Luxembourg, September 15, 2025: The Luxembourg Future Fund (LFF2), a joint initiative of the Société Nationale de Crédit et d’Investissement (SNCI), the Banque de Développement du Luxembourg and the European Investment Fund (EIF), has invested in Space Cargo Unlimited, a leading European company specializing in microgravity research and space manufacturing.
Space technology plays a vital role in the competitiveness and development of multiple strategic sectors, including agriculture, healthcare and life sciences, telecommunications, defense, navigation, and climate monitoring. By enabling research in microgravity—the near-weightless conditions encountered in orbit—Space Cargo Unlimited allows industries such as biology, materials, electronics, and pharmaceuticals to study physical, chemical, and biological processes without the interference of Earth’s gravity. These unique conditions create opportunities for space research and advanced manufacturing in space.
“Luxembourg has built a strong reputation as a pioneer in the space sector thanks to its vision and strategic investments. Our support for Space Cargo Unlimited through the Luxembourg Future Fund is a further step in positioning Luxembourg as a leading hub for commercial space activities in general, and on-orbit services in particular.” “By supporting pioneering companies like Space Cargo Unlimited, we are strengthening our space ecosystem and ensuring that Luxembourg remains at the forefront of space innovation in Europe,” said Lex Delles, Minister of the Economy, SMEs, Energy and Tourism.
The investment reflects Luxembourg’s strategy to attract and develop companies in the space sector, with the aim of diversifying the national economy and building a European hub of knowledge in space technologies. “The Luxembourg Future Fund plays a central role in diversifying our economy by attracting innovative companies and supporting their growth. With new ideas and ambitious investments in innovation and growth, we are resolutely shaping our future. This investment will create new economic opportunities, highly skilled jobs, and further strengthen Luxembourg’s financial center while consolidating our role as a European innovation hub,” said Gilles Roth, Minister of Finance.
The EIF co-investment is delivered through the CASSINI Investment Facility, an EU initiative that provides venture capital to venture capital funds. The European Commission supports venture capital funds investing in European space startups through the CASSINI Investment Facility. By mid-2024, it had invested between €10 million and €60 million each in 16 funds (with two more planned), enabling more than 60 investments in space companies and targeting over €2 billion in total investment capacity for 2022-2027.
“Europe’s strategic autonomy in space depends on fostering a strong and competitive commercial ecosystem. Companies like Space Cargo Unlimited play a key role in ensuring that Europe retains independent access to critical space-based research and manufacturing capabilities, in line with the European Space Economy Vision adopted by the Commission last June.” This co-investment, made possible by the CASSINI Investment Facility, demonstrates how public and private capital can join forces to strengthen our space industrial base and support the next generation of European space champions.” — Catherine Kavvada, Director of Secure and Connected Space, Directorate-General for Defence Industry and Space, European Commission (DG DEFIS).
“As we see strong commercial momentum for our offering and a clear sovereign need from the European Union institutions for space research and manufacturing activities, with the International Space Station being phased out by 2030, we are delighted to count LFF2 among our investors.” “This strategic investment allows us to accelerate the development of our space system, expand our team in Luxembourg to 30 people with the recruitment of highly qualified engineers, and establish a sustainable orbital economy in Europe, fostered by a strong partnership with Luxembourgish customers and partners in fields ranging from pharmaceuticals to new materials engineering,” said Nicolas Gaume, CEO of Space Cargo Unlimited.
Space Cargo Unlimited is preparing to deploy BentoBox, a customizable, return-capable* platform for in-space manufacturing and microgravity research. Its first two missions were committed in 2025 and will launch in the coming months, as part of a larger campaign of seven missions through 2028. Operated inside the Phoenix capsule with technology partner ATMOS and launched by SpaceX, BentoBox will provide Europe with reliable access to low Earth orbit with sample return capabilities. From its headquarters in Luxembourg, Space Cargo Unlimited manages all engineering and development of its BentoBox platform, as well as all commercial and flight operations.
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Explanatory notes:
- In-orbit manufacturing: The production of goods in space, taking advantage of unique conditions such as microgravity.
- Return-capable platform: A spacecraft or experiment module designed to safely return research samples to Earth.
About Space Cargo Unlimited
Space Cargo Unlimited is a European space company based in Luxembourg, focused on unlocking the potential of microgravity for industrial research and space manufacturing. Its solutions, including BentoBox and the future REV1 orbital vehicle, enable experiments and production processes in fields such as life sciences, agriculture, materials, and pharmaceuticals. For more information: www.space-cu.com
Space Cargo Unlimited Press Contact: Éanna Doyle, edoyle@space-cu.com, +353 85277 7749
About SNCI
The Société Nationale de Crédit et d’Investissement (SNCI) is a public banking institution specializing in providing access to financing for commercial enterprises based in Luxembourg, with a strong focus on SMEs. It co-finances companies at every stage of their development, positively impacting Luxembourg’s sustainable economic diversification. SNCI intervenes either directly or indirectly through loans to partially finance start-up, expansion, business transfer, or innovation projects. SNCI also acquires and manages stakes in companies and investment funds that are strategically important for the development and diversification of the Luxembourg economy. www.snci.com
SNCI Press Contact: communications@snci.lu, +352 46 19 71 11
About the EIF
The European Investment Fund (EIF) is part of the European Investment Bank Group. Its primary mission is to support micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Europe by helping them access finance. The EIF designs and develops venture capital and growth capital instruments, guarantees, and microfinance instruments that specifically target this market segment. In this role, the EIF promotes the EU’s objectives for innovation, research and development, entrepreneurship, growth, and jobs. For more information, please visit www.eif.org.
EIF Press Contact: Tim Smit, t.smit@eib.org, +352 691 28 64 23
About the CASSINI Investment Facility
The European Commission supports venture capital funds seeking to raise capital to invest in emerging European space companies. The CASSINI Investment Facility will generate a total investment capacity of over €2 billion for the period 2022-2027. Fund managers can apply to the EIF for more information on the conditions.
The CASSINI Investor Network is a tailored offering for fund managers. It offers a relevant stream of offers from emerging European space companies through our events and personal introductions. CASSINI can also provide technical due diligence assistance on space technology, products, and markets. www.cassini.eu
European Commission Press Contact: Simon Seminari, simon.seminari@ec.europa.eu, +32 2 298 02 19