By joining the European Space Agency’s business incubation centre (ESA BIC) in Noordwijk in 2024, you can develop your business idea in the hub for entrepreneurs from the tech industry and beyond. What is crucial is that there is a space connection. ESA BIC Noordwijk empowers entrepreneurship and allows local economies to benefit from space data and technologies. There are two selection rounds each year for ESA’s permanent open call for ideas and applications are now being welcomed by the spring deadline of 27 March and the fall deadline of 16 October. Find out more by joining the webinars and open house sessions to get ready to apply by the next selection deadline.
The incubation hub is based on NL Space Campus in the heart of the Dutch space ecosystem (next to ESA/ESTEC). You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to join the ESA business incubator (you can be but it’s not a requirement). Is your innovative (and ideally validated) idea based on space tech or data? Then, you could be in with a shot of being accepted into the programme to receive funding and business and technical support.
If you don’t have a space tech background, you will not be alone. Many current startups in the incubator are business and financial professionals and building their business alongside engineers and tech experts. Want more info? Join the info sessions! You will be surrounded by like-minded entrepreneurs. People from different backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply.
Join the info sessions to hear about ESA BIC experiences
A number of info sessions are happening that could help you to take action and transform your business idea into a commercial success. Why not visit SBIC Noordwijk sometime to listen to the (inspiring) experiences of space business entrepreneurs and ESA BIC alumni such as:
- Daniel Spils of Soilspect (industry: infrastructure & smart cities); the startup produces an innovative tool for monitoring ground settlement to accelerate sustainable construction.
- Sander Reuderink of Carble (industry: food & agriculture); the startup helps coffee brands reduce their impact on the climate by rewarding farmers for storing carbon.
Who knows what new business ideas will come in via the next selection round. Your proposal can incorporate space tech (for upstream or downstream applications) or utilitise space (satellite) data to benefit life on Earth – covering industries, such as agriculture, construction, energy or transport. Space data can help businesses address environmental indicators and sustainability targets. Your business idea and ambition could be the solution the planet needs!
Attend the webinar on 7 March for application tips & tricks: register here.
Get tips about preparing your ESA BIC application
The webinars and info sessions are hosted by Martijn Leinweber, ESA BIC programme manager, who will be on hand to answer your questions and whom you can meet in person at the informal ESA BIC Open House at SBIC (details here). The best chance of your application being successful is to be well prepared.
ABOUT ESA BIC NOORDWIJK
The Dutch business incubation programme of the European Space Agency, ESA BIC Noordwijk, runs an open call for startups to apply to join as an ESA BIC incubatee and reap the benefit that brings – funding, plus technical and business support – as well as being part of our community at SBIC Noordwijk. In this programme, entrepreneurs work with upstream space tech or space related technologies to create impact on Earth. There are two selection rounds per year and in 2024, these are; 27 March & 16 October. esa-bic.nl
Prepare your space business idea for lift-off!
Don’t miss out on the support that can lift off your space business. Before the ESA BIC 2024 spring deadline, you can join the info sessions (online webinars and in-person at SBIC) to find out more. Start preparing your application.
