By Dr. Norilmi Amilia Ismail, CEO of SpaceIn Sdn Bhd
Early Aspirations: From Academia to Entrepreneurship
My journey into the space industry began long before SpaceIn existed. Growing up, I was fortunate to have a mother who taught me that nothing was beyond my reach. This belief in limitless possibilities carried me through my education and eventually into my career path. I pursued aerospace engineering at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), and after graduating, returned to my alma mater as a lecturer, passionate about sharing the wonders of space systems with the next generation. For over thirteen years, I devoted myself to academia, teaching, supervising research, and developing expertise in satellite systems and space technologies.
Yet, even as I stood at the front of classrooms, guiding students through equations of orbital mechanics and systems engineering, a question always lingered: how could we move beyond research papers and student competitions to real-world impact? Malaysia had no shortage of talented young engineers, but very few had a clear path into the space industry. There was an enormous gap between academic capability and industrial application.
By 2020, that realisation transformed into a conviction. I felt it was time to educate and create to invent new pathways, innovate outside the lab, and inspire broader change. That calling became the foundation of SpaceIn Sdn Bhd: a USM spin-off company founded with a mission to Invent, Innovate and Inspire by bringing locally developed space technology into practical use.
From Education Kits to Space-Based IoT Solutions
SpaceIn’s early work was deeply rooted in education. We started with a humble but powerful idea: developing a CanSat kit, a miniature satellite model the size of a soda can that students could assemble, launch into near-space via high-altitude balloon, and recover to analyse real data. Together with my students at USM’s Space Systems Lab, we designed a comprehensive hands-on experience, simulating real satellite missions at an accessible cost. Witnessing the transformation of young Malaysians as they launch their mini-satellites and interpreted real environmental data was incredibly rewarding. We ran workshops and competitions and eventually, Malaysia’s first commercial near-space launch services using weather balloons were formalised. By August 2020, our educational initiative had gained enough momentum that USM formally supported the creation of SpaceIn as a spin-off company. It was no longer just about inspiring students. It was about building an ecosystem where local space technology could thrive, and this was just the beginning of a promising future for Malaysia’s space industry.
However, it soon became clear that education alone, as fulfilling as it was, could not sustain a startup. Schools loved the idea of the CanSat kit, but many struggled to afford it, and aerospace education remained niche. In conversations with industry advisors and peers, I realised that SpaceIn had to evolve beyond education and find applications that addressed pressing industrial needs.
Drawing on my thirteen years of experience in the space sector, I guided SpaceIn towards a new frontier: satellite-based Internet of Things (IoT) services. Malaysia’s agricultural industry, offshore platforms and environmental monitoring agencies increasingly use IoT sensors, but connectivity in remote areas remains a major bottleneck. Traditional communication solutions were either too costly or unavailable. Satellite communication offered a solution, but existing services were expensive, rigid and sometimes inaccessible for small users.
We identified a market gap: affordable, localised satellite IoT connectivity for Malaysia and the wider equatorial region. Our answer was SpaceANT, a miniature satellite system designed to periodically collect data from IoT sensors and relay it back to users efficiently and cost-effectively. Using tiny PocketQube satellites, just 5 centimetres in size and weighing 250 grams, we aimed to create a low-cost network operating in Low Earth Orbit (LEO). In November 2023, SpaceIn launched the first technology demonstration satellite, SpaceANT-D, into orbit. This important milestone was made possible with the financial assistance provided by Teraju and Cradle Fund, whose support helped turn our concept into a proven space asset. SpaceANT-D demonstrated the capability of Malaysian-developed technology to operate in space and validated our Internet of Things (IoT) communication concept in a real orbital environment.
Regulatory Roadblocks and Personal Resilience
Transitioning from educational balloons to actual satellite operations revealed the full complexity of Malaysia’s emerging space regulatory landscape. When we first attempted to launch balloons, Malaysia had no formal procedures. I initiated engagements with the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) to enable our educational flights. CAAM, recognising the risks and opportunities, proposed safe flight corridors and operational guidelines to ensure public safety. After technical reviews and negotiations, we secured a designated launch area in Perak, a historic step that allowed near-space balloon operations to proceed legally and safely. Since then, SpaceIn’s balloon activities have been conducted within this regulatory framework, which has assisted us in reaching commercial balloon services.
