BizkaiaTech (BT): We'd love to get to know you better. Could you introduce Satlantis and its purpose and goals?

Eider Ocerin (EO): Satlantis is a Basque SME (small to medium-sized enterprise) focused on developing and selling optical cameras and Earth observation missions. We're all about shaking things up when it comes to watching the Earth and the universe. Our iSIM technology (integrated Standard Imager for Microsatellites) gets packed into small satellites weighing less than 100kg. Since 2020, we've launched 5 missions, and the company has evolved from just selling cameras to offering complete Earth observation missions, which we operate ourselves from our facilities in Leioa.

Juan Tomás Hernani (JTH): To me, Satlantis is a prime example that Biscay isn't just about what's created locally; it's a magnet for ideas from all over the place.

Satlantis is a spin-off from the University of Florida. It all started with a professor of astrophysics, Rafa Guzmán, who created telescopes for nighttime observation (checking out the stars). When he hit a few roadblocks, we suggested he make the move to Bilbao. So, in 2013, he set up shop at the University of Florida campus (which, by the way, is still moving forward), and we convinced him to open up a branch here. And that's where our adventure began.

Our goal is to figure out the language of light. It's all about looking at the same thing over and over again, recording the same spot from slightly different angles, and then having a processing system that spits out a final image, the result of a whole campaign of observing one or more nights. That's what's setting Satlantis apart in the world of observation. Hence, our disruption game is strong.

BT: In this edition of BizkaiaTech Magazine, we're talking about the tech that's shaping and will shape the world in the future. Where do you think we stand in terms of space technology? Is this tech the present or the future? How far can we go?

JTH: I'd say there are three big business blocks surrounding space: the GSS world, which is all about positioning; the telecommunications world; and the observation world, which covers cartography, territory detection… you name it, all happening more and more in real-time. And that's where we come in.

Satlantis is all about understanding the language of light, decoding the info in those photos across different bands of the electromagnetic spectrum. Reds, for example, tell us a lot about vegetation. Blues, on the other hand, reveal information about gas, while infrared is all about temperature… Depending on where we position ourselves, we uncover some seriously relevant information for certain issues.

The observation sector is still pretty small, and there hasn't been a massive player stepping in yet, which is good news for Satlantis because it means we can keep climbing the ladder and gaining traction.

What do we expect? A digital transformation. We're bringing data and information to the table. We hope this information is useful for the insurance sector, maybe the automobile industry could be interested in checking out how many cars the competition's making, or the retail sector could use info to correlate Black Friday sales with the parking lot occupancy at Artea. And in agriculture, it’s important to know how the brown pine spot might be spreading, where the hot spots are, or what's been concerning in the last month and a half. And of course, public institutions can use it to monitor fires, manage forests, ensure security…

In short, turning space observation into hardware, software, and services just like any other sector for different clients. I think that's the way forward.

BT: Sometimes, space seems a bit out of reach, something done in the United States, where you need a lot of money to make anything happen. Why set up shop in Biscay? What makes it so special?

JTH: Let's not get ahead of ourselves… we're here because we made it happen. For me, it was a necessary condition.

We're in a good spot to develop our project; otherwise, we'd move elsewhere. We've got partners providing us with the value chain just a few kilometers away. All the mechanical stuff (optics is the only thing coming from the US), electronics, talent, etc., it's all nearby and crucial for us to work smoothly. Plus, we've got the Satlantis School at the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), also bringing a lot of value.

Here's another thing I want to add: who are the people making this happen? There's a bit of demonization of the entrepreneur, not so much of the go-getter. There's this idea of "Look at these people, what a great idea they had," and then there's the other side, the one that gets caught up in the conflict between the entrepreneur and the worker. When you're looking to build something, and I mean really build something, these people are the key. I think there's a lack of that social perception here, unlike in the US, where there's enormous respect for their promoters. We could use a bit of that here.

EO: We're a company based in Biscay, and our core is all about high-tech training in optics, mechanics, electronics, software, and image processing. We've got a high level of qualification for all these disciplines in the Basque Country, but we also bring in talent from outside.

No doubt, being close to the university opens doors to young talent, whom we give opportunities to join the company early on.

We've got a young, dynamic, multidisciplinary team that's growing exponentially every year.

BT: It's also quite common to think you need to study at prestigious international universities to work in the space industry and that it's almost unattainable for most. However, Satlantis is proving otherwise. What do you have to study to work in the industry? What would you say to someone dreaming of working on space projects?

EO: Education is crucial, but there are many disciplines that lead to space. It's important to believe in yourself and pursue your dreams and aspirations. Put aside any complexes and the idea that working in space is NASA's thing. In this country, we've got a cutting-edge and well-established space industry.

JTH: We've got incredible people, and they're all in the Engineering Schools of Bilbao, in the Physics Faculties… they're around here. We not only have people with technological and intellectual capacity, but also individuals with a massive drive to push forward.

The Satlantis School, for instance, was born with the company on day one. When it was just Rafa and me, we snagged some grants from the Basque Government, sent 4 younglings to Florida, and then those same folks joined Satlantis.

Out of our 120 people, we've got 20 students at Cambridge, Bilbao, Estia, and Florida… It's people who've done summer internships, doing their bachelor's thesis, doing a master's and working, doctors… you name it, we've got it.

We nurture the system of bringing in young talent. If you've got the skills, you can work in electronics; we've got lots of needs in software, people who know Python, C++, others working on electronic board design, mechanics, optics, of course, and also in physics, astrophysics, space engineering for omission analysis, flight mechanics… we're doing engineering with a capital E, things that can't fail.

Until now, everyone we've had has had a higher degree, but now we need a manufacturing team that goes beyond that. In the end, high technology is very hands-on, and although it's been crucial to have it handled by people who've studied engineering, we've now opened a chapter where vocational training comes in.

BT: If you've got anything else to tell us, we'd love to hear it. We'd like to hand you the mic to close the interview in your own words.

JTH: Well, I want to wrap up with a mix of pride: pride in the team, pride in where we are, not just at the state level. We've got roughly 40 countries with active offers, and we feel a significant sense of pride in having this level of international competition.

And then there's humility because this has been achieved through a collective effort where we've had understanding with our institutions, where we believe the Government of Biscay has played an essential role in weak moments of the project. I want to highlight in bright yellow marker that the importance of the Government of Biscay, alongside Orza, the other investing partner, has been crucial. The Basque Government has also jumped on board and is fully behind it.

We're also 24% publicly owned, which is a practical example of public-private collaboration. We must continue developing this model to tell our institutions that they need to capitalize on the fact that Satlantis has the information on what's happening here; it's a must to leverage the fact that there's a Basque company doing this.

We've got to be demanding with ourselves because international competition is immense; people are working with millions and a lot of resources, and the only way is to be a David against Goliath: we've got to do everything really well, all the time.