Nima J. Shahinian

Founder and Chairman of Nåva Space

Nima Shahinian is the Founder and Chairman of Nåva Space, a Norwegian commercial space company focused on advancing human spaceflight. He leads the development of next-generation European spacesuits in collaboration with international partners.

Shahinian is an industrial designer and former commercial astronaut candidate, with a multidisciplinary background spanning design, innovation, and space technology. He underwent astronaut training in Russia as the first Norwegian to do so, but withdrew from the program following the outbreak of the war in Ukraine- bringing together technical expertise, entrepreneurial drive and hands on experience.

With experience ranging from product design and advanced engineering projects to leadership in emerging space ventures, he is known for bridging creativity and execution. His work is defined by a commitment to pushing boundaries through innovation, collaboration, and mission-driven development in the rapidly evolving commercial space sector.

He holds a master’s degree in product design and has a background that includes service in the Norwegian Armed Forces and former Strategic Design Lead at Designit, contributing to his leadership approach and resilience in high-performance environments.