Building on that experience, we later assisted others in navigating regulatory pathways. SpaceIn supported Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM)’s HEMREL amateur rocketry programme, providing insights into airspace coordination and approvals. I also facilitated experimental technology demonstrations for Singapore-based Equatorial Space Systems, enabling them to conduct rocket tests safely in Malaysia.
However, the regulatory hurdles intensified when SpaceIn transitioned into full satellite development. We needed to obtain frequency licenses for satellite communications, coordinate launch approvals, register ground station operations, and ensure compliance with international treaties, all within a regulatory environment still catching up to the needs of new space actors.
Developing our local IoT terminal presented even more complications. SpaceIn was awarded the National Technology and Innovation Sandbox (NTIS) grant to test and validate the ground terminal for satellite IoT applications. While the grant provided critical support to advance our technology, the regulatory process proved much more
challenging than anticipated. Testing the device required clearances from multiple government agencies, and instead of a streamlined process, we found ourselves navigating separate, often overlapping requirements. The duration for obtaining the necessary approvals was lengthy, involving months of back-and-forth engagements. Each agency had its technical evaluations, resulting in significant delays that rippled across our project timeline. As a result, we had to extend the project schedule beyond the original plan, substantially increasing our operational costs.
Regulatory hurdles were not our only challenge. Funding, too, proved difficult. As a deep-tech company in an emerging industry, we faced scepticism from investors accustomed to faster, lower-risk returns. Potential backers repeatedly told me, “You are too early.” They worried about the long timelines for satellite development, the uncertainty of the market, and the complexity of government relations.
Raising capital for hardware-based, space-related startups is difficult everywhere, but it was even tougher in Malaysia, where deep-tech venture funding remains limited. Early-stage grants and innovation competitions provided some support, but often the amounts were too small to bridge the gap from prototype to deployment. At one point, I invested significant personal savings, refinancing assets and taking calculated risks, to keep SpaceIn’s development moving forward.
Balancing the journey of building a deep-tech company also meant learning to navigate the personal challenges of playing multiple roles as a founder, a wife, an academic and a leader. There were days when switching between technical meetings, investor pitches, family responsibilities and administrative demands felt overwhelming. Juggling these responsibilities required discipline, resilience and sometimes difficult sacrifices. Along the way, I also battled moments of self-doubt, questioning whether I truly belonged in the rooms where critical decisions about technology, investment and national strategy were made. Overcoming impostor syndrome became part of my leadership journey. I learned that acknowledging uncertainty was not a weakness but a source of strength that perseverance, preparation and purpose could bridge any perceived gaps. In doing so, I found renewed commitment to my company’s mission and creating a space where future women leaders in Malaysia’s space industry could thrive without questioning whether they belonged.
Charting the Future: Creating a Nurturing Ecosystem
Despite the hurdles, I never lost sight of the bigger picture. SpaceIn’s successful launch of SpaceANT-D, our first technology demonstration satellite, proved that Malaysian startups can design, build and launch space systems competitively. It also affirmed that deep-tech innovation is possible in Malaysia, provided the right support structures are in place to help early-stage ventures grow.
Strengthening this ecosystem begins with developing a more agile regulatory environment. Introducing a formal Space Innovation Regulatory Sandbox would allow startups to test and demonstrate technologies in a controlled but supportive manner, without being weighed down by full commercial compliance requirements too early. Equally important is establishing a centralised one-stop centre where companies can refer to a single entity for satellite licensing, launch permissions, spectrum management and other space-related approvals. A unified platform would streamline the application process, reduce delays, and provide clearer guidance for new entrants navigating complex regulatory landscapes.
Beyond regulatory improvements,
building infrastructure for space startups is essential. Shared access to satellite assembly, testing facilities and dedicated launch corridors would significantly lower barriers to entry and encourage more local participation. Public-private partnerships can also play a significant role by enabling government agencies to act as early adopters of homegrown satellite services and data solutions, creating an initial market foothold.
Finally, none can succeed without a strong investment in education, talent development and public engagement. Malaysia’s future in space will ultimately be shaped by the startups we build today and by the young innovators and dreamers we inspire for tomorrow.
Looking back, SpaceIn’s journey has not been easy, but it has been deeply meaningful. From the first classroom balloon flight to the first locally developed IoT satellite terminal, we have proven that Malaysians can not only consume space technology but also create it.
Our story is still being written. I believe, Malaysia’s space economy will flourish with continued perseverance, collaboration and reform. The sky is no longer the limit; it is only the beginning.
