NOVITERA Joins the European Space Agency’s ISAM Club

NOVITERA has joined the ISAM Club, an initiative launched by the European Space Agency (ESA). The Club brings together European industry, research, technology and investment communities to advance in-space servicing, assembly and manufacturing technologies and open up new opportunities for Europe’s space industry.

The ISAM (In-Space Servicing, Assembly and Manufacturing) Club was officially launched in Paris on 14 October 2026. Lina Baibokienė represented NOVITERA at the inaugural event.

The Club links in-space servicing, assembly and manufacturing initiatives across different ESA directorates with the wider European industrial, research and investment community.

Working closely with the European Commission and other stakeholders, ESA aims to align technology development roadmaps, foster partnerships, develop interoperable solutions and pave the way for new commercial services. In June 2026, ESA and the European Commission signed a joint declaration to deepen cooperation on key technologies and mission concepts needed for the EU’s ISOS4I demonstration mission, planned for 2030.

A New Chapter for Europe’s Space Economy

In-space servicing, assembly and manufacturing technologies have the potential to transform how space infrastructure is built and operated. They could extend satellite lifetimes, enable maintenance and repairs, support spacecraft refuelling and orbital logistics, allow structures to be assembled in orbit and eventually pave the way for manufacturing in space.

Many of these technologies are still under development and will be introduced in stages. Their advancement is important to establishing a commercially viable and sustainable European orbital economy.

The ISAM Club provides a shared platform for identifying emerging market needs, aligning technological solutions and bringing together expertise from different fields. Its initial activities focus on mapping potential applications, assessing market needs and improving the interoperability of spacecraft servicing interfaces.

Strategic Metals – A Vital Part of Advanced Technology Supply Chains

Space and other high-tech industries rely on critical and strategic metals. Europe imports most of these materials, with supply concentrated in a limited number of countries. Securing reliable access has therefore become a strategic priority for the European Union.

Under the EU Critical Raw Materials Act, the Union aims to develop sufficient recycling capacity to meet at least 25% of its annual demand for strategic raw materials by 2030. Recovering valuable metals from industrial waste, end-of-life electronic components and other metal-bearing materials, and returning them to industrial supply chains, is therefore becoming increasingly important.

NOVITERA specialises in metal recycling, refining and the recovery of valuable raw materials. The company’s extensive experience, in-house laboratory and expertise in processing precious, non-ferrous and strategic metals may also be relevant to emerging supply chains in advanced technology industries.

Bringing Lithuanian Expertise into Europe’s Space Industry

Membership of the ISAM Club gives NOVITERA an opportunity to participate directly in international discussions, share its expertise, build new partnerships and gain a deeper understanding of future technological and raw material requirements.

Through its involvement in this European initiative, NOVITERA is also helping to raise the profile of Lithuanian industrial expertise within the space sector.

This membership reflects NOVITERA’s long-term commitment to expanding collaboration with high-tech industries and contributing to more efficient use of strategic resources.

We believe that progress in tomorrow’s technologies depends on collaboration and the ability to preserve the value of our resources.

Learn more about the ESA ISAM Club: commercialisation.esa.int/isam