What Scanway does

Scanway is a Poland-based, space-heritage optical-imaging company operating dual space and industrial machine-vision segments from Wrocław, listed on the Main Market of the Warsaw Stock Exchange (ticker SCW) following a 2026 transfer from NewConnect. In space, Scanway designs and manufactures telescopes (SOP family), high-resolution cameras (SCS family), and the proprietary HYDRA AI/DL software stack for both on-board inference and ground processing; ten payloads have been delivered with more than ten in delivery, and qualification has reached TRL 9. Industrial machine vision is delivered through the CUMULUS, STRATUS, NIMBUS and CIRRUS product lines, with roughly 50 implementations deployed across quality control and process-monitoring use cases.

The company monetizes space business through mission-specific payload sales, engineering services, and emerging Data-as-a-Service offerings, while the industrial segment sells vision-system hardware and software licenses to manufacturing customers. Approximately 88% of space-segment revenue is generated through exports across Asia, the United States and Europe, with marquee institutional customers including ESA, JPL/NASA, DLR, EnduroSat, Nara Space Technology, Intuitive Machines, Aethero, KP Labs, Marble Imaging, CBK PAN and the Polish Military University of Technology.

Scanway is led by a team of approximately 100 interdisciplinary experts combining optics, on-board AI, and industrial machine vision — a rare convergence that is the core source of differentiation. FY2025 revenue reached 21.4 million PLN (+80% YoY) with positive EBITDA of approximately 1.0 million PLN and positive operating cash flow of approximately 3.4 million PLN; a backlog of 53.5 million PLN (and 120 million PLN+ with pending contracts) plus a stated 4-year pipeline of 500–700 million PLN provide multi-year revenue visibility.

Name

Scanway

Legal name

Scanway Spółka Akcyjna

Website

https://scanway.pl

Company type

Public

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Scanway is a Wrocław-based space-heritage optical-imaging company that builds telescopes, cameras and HYDRA AI/DL software for satellite and industrial machine-vision customers across Europe, Asia and the United States.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Optical Instruments and Machine Vision

NAICS

Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511), Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing (336414), Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (334516), Geophysical Surveying and Mapping Services (54136)

SIC

Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812), Guided Missiles & Space Vehicles & Parts (3760), Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826)

akta.pro primary industry

Space Payloads & Instruments (Sensors, Comms, EO/IR) (IMABACAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Satellite Imagery & Remote Sensing Geospatial Platforms (BPAMANAM), Remote Sensing & Geospatial Vision (satellite/drone imagery) (HDAAAEAL), Satellite/Aerial/Remote Sensing MRV (Methane plumes, land-use change) (EUAHADAL)

Keywords

• Optical instruments
• Machine vision systems
• Satellite imaging
• Earth observation
• Industrial quality control

Headquarters

HQ city

Wroclaw

HQ country

Poland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Space Optical Instruments: Revenue from development and delivery of optical instruments for space applications including telescopes (SOP product line), camera systems (SCS product line), and custom optical payloads for satellite missions. Includes both hardware delivery and associated software/analysis capabilities. The segment generated 88% of space revenue from exports in 2025, serving customers in Asia, USA, and Europe.
2. Industrial Vision Systems: Revenue from vision systems for industrial quality control, including CUMULUS, STRATUS, NIMBUS, and CIRRUS product families. Systems are deployed for automated visual inspection, defect detection, and quality assurance in manufacturing. The company has approximately 50 implementations in industrial quality control sector.
3. Software and Analysis Services: Revenue from proprietary HYDRA software platform for image data processing, analysis algorithms, and decision-support services. Covers the full optical data chain from acquisition through processing, analysis, and prediction (APAP model).
4. Data-as-a-Service: Emerging revenue stream from satellite data services and Space Situational Awareness (SSA) capabilities. The company is developing competencies in this area with growing customer interest, including contracts with potential for data monetization models.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Scanway designs and manufactures optical payload instruments (SOP, SCS product lines) for satellite Earth observation and lunar missions, and industrial vision systems (CUMULUS, STRATUS, NIMBUS, CIRRUS) for automated quality control. The proprietary HYDRA software platform powers image data processing across both segments using an APAP (Acquisition, Processing, Analysis, Prediction) framework covering the complete optical data chain.

Product overview

Scanway offers a dual-segment product portfolio: Space (optical instruments) and Industry (vision systems). Space segment includes SOP telescopes for Earth observation and remote sensing (nanosatellite and microsatellite compatible), and SCS camera systems for mission support and monitoring. Industry segment offers four modular vision system lines (CUMULUS for inline object inspection, STRATUS for web/ribbon materials, NIMBUS for robotic integration, CIRRUS for large-area monitoring) all powered by the proprietary HYDRA image processing technology. The APAP (Acquisition, Processing, Analysis, Prediction) framework connects both segments, enabling technology transfer between space and industrial applications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SOP (Scanway Optical Payload): Line of satellite cameras/telescopes designed for Earth observation and remote sensing applications, compatible with nano- and microsatellites. Offers configurations for various spectral bands (VIS, NIR, SWIR) and multispectral imaging with GSD from <1 to 25 m/pixel.
• SCS (Scanway Camera System)
• HYDRA
• CUMULUS
• STRATUS
• NIMBUS
• CIRRUS

