A Hungarian technology firm has taken a historic step into the U.S. commercial space sector, committing $100 million to an American space company in what industry leaders describe as a breakthrough for bilateral cooperation. The investment marks the first time a Hungarian enterprise has acquired an ownership stake in a major U.S. space firm, signaling deepening ties between Washington and Budapest.
Budapest-based 4iG announced Friday that its space and defense subsidiary had signed a definitive agreement to become an anchor investor in Axiom Space. The deal includes a $30 million investment by the end of 2025, followed by an additional $70 million by March 31, 2026. The agreement was disclosed through a capital-market filing.
The two-phase investment positions Hungary inside the rapidly expanding commercial space economy, including low Earth orbit infrastructure, microgravity research, and space-based data services. 4iG Chairman Gellért Jászai described the move as a milestone for Hungary’s space industry and a signal of the country’s growing role in global high-tech development.
Jászai said the agreement reflects strengthening U.S.–Hungarian relations and highlighted Axiom’s role in developing technologies shaping the future of commercial space. He characterized the investment as a long-term strategic alignment rather than a short-term financial transaction.
Under the agreement, 4iG Space and Defence Technologies will gain access to orbital communications, space-based data processing, and industrial research conducted in microgravity environments. These capabilities are central to 4iG’s strategy to expand internationally in space and defense technologies.
For Axiom Space, the partnership brings in a European industrial ally as the company accelerates development of Axiom Station, the world’s first fully commercial space station designed to eventually replace the International Space Station. Axiom Executive Chairman Kam Ghaffarian welcomed the investment, citing its importance at a pivotal moment for commercial space development.
Axiom already plays a key role in Hungary’s space ambitions. The company is responsible for flying Hungary’s second astronaut, Tibor Kapu, under the HUNOR program, a milestone in Hungary’s human spaceflight efforts. The new investment builds on earlier cooperation between the two companies involving orbital data center technology and low Earth orbit services.
The deal follows renewed optimism in Budapest regarding relations with the United States under President Donald Trump. In a December 2024 interview, Hungarian Deputy Foreign Minister Levente Magyar said Hungary anticipated a new phase of economic and strategic cooperation with Washington after years of strained relations under the Biden administration.
Hungarian officials have emphasized trade, investment openness, and positioning Hungary as a bridge between East and West. The 4iG-Axiom agreement reflects those priorities while placing Hungary inside the Western-led commercial space race.
With the first tranche set to close by the end of 2025, both companies have framed the investment as a durable partnership — underscoring a growing alignment between U.S. innovation leadership and Hungary’s expanding technological ambitions.
