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The process to select 6 new startups in the space sector to be incubated by ESA BIC Barcelona in 2024 is now open

Feb 12, 2024

The European Space Agency’s business incubation centre in Barcelona (ESA BIC Barcelona) has activated the new campaign to select the next 6 companies to be hosted by its incubation programme.

The ESA BIC Barcelona incubation programme aims to foster the growth of innovative startups that create products and services using space technologies or data, or develop solutions for the space sector, thus contributing to the promotion of the aerospace sector in Catalonia. With a budget of 1.8 million euros, the programme will incubate 18 companies in three years (2023-2025).

The initiative is promoted by the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya – BarcelonaTech (UPC), the Mediterranean Technology Park (PMT) and the Department of Business and Work —through the Secretariat of Digital Policies and in the framework of the NewSpace Strategy of Catalonia, which has the collaboration of the Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia (IEEC — Institut d’Estudis Espacials de Catalunya), the i2Cat Foundation and the Cartographic and Geological Institute of Catalonia (ICGC). The programme is also supported by the Economic Development Agency of the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona (AMB) and the Barcelona City Council (through Barcelona Activa).

Currently, 6 companies are already part of the ESA BIC Barcelona, after being selected in 2023. For the selected companies, the benefits of being part of the incubation programme, for a maximum period of two years, are:

  • An economic incentive of €50,000 (non-equity) for the development of their product or service, financed 50% by ESA and the Government of Catalonia.
  • A programme of mentoring activities, technical and business support, and legal/intellectual and industrial property advice.
  • Participation in sector events and workshops
  • Be part of the Innovation Ecosystem of the UPC, the NewSpace community of the Digital Catalonia Alliance (DCA-NewSpace) and the ESA BIC network, which already has 29 business incubation centres in Europe.

An Info Day for interested companies will be held on 20 February at 10am at the ESA BIC Barcelona ‘Cowork’ room (RDIT building, Mediterranean Technology Park, Castelldefels).

Companies wishing to apply for the incubation programme can submit their applications until 18 March at 23:59h through the following link:

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