIS reporting page. Because no Ka-band low-orbit constellation exists yet, the low-orbit capability was shown with its Ku-band terminal. In July 2026 the French defence procurement agency awarded Greenerwave the CAMELEON framework agreement, lasting seven years with "a maximum value of €120 million", according to Greenerwave.

Where Greenerwave Stands Now

Greenerwave's 2024 accounts show revenue of €3.42 million, an operating loss of €2.44 million and a net profit of €366,094, according to INPI financial ratios. The register puts its workforce at 50 to 99 employees, according to recherche-entreprises. Official BODACC notices record capital increases in June 2025 and twice in August 2026, with no amounts given. Airbus Defence and Space signed a first contract at the 2025 Paris Air Show and two more "worth several million euros" in February 2026, one under the DGA's Copernic framework.

The Technology: Moving the Beam in Software

Conventional flat satellite antennas steer their beam with many active chips, which makes them expensive and power-hungry. Greenerwave's metasurface is passive and reconfigured by software, and the company claims at least a fivefold reduction in cost and energy use. For the project it designed a wideband metasurface from 17 to 31 GHz, a feeding system and an antenna control unit. The report states the terminal is "modem agnostic" and tested with an external modem; independent performance figures are not published.

What the EIC Award Promised, and What the Record Shows

The award promised a competitive European Ka-band user terminal for geostationary and non-geostationary constellations such as IRIS². The antenna and terminal were built and tested on geostationary satellites. Ka-band operation with a low-orbit constellation could not be tested. Sales of Ka terminals have not been reported, while the defence contracts cover satellite terminals across orbits and bands.

1. Full Ka-band antennaDelivered17 to 31 GHz, per report.
2. Ka terminal on GEODeliveredTested on the move.
3. Ka on LEOPartialShown only in Ku band.
4. Commercial Ka salesUnverifiedNone reported.

The Money

The EU paid 70% of the project. In February 2024 Greenerwave raised €15 million from the Fonds Innovation Défense managed by Bpifrance, Safran Corporate Ventures, Intelsat, BNP Paribas Développement and Plastic Omnium, according to Bpifrance. The CAMELEON framework is a ceiling for later orders, not guaranteed revenue. Whether the EIC Fund took equity, and on what terms, is not public.

What Cannot Be Checked

Why Europe Should Care

Europe's IRIS² constellation and its armed forces need user terminals that do not depend on US suppliers. Greenerwave is one of few European companies making low-power flat panel antennas, and French defence has chosen it as lead contractor with Airbus and Thales as partners. The EIC backed a company that is turning lab physics into sovereign hardware.

The Verdict

Greenerwave and the EIC have not been asked for comment for this article. It is based entirely on public records and published statements, linked throughout.