SPEAKER INTERVIEW

Žilvinas Kvedaravičius, CSO, NanoAvionics

Please could you tell us more about your role with Kongsberg NanoAvionics?

While as a Chief Sales Officer at NanoAvionics, I am responsible for leading business development team to help to foster key relationships with our clients and partners in the space industry, it is genuinely the collective effort of our team that propels the company forward. I work closely with our talented engineering and product teams to ensure we offer solutions that truly meet the evolving needs of the smallsat market. I'm also responsible for developing and executing sales strategies that align with our company's vision and mission, but it's the dedication, expertise, and passion of our entire team that establishes us as leaders in this dynamic industry.

How would you describe the challenge of scaling up within the smallsats industry?

Scaling in the smallsats industry presents unique challenges. The sector is rapidly evolving with new technologies, regulatory considerations, and market entrants. As a company, we need to maintain our agility to innovate, while also scaling our operations to meet growing demand. This means investing in R&D, understanding global market trends, and continuously refining our production capabilities. Our goal is not just to scale, but also to empower companies and organisations that develop applications for civil, defence and Earth observation purposes. With our cost-efficient and advanced technologies, we are facilitating their endeavours.

 
What is the role of the workforce in the future of businesses looking to scale up?

In businesses aiming to scale up, the workforce plays a major role. As we view ourselves as defining the new space industry ourselves, the expertise, adaptability, and passion of our team are extremely important. We emphasise a culture of continuous learning, investing heavily in in-house training due to the lack of external programs. Our dedication to nurturing talent isn't limited to the satellite sector; we also value insights from professionals in the automotive or medical equipment fields, integrating their experiences to enrich our shared expertise.

What do you consider the most promising technology for the space industry in the years to come?

Personally, I would bet on laser communications. If this technology evolves as anticipated, the volume of data we could transmit back to Earth — and subsequently monetise — would be staggering. Laser communications promise a new era of high-speed, secure, and energy-efficient data transmission in space. As the demand for swifter and more dependable communication between satellites and ground stations escalates, laser communications are poised to play a crucial role, ensuring we remain interconnected with superior throughput and minimal latency. Nonetheless, the technology still needs further maturation.

If you could travel anywhere into space, without the restrictions of time and resources, where would you go, how will you travel there, and why? 

If I could journey through space without limits, I'd travel the entire galaxy to explore and see unseen things. Using a state-of-the-art spacecraft, I'd prioritise safety, ensuring a family-friendly adventure. For me, sharing the galaxy's marvels with my family would be the journey's true essence.