Rayference

What Rayference does

Rayference is an Italian-domiciled (Rayference SRL) innovative SME founded in 2013 by Yves Govaerts, specializing in radiative transfer modeling for Earth observation applications. The company operates with a small team of physicists and engineers, conducting research primarily through European institutional funding channels including ESA, EUMETSAT, and European Commission programs. Its headquarters operate in Belgium (rayference.eu domain), serving space agencies, meteorological organizations, and academic research institutions across Europe.

The company's product portfolio centers on two flagship technologies: CISAR, an advanced inversion algorithm using optimal estimation to jointly retrieve surface reflectance and aerosol/cloud properties from satellite observations with pixel-level uncertainty propagation; and Eradiate, an open-source 3D Monte Carlo radiative transfer model supporting polarization, ocean modeling, and complex 3D scene simulation. A derivative offering, the Rayference Radiometric Calibration Reference (RRCR), provides hyperspectral calibration data from 350-2500nm over Pseudo Invariant Calibration Sites with approximately 3% accuracy. Project-based services include DTE-S2GOS (synthetic scene generation for ESA's Destination Earth Platform), SATRISE (solar irradiance modeling for photovoltaic systems), and SATACI/3DREAMS (aerosol-cloud interaction research).

Rayference generates revenue through competitive research project contracts with ESA and EUMETSAT, professional calibration/validation services for space agencies, and indirect monetization of its open-source Eradiate ecosystem through training workshops and consulting engagements. Pricing is project-based and quote-driven with no public rate disclosure. The company distributes Eradiate via GitHub as open-source software and engages the Earth observation research community through conferences (EGU, ESA Living Planet Symposium) and biennial workshops at ESA-ESRIN.

Name

Rayference

Legal name

Rayference SRL

Website

https://rayference.eu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Rayference is an SME specializing in 1D and 3D radiative transfer modeling for Earth observation, serving ESA, EUMETSAT, and European research institutions with its CISAR inversion algorithm, open-source Eradiate model, and hyperspectral calibration reference products.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Earth Observation Software

NAICS

Geophysical Surveying and Mapping Services (541360)

SIC

Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827)

akta.pro primary industry

Remote Sensing & Earth Observation Analytics (Satellite/UAV/LiDAR, Image Processing) (EUAHAKAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Satellite/Aerial/Remote Sensing MRV (Methane plumes, land-use change) (EUAHADAL)

Keywords

• Earth observation services
• Radiative transfer modeling
• Satellite radiometric calibration
• Open-source simulation software
• Climate data retrieval

Headquarters

HQ city

Brussels

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. ESA and EUMETSAT Project Funding: Rayference secures funding through competitive research projects with ESA and EUMETSAT, including projects like DTE-S2GOS, SATACI, 3DREAMS, SATRISE, aerosol-cci+, FDR4VGT, and FRM4VEG.
2. Calibration and Validation Services: Technical and scientific expertise in radiative transfer modeling provided as services to support Earth observation calibration/validation activities for space agencies and institutional customers.
3. Open-Source Software: Eradiate is distributed as open-source software. Revenue is indirectly generated through related consulting, training, and support services (e.g., Eradiate Workshop).

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Rayference is an Earth observation SME providing technical and scientific expertise in 1D and 3D radiative transfer modeling. Its flagship products are CISAR, an advanced inversion algorithm for retrieving Essential Climate Variables from satellite data, and Eradiate, an open-source 3D Monte Carlo radiative transfer model used to generate synthetic Earth scenes for calibration and validation activities. The company also delivers hyperspectral radiometric calibration services and project-based consulting for space agencies.

Product overview

Rayference is an innovative SME specializing in Earth Observation, offering technical and scientific expertise in both 1D and 3D radiative transfer modelling. The company's product portfolio centers on two flagship offerings: CISAR (an advanced inversion algorithm for retrieving Essential Climate Variables) and Eradiate (a cutting-edge open-source 3D Radiative Transfer Model based on Monte Carlo ray tracing). These core products support hyperspectral radiometric calibration services, with the Rayference Radiometric Calibration Reference (RRCR) providing hyperspectral calibration data between 350-2500nm. The company also delivers project-based services through initiatives like DTE-S2GOS (synthetic scene generation for ESA's DestinE Platform) and SATRISE (solar irradiance modeling for photovoltaic systems).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CISAR: Combined Inversion of Surface and AeRosol - an advanced inversion algorithm for retrieval of Essential Climate Variables such as surface reflectance and aerosol/cloud single scattering properties from satellite data.
• Eradiate

