NATO backs Welsh startup building space factory for ‘supermaterials’

thenextweb.comPublished: 5/14/2025

Summary

Space Forge, a Welsh startup, has raised $30 million in Series A funding to develop ForgeStar-2, a satellite designed to produce advanced supermaterials in space. The technology, likened to a sourdough starter, aims to revolutionize industries like electric vehicles and data centers. By returning data from the satellite without sending crystals back, Earth will benefit from valuable materials while reusable tech with heat shields like Pridwen could enable long-term space exploration. With funding from NATO’s Innovation Fund, this breakthrough promises economic benefits and strategic advantages for Europe’s security and defense sectors.