Senior NEO researcher receives 2.7M€ from European Research Council
Norsk Elektro Optikk AS (NEO), a leading payload provider of high-performance hyperspectral imaging systems, has signed a contract with the European Space Agency (ESA) to complete the design and manufacturing of HyperNOR S-1280, the first spaceborne instrument in the HySpex HyperNOR family. The next-generation in-orbit hyperspectral demonstrator is designed to unlock the full potential of extended Short-Wave Infrared (eSWIR, 950–2500 nm) imaging from space.
The HyperNOR S -1280 instrument is being realised under ESAs General Support Technology Programme (GSTP), with support from the Norwegian Space Agency (NOSA). The contract enables a complete payload development pathway—from Qualification Model (QM) to Flight Model (FM), culminating in launch as an In-Orbit Demonstrator (IOD) in the first half of 2028. By combining qualification, flight readiness, and in-orbit validation within a single framework, GSTP accelerates the transition of HySpex’s proven hyperspectral sensor technology from airborne and laboratory domains into space, while reducing risk and establishing a robust foundation for future operational missions and constellations.
HyperNOR S-1280 represents a significant advancement in hyperspectral Earth observation. As an ESA-supported GSTP/IOD mission, it is designed to close the commercial eSWIR gap in space-based imaging, enabling a new generation of high-impact applications for downstream providers.
“The HyperNOR S-1280 represents a critical step forward in bringing high-quality, calibration-grade hyperspectral data into space,” says Lars O. Lierstuen, Head of Space & Business Development at NEO. “By combining high spatial resolution with robust eSWIR coverage, we are enabling continuity from lab to orbit and paving the way for next-generation hyperspectral constellations.”
The ERC project HyperSense will be run from 2025-2031 and aim to develop four new compact hyperspectral LiDAR prototypes providing real-time, full-waveform lidar data in hundreds of spectral bands from 200 nm to 2600 nm.
By combining biophotonics (i.e. light interaction with biological tissue) with lase remote sensing for environmental monitoring, Mikkel's group makes an effort to study living organisms in their natural surroundings, rather than bringing them into laboratories and vacuum chambers. The prospects are rapid evaluation for abundance and diversity of mitigations such as flower strips or restored wetlands. Whereas the present methods for counting and classification of insect require tremendous resources and time, his methods can currently count a hundred thousand insects per day and distinguish hundreds of classes.
Applications include vegetation profiling and classification of lichen, marine profiling and classification of zooplankton and salmon lice, pollen classification, profiling of temperature and metabolism and remote infrared sensing of nanostructures and metasurfaces on biological targets. The activity is a continuation of Brydegaard’s long term development of Scheimpflug LiDAR at Norsk Elektro Optikk and an important step towards combining it with HySpex hyperspectral technology. The renewed grant opens new opportunities for commercializing the concepts, spans collaborations across Scandinavia.
"This is an excellent opportunity to integrate our passive hyperspectral systems with the hyperspectral LiDAR technology Mikkel have been developing. This combination could become a crucial tool for environmental monitoring in the future" says Trond Løke, CEO at Norsk Elektro Optikk.
About Norsk Elektro Optikk AS
Norsk Elektro Optikk was established in 1985 as a privately owned research company within the field of electro optics. The founders had their scientific and technical background from the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment, at that time the leading research organization in electro optics in Norway. The company’s objective is to play a leading role in applied research within its area of expertise to develop and manufacture advanced industrial products for an international market.
About HySpex by NEO
With offices in Oslo, Norway, Clinton, US, and now Berlin, Germany, HySpex is established as an industry-leading brand for both airborne and ground-based hyperspectral imaging. HySpex sensors are renowned for their stability, flexibility, and superior data quality. To learn more about HySpex, visit us online at https://www.hyspex.com/, or join us on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, or X.
