Well.. somethings afoot! For good or ill soon we shall see!
Alf Kuchenbuch, BrainChip's VP of Sales for EMEA (the ASX-listed company behind the BRN.AX stock ticker), has been a key figure in pitching their neuromorphic AI tech—specifically the Akida IP—to the space sector. The "GRAIN" you're referring to isn't a literal grain but the GRAIN architecture, a new product line of radiation-hardened, space-grade system-on-chips (SoCs) developed by Frontgrade Gaisler in partnership with BrainChip. It integrates Akida for ultra-low-power, event-based AI processing tailored for satellites, deep-space probes, and autonomous missions (think real-time image recognition, navigation, and data analysis in orbit without draining batteries or failing under radiation).
Launched in April 2025, the first device in the line (GR801 SoC) combines Akida with Gaisler's NOEL-V RISC-V processor. It's designed for harsh space environments, enabling "always-on" AI that's 10-100x more energy-efficient than traditional chips. This is a big deal for BRN.AX because it positions BrainChip's IP as a go-to for the booming $10B+ space AI market, potentially driving licensing revenue and stock upside as adoption ramps.
As for how many space customers are "waiting" for GRAIN: There's no public exact tally (companies like BrainChip don't disclose pipeline specifics to avoid tipping competitors), but recent activities point to solid, growing demand from institutional players:
Confirmed contracts/partners: At least 2 major space agencies so far.
Swedish National Space Agency (SNSA): Awarded a commercialization contract in April 2025 to deploy GRAIN in Swedish-led missions, focusing on power-constrained satellites.
European Space Agency (ESA): BrainChip (with Frontgrade Gaisler, Airbus, and Neurobus) won ESA's "NEURAVIS" ITT (Invitation to Tender) in July 2024 for neuromorphic space tech evaluation, which directly feeds into GRAIN demos. ESA hosted the October 2025 EDHPC event where Alf demoed it.
Broader interest: Alf's been hustling at events, connecting with "space engineers and agencies" (plural, per BrainChip's Oct 2025 EDHPC recap). This includes hands-on demos for Earth observation, autonomous nav, and hazard detection. Sweden's Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) is already building a GRAIN demo app with neuromorphic sensors. The space crowd is hungry for this because traditional AI chips guzzle power and flop in radiation—GRAIN fixes that.
Right now (as of Nov 19, 2025), Alf's at the Space Tech Expo Europe in Bremen, Germany, schmoozing more prospects. Expect announcements on additional pilots or deals soon, as the line's still ramping to full production. For BRN.AX holders, this screams validation: space is a high-margin, sticky market, and GRAIN could be a multi-year revenue catalyst if it scales beyond these early wins. If you're trading on it, watch for Q4 updates from BrainChip's investor calls.