EIC backing will support Arkadia Space in advancing and commercialising its green propulsion technology, aiming to replace toxic fuels and strengthen Europe’s space supply chain with safer, more efficient solutions.
Spanish space company Arkadia Space has secured €14.5 million in funding from the European Innovation Council Accelerator. The package includes a €2.5 million grant, €6 million in equity from the EIC Fund, and €6 million in private investment.
Beyond financial backing, the selection reflects direct institutional support from the European Commission for Arkadia’s green propulsion technology based on hydrogen peroxide, as well as a broader commitment to advancing critical space technologies in Europe.
Arkadia is developing a new hypergolic bipropellant propulsion system based on high-concentration hydrogen peroxide and a proprietary green fuel. Designed to replace hydrazine and its derivatives, highly toxic propellants increasingly restricted under European regulation, the technology aims to improve safety, performance, and sustainability in space missions.
Its hypergolic nature enables instantaneous ignition upon contact between propellants, eliminating the need for complex ignition systems while increasing reliability and precision for operations such as spacecraft docking and lunar landings. The system is also expected to reduce operational and refuelling costs by more than 60 per cent compared to conventional solutions.
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. 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,
said Francho García, co-founder and CEO of Arkadia Space.
The EIC selection follows the in-orbit validation of DARK, Arkadia’s propulsion system, launched in March 2025 aboard a D-Orbit satellite during a SpaceX mission, marking the first time a hydrogen peroxide-based propulsion system reached space in Europe.
The funding will support the commercialisation of Arkadia’s green propulsion technology, further R&D, expansion of its testing infrastructure, and the scaling of its commercial operations.