A new feasibility study commissioned by the Danish Embassies in Finland, Norway, and Sweden identifies significant opportunities for Danish space-sector companies to expand into the rapidly growing Nordic defence and security space markets.

The study concludes that the Nordic region is moving toward a more integrated defence and space ecosystem driven by NATO cooperation, evolving security requirements in the High North and the Baltic Sea, and increased demand for sovereign space-based capabilities. 

Major Growth Opportunities for Danish SMEs

According to the study, Danish companies are best positioned to succeed through collaboration rather than operating as standalone suppliers. Building targeted consortia and partnering with Nordic prime contractors, procurement agencies, and testing facilities can significantly strengthen market access. 

The most promising market opportunities include:

• Microsatellite platforms and subsystems
• Power and propulsion technologies
• RF payloads and calibration services
• Secure maritime communications
• Additive manufacturing solutions
• Thermal-vacuum testing services
• Optical payloads
• Software-defined satellite systems
• Intelligence and data-fusion applications 

Barriers Still Need to Be Addressed

The study also identifies four key challenges affecting the Nordic space-defence sector:

1. Limited growth capital for SMEs scaling from prototypes to production.
2. Small and risk-averse domestic procurement markets.
3. Fragmented licensing and regulatory frameworks across Nordic countries.
4. Shortages of highly specialized space engineering talent. 

Addressing these barriers will be essential to strengthen Nordic competitiveness and technological sovereignty. 

Recommendations for Governments and Industry

The report recommends establishing a Nordic Space Capability Framework, funding a joint flagship mission utilizing Nordic supply chains, and creating a cross-border SME testbed access scheme. It also encourages Danish companies to build consortia through national business organisations and clusters, pursue relevant security clearances proactively, target European Defence Fund opportunities, and promote Nordic capabilities internationally together instead of individual countries. 

Next steps

Based on the results from the study, the Embassies of Denmark in Finland, Norway and Sweden will design and implement a series of market activities under Nordic Defence Suppliers Forum. NDSF 2027 is a 12-month programme ranging across three Nordic Defence markets in order to build market intelligence, gain access to targeted stakeholder networks and forge credible Nordic strategies in Space, Defence Tech, Land, and Maritime domains. The forum is aimed at Danish defence and dual-use companies with genuine Nordic export ambitions.

If you would like to hear more about NDSF2027 and sign-up, please contact Nordic Industry Advisor Harri Paldanius [email protected] or Senior Commercial Advisor Jasmin Ahonen [email protected].

About the Study

The study, titled Launching into Nordic Defence Markets – A Feasibility Study for the Danish Space Sector, was commissioned by the Danish Embassies in Finland, Norway and Sweden and prepared by Pathfinder Solutions Oy. It assesses how Danish space-sector companies, particularly SMEs and specialist suppliers, can access and grow within Nordic defence-related space markets.