Selected from over 4,000 applicants, OQ Technology is one of the beneficiaries of the highly competitive EIC Accelerator funding.
Abigail Okorodus
Around 750 million people experience dropped connection on their mobile phones as they move between urban and rural areas. Even in well-connected countries, gaps in cellular coverage persist. A staggering 2.1 billion people lack any mobile connectivity at all due to infrastructure limitations. “We’re aiming to bridge this urban-rural digital divide using a network of low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites,” explains Omar Qaise, Founder and CEO of OQ Technology.
It is the first space company in Luxembourg to receive the EIC Accelerator funding, typically dominated by AI, medical, and energy sectors.
Out of 71 companies selected by the EIC Accelerator this year, only four were space-related, placing OQ Technology in an elite group of European innovators. “This is a huge achievement, especially considering it was one of the most competitive rounds ever for the EIC,” Mr Qaise acknowledges. The company will receive a €2.5 million grant and up to €15 million in equity funding to accelerate its efforts to introduce direct-to-mobile connectivity across Europe and globally.
As the world’s first global satellite 5G IoT operator, OQ Technology’s ambition to lead this charge globally will have far-reaching benefits and impact. “Cellular networks often collapse during disasters. Satellites become the only lifeline for communication, enabling SOS messages and coordinated rescue efforts.” Studies suggest that around 50% of casualties could be reduced with reliable cellular access. Breakdowns in cellular connections, for instance, exacerbated the losses and casualties during the devastating wildfires in Greece in 2023 and floods in Spain one year later.
Mr Qaise sees an opportunity for Europe to play a leading role in the development of this crucial technology: “Currently, there are five US companies actively developing direct-to-mobile satellite connectivity. Absolutely zero European companies except OQ Technology have been working on this.”
In 2016, the company was already working on 5G over satellite for IoT devices and demonstrated narrowband Internet of things over LEO satellites in 2019 with its Tiger-1 mission. It now holds 12 granted patents from the European and US Patent Offices. Building on this experience, the current project being funded by the EIC Accelerator will facilitate a bold leap for direct-mobile connectivity. This ambition is vital for European data infrastructure independence, space resilience, and security – particularly in the current geopolitical climate. “We need a European alternative. We can't afford to lag behind other countries – we need to catch up now,” Mr Qaise affirms.
Space infrastructure requires significant funding. One challenge has been the limited private funding for growth-stage companies causing may companies to seek investments elsewhere. However, European support mechanisms like the EIC Accelerator help to bridge that gap by supporting disruptive deeptech solutions too risky for traditional private investors alone.
"We saw a technology gap, a need to prove this technology in orbit, and the EIC was the perfect instrument to help us." This isn't OQ Technology's first Horizon Europe project. As part of a large consortium, the company participated in the "Amazing 6G" initiative focused on developing European digital infrastructure for 6G. This valuable experience encouraged the company to pursue the EIC Accelerator, this time as a solo applicant. “Being granted this funding was like the jewel on the crown for us,” adds Mr Qaise. “However, we still need more private and sovereign funding in Luxembourg. The EIC requires matched funding, and it is difficult to use sovereign funding instruments or find post Series-A investors in Luxembourg. Space companies need government investment beyond R&D to grow and creating a champion in the country requires a large ticket, something we see already in other European countries and the US”
According to him, OQ Technology's innovation DNA stems from: its unique startup culture, leadership style, actively seeking technology gaps, rapid R&D to product demonstration, and a brilliant team.
As the national contact point for Horizon Europe, Luxinnovation introduced the EIC Accelerator programme to the company and provided guidance throughout the application process, which involves writing a short proposal, submitting a full proposal, and then engaging in a face-to-face interview with the EIC Jury.
“Luxinnovation was very helpful in also preparing us for the interview stage. We had four mock interview sessions, complete with external jury members, which provided invaluable practice and feedback. Many of the questions they posed actually came up during the real interview,” Mr Qaise reveals.
He attributes OQ Technology’s success to a combination of factors, aligning with the EIC's evaluation criteria: impact, excellence, and implementation. “Luxinnovation taught us to focus on these three pillars,” he acknowledges. Excellence was demonstrated through its innovative solution. Impact and implementation were highlighted by the timely relevance of the project for Europe. “Many European companies we work with already possessed the critical technologies but hadn't realised their potential for space applications. This challenge inadvertently supported the growth of a European space technology ecosystem.”
OQ Technology is now in the process of finalising the grant agreement and securing a lead investor for the equity round to close the full funding. The funding will allow the company to immediately start proving the technology and accelerating commercialisation. “We aren't about hype; we are about delivering real impact and unique solutions. It's crucial to recognise that a Luxembourg company is leading the charge in Europe in a field dominated by US companies, and supporting European space resilience.”
