Arkadia Space has secured €14.5 million in funding from the European Innovation Council Accelerator programme, as it works to commercialise a more environmentally friendly satellite propulsion system.
The funding package includes a €2.5 million grant, €6 million in equity investment from the EIC Fund, and approximately €6 million from private investors. The support underscores the European Union’s focus on developing sustainable space technologies.
Arkadia Space is developing a hypergolic bipropellant propulsion system based on highly concentrated hydrogen peroxide and a proprietary fuel. The system is designed as an alternative to hydrazine-based propellants, which are highly toxic and increasingly restricted under European regulations.
Because the propellants ignite on contact, the system eliminates the need for complex ignition mechanisms, improving reliability for critical operations such as satellite manoeuvres, docking and lunar missions.
“The EIC support comes at a critical moment for Arkadia. Over the past year, we have demonstrated that our technology meets market requirements and offers a true performance alternative to highly toxic fuels,” said Francho García, co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Arkadia Space. “This recognition confirms that we are on the right path and gives us a tremendous boost to commercialize the technology as early as next year.”
The company has already achieved a key milestone with its propulsion system. In March 2025, Arkadia successfully conducted an in-orbit demonstration of its DARK propulsion system aboard a satellite operated by D-Orbit during a mission launched by SpaceX. It marked the first time a European hydrogen peroxide-based propulsion system was tested in space.
Arkadia said its technology could reduce operational and fuelling costs by more than 60% compared to conventional systems.