Products and services

• Eradiate Eradiate is an open-source 3D Monte Carlo radiative transfer model designed to represent complex Earth scenes for calibration and validation activities in the Earth observation community. It supports polarization, ocean modeling, and 3D effects to improve simulation accuracy for satellite remote sensing applications. The model is distributed via GitHub and used by the EO research community.
• CISAR (Combined Inversion of Surface and AeRosol) CISAR is an advanced inversion algorithm for the joint retrieval of surface reflectance and aerosol/cloud single scattering properties from satellite observations. It is based on inversion of a fast 1D radiative transfer model and provides pixel-level uncertainties using an optimal estimation inversion framework. Applicable to both geostationary and polar-orbiting satellite data.
• Rayference Radiometric Calibration Reference (RRCR) The Rayference Radiometric Calibration Reference (RRCR) is a hyperspectral calibration reference available in the spectral domain between 350-2500nm over selected Pseudo Invariant Calibration Sites (PICS). It combines CISAR-retrieved surface reflectance with Eradiate-generated TOA BRF simulations to deliver SI-traceable calibration data for space-based Earth observation missions.
• DTE-S2GOS (Digital Twin Earth Synthetic Scene Generator and Observation Simulator) DTE-S2GOS is a pre-operational service for the ESA DestinE Platform that develops a radiative twin of the Earth, replicating its appearance as observed from ground-based or spaceborne remote sensing instruments. It is a synthetic scene generator and observation simulator designed to support ESA's Destination Earth initiative.
• SATRISE SATRISE is an ESA-funded innovation project combining satellite Earth observation and 3D simulation to model solar irradiance for photovoltaic systems including bifacial PV, agrivoltaics, urban PV, and BIPV. It combines Rayference's CISAR algorithm with LuciSun's GPU-based LuSim tool for accurate solar resource assessment.
• Hyperspectral Radiometric Calibration Services Vicarious calibration methods supporting post-launch calibration verification of satellite instruments using simulated data over Pseudo Invariant Calibration Sites such as deep convective clouds, bright deserts, and sea surfaces. Achieves approximately 3% accuracy in visible to SWIR spectral regions for space agencies and institutional customers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Achieves approximately 3% accuracy in vicarious calibration using hyperspectral simulations over PICS
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, key and minor.

• European Space Agency (ESA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025ESA is the primary institutional partner, funding multiple Rayference projects including DTE-S2GOS (DestinE Platform), SATACI (aerosol-cloud interactions), 3DREAMS, SATRISE (solar energy), and various calibration/validation initiatives. Rayference develops components for ESA's DestinE Platform.
• EUMETSATcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025EUMETSAT funds Rayference's radiometric calibration work including the RPV4PICS project supporting Meteosat Third Generation preparation and calibration validation activities.
• LuciSunkeyStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Rayference partners with LuciSun in the SATRISE project, combining CISAR algorithm with LuciSun's GPU-based LuSim tool for advanced solar irradiance estimation for photovoltaic applications.
• National Physical Laboratory (NPL)keyStrategic or Co-development PartnerNPL is a partner in DTE-S2GOS, providing metrology expertise for calibration validation. Collaboration supports SI-traceable calibration reference development.
• Ghent University (Q-ForestLab)keyStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner in DTE-S2GOS providing expertise in forest ecosystem science and terrestrial ecology for synthetic scene generation validation.
• Brockmann Consult GmbHkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in DTE-S2GOS providing geoinformatics and analysis-ready data expertise, contributing DevOps and cloud infrastructure capabilities.
• Universidad JaénminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner providing high-quality data to validate SATRISE project methods for solar irradiance estimation.
• DTU - Technical University of DenmarkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner providing high-quality data to validate SATRISE project methods for solar irradiance estimation.
• RepsolminorOthersStakeholder in SATRISE project evaluating solar resource assessment solutions for energy applications.
• Eurac ResearchminorOthersStakeholder in SATRISE project contributing expertise for solar energy applications.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• DLR (German Aerospace Center): German national aerospace research institute performing in-house radiative transfer modeling, atmospheric retrieval, and satellite Cal/Val across missions. Larger and broader than Rayference, but operates in the same scientific domain with potential to internalize or substitute vendor capabilities.
• GMV: Large European space technology company offering satellite ground systems, mission analysis, and EO data processing. Overlaps with Rayference's Cal/Val and data services at much greater scale and with broader portfolio.

Direct peers

• ACRI-ST: French EO services SME providing radiative transfer, atmospheric correction, and Cal/Val expertise to ESA and Copernicus. Highly comparable European institutional research-services profile to Rayference, including Sentinel mission support.
• RHEA Group: Space engineering consultancy providing mission operations, Cal/Val, and data processing services across ESA, EUMETSAT, and EU programs. Comparable European SME serving institutional Earth observation customers.
• Sinergise: Slovenian EO services company operating Sentinel Hub and Copernicus data infrastructure, providing atmospheric correction and EO analytics to institutional clients with overlapping Cal/Val and atmospheric retrieval capabilities.
• Science [&] Technology (S&T): Norwegian technology consultancy delivering Earth observation data processing, atmospheric retrieval, and Cal/Val services to ESA and EUMETSAT, with comparable SME scale and institutional customer mix.
• Brockmann Consult GmbH: Geoinformatics specialist partnering with Rayference on DTE-S2GOS. Develops analysis-ready data, Cal/Val tooling, and atmospheric correction algorithms for European Earth observation missions, overlapping directly with Rayference's atmospheric and surface retrieval work.
• LuciSun: Solar irradiance simulation partner in the SATRISE project. GPU-based LuSim tool complements Rayference's CISAR for PV resource assessment, making it the closest technical counterpart in the commercial solar energy segment.
• CSEM: Swiss research and technology organization with Earth observation, atmospheric sensing, and calibration capabilities serving ESA and European institutions. Comparable technical profile in radiative transfer and instrument Cal/Val.
• Magellium: French Earth observation and geospatial software firm developing image processing chains, atmospheric correction, and Cal/Val pipelines for Copernicus and institutional space clients, with overlapping radiative transfer competencies.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• GitHubgithub.com/eradiate/eradiate
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rayference

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 Rayference