Cosine

What Cosine does

Cosine (cosine Research BV) is a Netherlands-headquartered, privately held measurement systems company that designs, builds, and validates mission-specific integrated measurement solutions for environments where direct observation is impossible. Founded in 1998 and incorporated as cosine Research BV, the firm operates from Sassenheim, Netherlands with additional offices in Germany and Italy, and runs an international team of scientists, engineers, and system specialists from more than 10 nationalities under founder and managing director Marco Beijersbergen.

The company organizes its work across three specialized domains: Remote Sensing, High-Energy Optics, and Inspection Systems, supported by proprietary infrastructure including cleanrooms, high-tech facilities, and access to five synchrotron beam lines. Its product portfolio comprises TSCOUT, a multi-spectral thermal infrared imager for global temperature monitoring from space; HyperScout 2, an enhanced-generation hyperspectral imager for space-based Earth observation (registered trademark); and Laue lens technology, a diffraction-based system for focusing hard X-rays and gamma rays with applications in radiotherapy. The technical differentiators are domain specialization (high-energy optics, remote sensing) and accuracy/precision engineering for high-stakes environments.

Cosine pursues a consultative enterprise sales motion, working closely with clients — primarily space agencies, national metrology institutes, and research organizations — to define measurement challenges and deliver bespoke, integrated systems. Revenue is generated through one-time licensing of custom mission-specific systems under non-public pricing, with no disclosed pricing or subscription tiers. Strategic customers and partners include the European Space Agency (ESA), NL-Space, SpaceNed, the Netherlands Space Office, Agenzia Spaziale Italiana, and PTB (Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt). In June 2026, cosine Italia signed ESA's Apophis Mission Contract and announced the Canary Islands Constellation Programme for Benevento, evidencing recent program wins and ongoing geographic expansion.

Name

Cosine

Legal name

cosine Research BV

Website

https://cosine.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Cosine (cosine Research BV) is a Netherlands-based measurement systems company that designs and delivers mission-specific optical and in-situ instruments across Remote Sensing, High-Energy Optics, and Inspection Systems for space, climate, scientific, and medical customers including ESA.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Scientific Optical Measurement Instruments

NAICS

Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451), Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (334516), Other Measuring and Controlling Device Manufacturing (334519)

SIC

Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827), Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823), X-Ray Apparatus & Tubes & Related Irradiation Apparatus (3844)

akta.pro primary industry

Machine Vision & Optical Sensing (Cameras, 3D vision, LiDAR, illumination) (IMAGAFAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Metrology, Calibration & Testing Equipment (Balances, pH/DO, Standards) (HLAGAIAL), Test & Measurement Equipment (Oscilloscopes, DAQ, signal analyzers, calibration benches) (IMAGAFAC), Metrology & Dimensional Measurement (CMMs, laser trackers, gauges, surface/roughness) (IMAGAFAD)

Keywords

• Optical measurement systems
• Remote sensing instruments
• Hyperspectral imaging
• Space observation systems
• X-ray optics

Headquarters

HQ city

Sassenheim

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Custom Mission-Specific Systems: Development of bespoke measurement systems tailored to specific mission requirements, working closely with clients to define measurement challenges and deliver integrated solutions

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

Cosine designs, builds, tests, and validates mission-specific integrated optical and in-situ measurement systems for space, climate, scientific, medical, and industrial applications. Its offerings span three specialised domains — Remote Sensing, High-Energy Optics, and Inspection Systems — delivered as bespoke instruments such as the TSCOUT thermal infrared imager, HyperScout®2 hyperspectral imager, and Laue Lens X-ray/gamma-ray focusing system. The company works directly with clients to translate critical measurement questions into dependable systems that operate where direct observation is impossible.

