Winner - European Rising Innovative City 2026 - ICapital Awards
Build, test and validate space technology in Aalborg
The new Space Tech Center is open
Aalborg now gives space companies one coordinated entry point to Aalborg University researchers, a growing space ecosystem and future test infrastructure - built around satellites, SatCom, antennas, robotics and autonomy.
From satellite hardware and protocol stacks to cubesats, geostationary microsatellites, maritime surveillance and autonomous robotic systems.
You'll find a rare space value chain within this 20-minute city.
What this means for space companies
- Find the right research partner
Get connected to Aalborg University researchers working with satellites, SatCom, antennas, robotics and autonomy.
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Navigate the ecosystem faster
Meet relevant companies, startups and cluster actors through Space Connect North. -
Explore test and validation opportunities
Use Aalborg as an entry point to current and future test infrastructure connected to Space Tech Center, the coming ground station and TECH Lab. -
Start with one conversation
Invest in Aalborg helps you identify the right people, partners and next steps.
Space starts here
Aalborg University already has a strong history in space research and student-led projects. Space Tech Center builds on that foundation and creates one clear entry point for collaboration across the university and with the space industry in North Denmark.
The center will also be connected to new facilities in Aalborg. This includes a large ground station for communicating with satellites and spacecraft, and the future Tech Lab, which will support research and education in technology and space technology.
Aalborg is European Rising Innovative City 2026,
awarded by the European Commission at the iCapital Awards.
Architect illustrations of the future facilities connected to Space Tech Center.
A future TECH Lab for advanced research and testing
Aalborg’s space ambitions are part of a broader investment in advanced technology infrastructure. Aalborg University’s coming TECH Lab will gather laboratories, test facilities and workshops under one roof - creating a practical, interdisciplinary environment where researchers, students and external partners can develop and test new solutions.
The image shows an example of part of a ground station and not the specific one being built by Aalborg University.
Denmark’s largest ground station
Aalborg University is building Denmark’s largest facility for communication with satellites and spacecraft. The ground station will include two antennas, a data and control centre, and the ambition is for it to become part of ESA’s wider ground station network.
Explore collaboration opportunities
Satellite & SatCom/NTN
Robotics & Autonomy
Antenna & Communications
Aalborg technology is already in orbit
But Aalborg technology is on board some of the most important space missions in the world - with ESA, NASA and SpaceX.
These technologies not only improve the results of the space missions but also provide critical output for applications on Earth.
Watch as Lars Moltsen from the company Sternula and Jens Dalsgaard Nielsen from Aalborg University give a short introduction to the Space landscape in Aalborg.
Lars Moltsen is the CEO and Founder of space and connectivity company, Sternula
Jens Dalsgaard Nielsen is an Associate Professor at Aalborg University.
Why Aalborg?
Aalborg is a city in Denmark
Why space companies choose Aalborg
1. The Research - The commercial space success in Aalborg is driven by exceptional scientific research at the highest-ranked engineering university in Europe, Aalborg University.
2. The Test Sites - North Denmark is known as a living lab for Renewables, Connectivity and Space Technology.
3. The Companies - Aalborg is home to an influential ecosystem of companies that are driving innovation in European space technology.
4. The Technologies - The city’s innovative companies are at the forefront of developing sophisticated microsatellites, advanced communication systems, and sustainable power solutions.
5. The People - It’s the people and their skills that set Aalborg apart. The city features a highly skilled and educated talent pool, with a total workforce of +270,000 within commuting distance.
Space Strengths in Aalborg
Companies within the industry
Aalborg has played a crucial role in the foundation of the entire Danish space industry. Today, many of the companies within the space industry have their head offices in Northern Denmark.
Aalborg’s space ecosystem is already proving what it can build.
The BIFROST mission is a strong example: Denmark’s first satellite developed specifically to monitor Greenland and the Arctic was built by Aalborg-based Space Inventor together with partners including Terma, Gatehouse SatCom, DTU and Unibap Space Solutions. The mission combines AI, advanced sensors, inter-satellite communication and modern microsatellite design.
That is what makes Aalborg different.
Here, university research, specialist companies, ESA BIC startups and mission-driven innovation are not spread across a region - they are close enough to meet, build and move fast. From CubeSats and SatCom to Arctic surveillance and autonomous technologies, Aalborg is becoming a place where space ideas turn into operational systems.
Meet Claus Fallingborg
Investment Manager, Invest in AalborgClaus and the team at Invest in Aalborg are your single point of contact to the City of Aalborg.
We connect you with the right people, the right insights and the local facts you need to build a strong business case.
Let’s talk.