Protostar Labs signs agreement in Dubrovnik: A new step forward for the space industry within the Three Seas Initiative

Protostar Labs has signed a Letter of Intent as part of the Three Seas Initiative Business Forum in Dubrovnik, joining leading space-sector companies from Croatia, Poland, Greece, Czechia, Slovenia, and Slovakia in the establishment of the “Three Seas Hybrid Constellation.” The initiative creates a framework for regional cooperation in Earth observation, satellite data sharing, and interoperable ground infrastructure, with the goal of strengthening technological sovereignty, crisis resilience, and security across Central and Eastern Europe.

Published on 4/30/2026

DUBROVNIK, 29 April 2026 – As part of the Three Seas Initiative Business Forum taking place today in Dubrovnik, an important step has been made toward strengthening European technological sovereignty and regional security. Representatives of leading space-sector companies from Croatia, Poland, Greece, Czechia, Slovenia, and Slovakia signed a Letter of Intent on the establishment of the “Three Seas Hybrid Constellation” — the first joint regional hybrid satellite constellation for Earth observation. The project foresees the establishment of a regional satellite data-sharing system on an unprecedented scale in Central and Eastern Europe.

This joint initiative by companies from the Three Seas region — Croatia, Czechia, Greece, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia — is aimed at significantly strengthening Earth observation capacities through the sharing of satellite resources and the development of interoperable ground infrastructure. The project is envisioned as part of broader efforts to strengthen the European space sector and build independent regional capabilities for collecting and using satellite data, which are of critical importance for security, the economy, and crisis management.

The signing ceremony was attended by high-ranking state officials: Ivan Anušić, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the Republic of Croatia; Harry Theoharis, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece; Marcin Przydacz, Secretary of State and Head of the International Policy Bureau in the Chancellery of the President of the Republic of Poland; and Rastislav Chovanec, State Secretary of the Slovak Republic. Their presence confirms the political support for a project of major importance for strengthening the region’s resilience to crises.

Croatia is represented in this international project consortium by Osijek-based Protostar Labs, which is developing expertise in satellite hardware and software systems, with a particular focus on onboard data processing directly in orbit. Protostar Labs was recommended to the project initiators by the European Space Agency, which recognizes the company as one of Croatia’s leading partners in the development of innovative solutions for the European space industry.

Filip Novoselnik, founder and CEO of Protostar Labs, stated on the occasion of the signing:

“This initiative represents an important step toward strengthening cooperation within the space sector in the Three Seas region. All countries have a growing need for satellite data, but individual capacities remain limited.

By connecting resources and exchanging data, we are building a more efficient system that can significantly increase the availability of information for security, crisis management, and the development of new technologies.

For us, this is an opportunity to further strengthen our capabilities and actively contribute to the development of the regional space ecosystem. We are also pleased that the European Space Agency has recognized our expertise in this context.”

Regional resilience through the pooling and sharing of resources

The initiative, launched by Poland’s Creotech Instruments, is based on the idea that the space sector should become an integral part of defence, innovation, and crisis-management systems in Central and Eastern Europe. Rather than relying on isolated national capabilities, the project foresees the pooling of resources among the 12 member states of the Three Seas Initiative, which would provide each country with up to ten times more data than it could access independently.

In the long term, the project foresees two phases: the gradual integration of national resources into a system for exchanging satellite-derived data, and the development of a system with a deep level of technical interoperability among ground stations. Such an integrated approach creates a form of security shield: the system becomes dramatically more resilient by being able to provide mutual support and function as a backup in the event of failures or threats at the national level.

Project leaders

The project was initiated by the Polish company Creotech Instruments, a leading manufacturer of satellite systems and components in Central and Eastern Europe, specializing in satellite platforms and advanced electronics. The company has produced four successfully launched Polish satellites and has contributed its solutions to 14 space missions.

“The hybrid constellation initiative shows that coordinated action and shared resources can deliver economies of scale that would be unattainable for individual countries acting alone. Its open nature also creates room for additional companies and countries to join in the next phases of the project’s development, which we hope will happen in the near future,” said Dr. Grzegorz Brona, President of the Management Board of Creotech Instruments S.A.

Geopolitical and strategic significance

The signing of this Letter of Intent represents a significant step forward in cross-border cooperation within the space sector, positioning the region as an area that is actively building its own independent dual-use infrastructure and ensuring that its countries develop sophisticated technological competitiveness while becoming active contributors to European security.