Product overview

Cosine is a measurement systems company that develops mission-specific integrated measurement solutions for complex, high-stakes environments. The company operates across three specialized domains: Remote Sensing, High-Energy Optics, and Inspection Systems. Its product portfolio includes TSCOUT (a multi-spectral thermal infrared imager for space-based temperature monitoring), Laue lens (an X-ray/gamma-ray diffraction system for radiotherapy), and HyperScout 2 (an enhanced hyperspectral imager for space applications). These products translate critical measurement challenges into systems that deliver dependable results for scientific, environmental, and industrial applications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• TSCOUT Multi-spectral thermal infrared imager with high spatial resolution, designed for global temperature monitoring from space. It is positioned as the first multi-spectral infrared imager with high resolution in its class and serves Earth observation and climate monitoring missions.
• Laue Lens Diffraction-based optical system for focusing hard X-rays and gamma rays that pass through most materials, developed for radiotherapy and advanced scientific applications. It enables high-energy optics that conventional mirrors cannot achieve.
• HyperScout®2 Enhanced-generation hyperspectral imager for space-based observation, developed based on customer feedback with augmented capabilities relative to the original HyperScout platform. It is a registered trademark of Cosine and serves Earth observation and planetary/universe monitoring missions.
• Custom Mission-Specific Systems Bespoke integrated measurement systems designed, calculated, built, tested, and validated for individual client missions across Remote Sensing, High-Energy Optics, and Inspection Systems. Engagements begin with defining the measurement challenge, conditions, and required accuracy with the client, then proceed to a fully integrated deliverable.

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ESA (European Space Agency)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerESA partnership displayed in logos section. cosine Italia signed ESA's Apophis Mission Contract in 2026.
• NL-SpaceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDisplayed in logos section
• SpaceNedminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDisplayed in logos section
• Netherlands Space OfficeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDisplayed in logos section
• Agenzia Spaziale ItalianaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerItalian Space Agency - displayed in logos section
• PTB (Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDisplayed in logos section - German national metrology institute
• OpTecBBminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDisplayed in logos section - optical technologies cluster

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• SSTL (Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd): SSTL designs and builds small satellites and mission payloads including Earth observation instruments. Comparable to cosine as a specialist provider of mission-specific space measurement systems working with ESA and institutional customers.
• Headwall Photonics: Headwall designs and manufactures hyperspectral imaging equipment for airborne, ground-based, and satellite remote sensing applications. Direct competitor to cosine in hyperspectral imagers like HyperScout 2.
• AIM Infrarot-Module GmbH: AIM Infrarot-Module manufactures infrared detector modules and thermal imaging components for defence, space, and industrial applications. Comparable to cosine on thermal IR detector and imaging technology for space payloads like TSCOUT.

Broad incumbents

• OHB System AG: OHB is a European space prime contractor delivering satellites and instruments across EO, science, and exploration missions. Comparable to cosine as a competing supplier of spaceborne optical payloads to ESA, with a much broader portfolio and prime-contractor role.
• Teledyne Technologies (Imaging & FLIR): Teledyne supplies infrared detectors, imaging sensors, and space-qualified instruments across civil and defence applications. Comparable to cosine in the thermal IR and hyperspectral imaging domains, but at substantially larger scale.
• Ball Aerospace: Ball Aerospace builds spaceborne scientific instruments, optical systems, and EO payloads for NASA, DoD, and commercial customers. Overlaps with cosine on hyperspectral and thermal IR imaging payloads for space missions.
• Thales Alenia Space: Thales Alenia Space is a major European space prime manufacturing satellites and instruments for EO, science, and exploration. Competes with cosine for ESA EO payload contracts and has a much broader institutional footprint.
• Oxford Instruments Andor: Andor designs scientific cameras and detectors for spectroscopy, astronomy, and physical sciences. Comparable to cosine on high-performance imaging sensors used in scientific and space instruments, but as a broader established scientific imaging vendor.
• HENSOLDT Optronics: HENSOLDT supplies optronics, sensors, and space-based payloads for defence and civil applications. Comparable to cosine on optical and infrared space instruments, with a much larger defence-anchored portfolio.

Emerging players

• Resonon Inc. Resonon produces hyperspectral imaging cameras and systems for research, industrial, and remote sensing applications. Comparable niche competitor to cosine's hyperspectral imaging business, with a smaller airborne/ground focus.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cosinebv
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC7ne9zQyadsVxGuqfm7UUDw
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cosine-bv
• Instagraminstagram.com/cosine.nl

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Cosine