What Space Codesign does

Space Codesign Systems Inc. is a private Canadian software company founded in 2008 as a technology transfer spin-out from Polytechnique Montreal's Microelectronics and Microsystems Group (GRM2). The company develops SpaceStudio, an Eclipse-based C/C++ design framework and Electronic System Level (ESL) tool that enables application acceleration on heterogeneous CPU+FPGA platforms without requiring hardware description language expertise. SpaceStudio provides system-level simulation, automatic code generation for virtual platforms, drivers and bootloaders, non-intrusive monitoring with SQL-backed data storage, and automated FPGA bitstream generation targeting Xilinx Vivado, Intel Quartus Prime, and the radiation-hardened NanoXplore NG-Ultra. Differentiated features include a proprietary Spaceclocks timing API spanning software and hardware domains, IP-XACT (IEEE 1685-2009) compliance, FPGA-in-the-Loop execution, and a Python scripting API (SpacePy).

The company monetizes SpaceStudio through commercial software licenses and subscriptions sold via direct enterprise field sales, supplemented by professional services and training, with a free 30-day trial to seed evaluation. Its primary customer segment is aerospace and defense (Airbus Defence and Space, Thales Alenia Space, Safran, Loft Orbital, NanoXplore), with secondary use cases in GNSS receiver design and ADAS enabled by the SpaceStudio GNSS Workbench. Space Codesign operates from Montreal (HQ), Paris (European HQ), and Taiwan (Asia office), and maintains a partner ecosystem including the European Space Agency, Siemens (Catapult HLS and Precision Hi-Rel), AMD/Xilinx, NanoXplore, fentISS, and IRT Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. The firm is founder-controlled, with 1-10 employees, no disclosed equity funding rounds, and ESA grant-funded research projects as the only known non-revenue capital inflows.

Name

Space Codesign

Legal name

Space Codesign Systems Inc.

Website

https://spacecodesign.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Space Codesign Systems Inc. is a Montreal-based private software firm that develops SpaceStudio, a C/C++ ESL design framework for accelerating applications on CPU+FPGA platforms, primarily serving aerospace, defense, and satellite-navigation customers through direct enterprise licenses and ESA-aligned partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Electronic Design Automation Software

NAICS

Computer Systems Design Services (541512), Custom Computer Programming Services (541511), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151)

SIC

Services-Prepackaged Software (7372), Services-Computer Programming Services (7371)

akta.pro primary industry

Embedded Software & Firmware Tools (Compilers, Debug, RTOS tooling) (HDAHAFAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Programmable Logic (FPGAs/CPLDs) (HDAHAJAG), Industry-Specific Low-Code Platforms (Vertical App Platforms) (HDAEAKAL)

Keywords

• Embedded systems design
• Hardware software codesign
• FPGA prototyping
• Electronic design automation
• MPSoC development tools

Headquarters

HQ city

Montréal

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. SpaceStudio Software Licenses: Space Codesign generates revenue primarily through commercial licenses and subscriptions for SpaceStudio software. SpaceStudio is offered as a software development environment targeting embedded systems designers who need to develop CPU+FPGA applications. The company offers free 30-day trials for evaluation, suggesting a freemium or trial-led sales motion.
2. Professional Services and Training: Space Codesign offers engineering services and consulting for embedded systems design, likely including training, integration support, and custom development engagements. The company has a dedicated services page.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Space Codesign develops and sells SpaceStudio, a C/C++ framework and Eclipse-based design environment for developing MPSoC+FPGA embedded systems. The tool enables software developers to accelerate applications on heterogeneous CPU+FPGA platforms without hardware description language expertise by providing system-level simulation, automatic code generation for virtual platforms, drivers, bootloaders, and FPGA bitstreams, plus vendor-agnostic support for Xilinx, Intel, and NanoXplore FPGAs. The company also offers the SpaceStudio GNSS Workbench for designing white-box GNSS receivers and provides professional services, training, and ESA-funded research engagements.

Product overview

Space Codesign offers SpaceStudio, a unified development environment for embedded systems design centered on C/C++ application development targeting CPU+FPGA heterogeneous platforms. The core SpaceStudio product includes the SpaceLib C/C++ API for application development and SpacePy (Python API) for programmatic control. SpaceStudio supports multiple FPGA vendors (Xilinx, Intel, NanoXplore) and operating systems (Linux, FreeRTOS, RTEMS, µC/OS-II). The company also offers specialized add-ons including the GNSS Workbench for satellite navigation receiver development. The platform covers the full development workflow from algorithm creation through architecture optimization to full system compilation and FPGA implementation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SpaceStudio: A comprehensive C/C++ design environment for developing MPSoC+FPGA systems, enabling system-level simulation, optimization, and automated FPGA prototyping without requiring hardware description language expertise.

