Markham-based NordSpace has secured advisory services and up to $335,000 in funding from the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP) to refine the additive manufacturing process for its rocket engines.
Through a collaborative R&D project with the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology and German engineering firm SWMS, NordSpace aims to integrate high-speed laser deposition and AI-driven path planning into its production line and comes after it announced a new Advanced Manufacturing for Aerospace Lab last fall. This initiative is a targeted step in the company’s broader roadmap to scale its launch vehicles from light payloads to the medium-lift “Titan” class, capable of carrying over 5,000 kg to orbit, by the early 2030s.
The news of this new German partnership comes after the Canadian Trade Commissioner Service led a delegation last fall to Germany which coincided with the annual Space Tech Expo Europe in Bremen which NordSpace participated in..
According to NordSpace CEO Rahul Goel, incorporating these specialized manufacturing techniques is essential for reducing production costs and ensuring the company’s domestic facilities remain competitive.
Rahul Goel, CEO and Founder of NordSpace said, “Canada’s growing demand for responsive and cost-effective medium-lift space launch requires continuous investment in disruptive manufacturing technologies that shorten development cycles, boost reliability, and reduce production costs. This project represents a crucial step for NordSpace to work with world-leading technology partners in Germany to bring additive manufacturing breakthroughs that will directly benefit Canada’s industrial base, making our factories and labs more competitive and efficient while accelerating the time to market for our medium-lift Hadfield and Garneau engine lines.”
NordSpace plans to present updates on the initiative and its ongoing engine validation results at the upcoming Canadian Space Launch Conference in Ottawa on May 5, 2026.