Products and services

• SOP (Scanway Optical Payload) Line of satellite telescopes designed for Earth observation and remote sensing applications. Compatible with nano- and microsatellites, supporting detectors in VIS, NIR, SWIR, and multispectral modes with GSD resolution from <1m to 25m/pixel. Athermal construction maintains high imaging quality parameters. Used by satellite operators, space agencies, and constellation project developers.
• SCS (Scanway Camera System)

Quantifiable outcome

• Revenue growth of 80% YoY to 21.4 million PLN in 2025
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability6 records

Feature10 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Nara Space TechnologycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 June 2026Nara Space Technology, a Korean New Space leader, is developing NarSha - Korea's first satellite constellation for methane emission monitoring. Scanway has expanded collaboration to four optical instruments total for the project, representing the third expansion of cooperation. The partnership demonstrates Scanway's ability to execute constellation-scale projects.
• KP LabscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 June 2026KP Labs Sp. z o.o., a leading Polish space company, is partnering with Scanway on the ScyLab project for ESA. The project involves development of a telescope operating in near-infrared (SWIR) range along with a DPU (Data Processing Unit), supporting both companies' technology development and competencies in advanced on-orbit data processing.
• JPL NASA (Jet Propulsion Laboratory)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2026JPL, managed by Caltech (California Institute of Technology), is collaborating with Scanway on a new infrared camera for orbital thermography. The cameras will first be used in an optical instrument for a US market customer, pursuant to an agreement signed by Scanway in January 2026. This represents a significant collaboration with NASA's premier research center.
• AetherocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026Aethero is conducting the Titan mission, a next-generation satellite mission combining high-resolution imaging with real-time onboard data processing using AI. Scanway is providing an optical imaging system designed to operate in orbit. Titan mission launch is scheduled for H2 2026 via SpaceX rideshare.
• EnduroSat EADcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026EnduroSat EAD, a leading European small and medium satellite provider headquartered in Sofia, Bulgaria (with offices worldwide including Denver, Colorado), with over 70 satellites launched and 3,500 separate space modules. Scanway will supply three Earth observation telescopes for EnduroSat's constellation project. Contract value ~0.9 million EUR, delivery by Q1 2027. The contract features the shortest delivery time to date (under 12 months), reflecting Scanway's move toward serial production capabilities.
• Intuitive MachinesflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerIntuitive Machines is conducting the Lunar Data Network - a commercial lunar orbital mission equipped with Scanway's high-resolution imaging telescope for lunar mapping and mineralogical analysis. Scanway is the first Polish company to deliver optical instruments for a commercial lunar mission planned for H2 2026, and is also creating a European data processing system for lunar satellites that could connect Europe with the US Artemis program.
• Marble ImagingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMarble Imaging (Germany) is developing SEMOVIS - a multi-sensor Earth observation system (VIS-SWIR) for a European very high resolution (VHR) satellite constellation, in partnership with ESA. Scanway is providing optical instruments for this mission.
• ESA (European Space Agency)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerESA is involved in multiple Scanway projects including PIAST (Polish nanosatellite constellation), MANI (lunar orbital mission concept), OTTER (maritime vessel verification), and the new ScyLab project. Scanway operates following ESA standards and methodologies (Space 4.0 guidelines, ECSS standards).
• Creotech Instruments S.A.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPolish space company and consortium partner for EagleEye project - Poland's largest micro-satellite for Earth observation. Scanway delivered the optical payload (largest fully designed and built telescope in Poland, ~10 kg).

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• BlackSky: US-listed small-sat EO analytics company; comparable because it sells both EO data products and constellation solutions to government/defence customers, mirroring Scanway's emerging Data-as-a-Service and SSA positioning.
• KP Labs: Polish space company co-developing the ScyLab SWIR telescope and DPU with Scanway for ESA; comparable as a Polish onboard AI/data-processing peer with overlapping EO mission and on-orbit processing capabilities.
• Satellogic: Vertically integrated EO satellite operator building its own optical payloads for sub-meter resolution imagery; comparable because both design and operate EO optical instruments on small satellites for commercial constellation customers.
• ICEYE: Finnish small-satellite SAR constellation operator; comparable as a European small-sat constellation scale-up competing for similar commercial and government EO contracts and demonstrating the trajectory Scanway is targeting.
• EnduroSat: Bulgarian small-satellite platform provider and Scanway's constellation customer; comparable because both operate at the small-sat EO interface, supplying and integrating payloads and buses for similar constellation customers.
• NanoAvionics: Lithuanian small-satellite bus and mission integrator; comparable because it supplies satellite platforms and integrates third-party payloads (including optical instruments) for commercial constellation customers in the same small-sat class.
• Planet Labs: Public EO constellation operator; comparable as a buyer/integrator of advanced optical payloads and as a competitor for EO data-driven mission sales to the same constellation customers Scanway supplies.
• Sodern: French space optical instruments manufacturer (part of Airbus); comparable as a direct supplier of space-qualified optical instruments and sensors used in EO, SSA, and science missions across Europe.
• Creotech Instruments: Polish space hardware company and EagleEye consortium partner; directly comparable as a Polish-listed space systems integrator building microsatellite platforms and integrating EO payloads, competing for the same ESA and Polish defence contracts.

Broad incumbents

• Cognex: Global leader in industrial machine vision; comparable because its 2D/3D vision systems directly overlap with Scanway's CUMULUS, STRATUS, NIMBUS, and CIRRUS lines for factory quality control.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/scanway

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Scanway