Founded in 2014 by two students at Aalto University in Finland, Iceye set out to rethink how satellites could be built and operated. The company launched its first satellite in 2018 and has since deployed 54 satellites into orbit, thereby positioning itself as a leader in synthetic aperture radar technology.
“These young engineers said: ‘How long do you keep your phone for? You keep it for a few years and get a new one. Let’s do that in space,’” said Dylan Monaghan, head of missions in Japan, describing the company’s origin story. Instead of building large, costly satellites designed to last decades, Iceye pioneered compact, cost-effective satellites that can be launched in greater numbers, improving coverage and responsiveness.
This approach enabled Iceye to provide frequent, high-quality data regardless of weather or daylight conditions.
“We can see millimeter differences where the Earth is rising and falling,” Monaghan explained. “For the first time ever, we predicted a volcanic eruption from space, allowing Iceland to evacuate a town before it was covered in lava and ultimately avoiding injuries.”
Today, Iceye’s satellites are used worldwide for border monitoring, flood monitoring, disaster response and environmental protection. “Everything from search and rescue to flooding and fire damage — basically anything you can think of from space,” he said.
Iceye has built a global organization with more than 70 nationalities. “We’re always pulling in the best people,” Monaghan noted, emphasizing the company’s strategy of recruiting international talent to understand diverse markets and customer needs.
Japan has become a key partner in this strategy. In 2020, insurer Tokio Marine approached Iceye seeking faster ways to compensate customers for disaster-related losses.
We already share our technology with Japan without International Traffic in Arms Regulations restrictions. We’re building locally — starting with our office here and soon expanding to a local factory and supply chain.
Dylan Monaghan, Head of Missions in Japan
“They thought, ‘What if we could do this from space?’“ Monaghan said. “They came to us with this idea, and that’s what started our solutions business in Japan.” Japanese firms including Kajima Ventures and NEC have since invested in Iceye, and the company recently partnered with IHI Corp. to expand its Japanese presence.
Monaghan, who has spent over 30 years in Japan, focuses on building long-term relationships.
“My job here is to reach out to partners and let them know that we are sincere about working together,” he said. “Nothing in Japan happens without a relationship. Over time, if you consistently deliver what people need, they will come. But first, they have to know you’re here.”
Looking ahead, Iceye is strengthening its Japanese footprint. “We already share our technology with Japan without International Traffic in Arms Regulations restrictions,” Monaghan said. “We’re building locally — starting with our office here and soon expanding to a local factory and supply chain.”
With its proven innovation track record and collaborative approach, Iceye is positioned to play a greater role in Japan’s space and disaster-response sectors, bringing world-class technology closer to the communities that need it most.