Products and services

• SpaceStudio A C/C++ framework and Eclipse-based design environment for embedded systems that accelerates applications on CPU+FPGA heterogeneous platforms. Provides system-level simulation, automatic code generation for virtual platforms, communication interfaces, drivers, bootloaders, and FPGA bitstreams; supports Xilinx Vivado, Intel Quartus Prime, and NanoXplore NG-Ultra targets across Linux, FreeRTOS, RTEMS, and µC/OS-II. Targeted at aerospace, defense, satellite, and embedded-systems engineering teams at enterprises such as Airbus Defence and Space, M3 Systems, and NanoXplore.
• SpaceStudio GNSS Workbench A specialized SpaceStudio add-on platform for designing and customizing white-box GNSS receivers that automates GNSS test-scenario playback, processes data at faster-than-real-time speeds using AMD/Xilinx Versal boards, and provides a fully configurable, open-source receiver platform for ADAS and satellite-navigation applications.

Quantifiable outcome

• Weeks of GNSS data processed in hours using SpaceStudio GNSS Workbench on AMD/Xilinx Versal boards
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

AI capability2 records

Feature9 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• SiemenscoreTechnology or Integration · 8 August 2022Space Codesign joined the Siemens Software and Technology Partner program to deliver an integrated solution between SpaceStudio and Siemens Catapult (HLS tool). The partnership enables joint customers to use SpaceStudio for system-level design and Catapult for high-level synthesis, streamlining the path from C/C++ to optimized FPGA implementations. In 2024-2025, the partnership expanded to include Siemens Precision Hi-Rel support for triple modular redundancy in space applications.
• European Space Agency (ESA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpace Codesign participates in ESA programs including NAVISP Element 2 (Navigation Innovation and Support Programme) for GNSS receiver development and Open Space Innovation Platform for advanced OpenMP frameworks in spaceborne systems. ESA NAVISP has incubated over 120 projects. Space Codesign's GNSS Workbench is backed by ESA NAVISP Element 2, made possible via Canadian Space Agency participation.
• NanoXplorecoreTechnology or IntegrationSpaceStudio provides native support for NanoXplore's NG-Ultra space-grade SoC FPGA (4x ARM Cortex R52). SpaceStudio V4.3 was specifically optimized for space applications supporting the NanoXplore NG-Ultra virtual platform, RTEMS 6, XNG hypervisor, and Siemens Catapult HLS.
• fentISScoreTechnology or IntegrationSpaceStudio integrates with the XNG hypervisor by fentISS for mixed-criticality systems in virtual platforms. The XNG hypervisor supports multiple tasks with different criticality and certification assurance levels on shared computing platforms, similar to Integrated Modular Avionics (IMA) architectures.
• IRT Antoine de Saint-ExupérymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpace Codesign joined IRT Antoine de Saint-Exupéry in 2015 as a member contributing HW/SW co-design solutions to innovative aerospace research projects alongside leading aerospace companies. The company has participated in workshops and presented case studies at IRT events in Toulouse, France.
• M3 SystemsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpace Codesign worked with M3 Systems to integrate their GNSS receiver and deploy it on an FPGA target (AstroSDR) for satellite applications. M3 Systems is cited as a customer and technology partner. CEO Marc Pollina of M3 Systems provided a testimonial on SpaceStudio's methodology for GNSS receiver architecture.
• AMD/XilinxcoreTechnology or IntegrationSpaceStudio provides comprehensive support for AMD/Xilinx platforms including Zynq UltraScale+ MPSoC (with RPU/A53/R52 cores), Versal boards, and integration with Xilinx Vivado. The SpaceStudio GNSS Workbench leverages AMD/Xilinx Versal boards for faster-than-real-time GNSS processing.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Microchip Technology (Libero SoC):
• Cadence Design Systems: Cadence offers the Stratus HLS platform and broader digital design and verification flows that compete with SpaceStudio in C/C++ to RTL/FPGA flows. Cadence's scale and bundled EDA offerings represent a much broader competitive alternative.
• Synopsys: Synopsys is a dominant EDA incumbent offering HLS, verification, and implementation flows that overlap with SpaceStudio's heterogeneous CPU+FPGA design capabilities. Founder Guy Bois consulted for Cadabra Systems, which was acquired by Synopsys, giving direct historical exposure.
• AMD/Xilinx (Vitis): AMD/Xilinx provides Vitis and Vitis HLS, a free high-level design environment for C/C++ FPGA development on Xilinx devices. While SpaceStudio integrates with Vivado as a downstream tool, Vitis competes for the same application-first developer mindshare that SpaceStudio targets.

Direct peers

• Siemens EDA (Catapult HLS): Siemens EDA's Catapult HLS is a C++/SystemC high-level synthesis tool targeting ASIC and FPGA implementations, directly overlapping with SpaceStudio's C/C++ to FPGA design flow. Catapult is both a competitor and partner (via the Siemens Software and Technology Partner program).

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/spacecodesign

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

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 Space Codesign