Business Incubation
Fund your space related start-up
If you are selected for the business incubation program, you’ll have the opportunity to work in an innovative, high-tech entrepreneurial environment. You’ll leverage programs, facilities and networks from both ESA and top notch European incubation centers.
The regional co-funding entity for Flanders is VLAIO and for Wallonia it is Galaxia Space Innovation.
We also work in close support with our partners Imec, AGORIA, BELSPO, CSL, ESA Space Solutions, LAMBDA-X, SIRRIS, SKYWIN, VITO, VRI and WSL.
Be sure to get in touch with your regional contact point before submitting any documents.
Lluc Diaz explains
Lluc Diaz, Business Incubation and Technology Transfer Officer at ESA, outlines the opportunities in the business incubation network.
Program details
Intended for
Are you an entrepreneur planning to build a business using knowledge or technology initially developed for space? Or are you willing to apply to space the product or know-how initially developed within terrestrial applications? We are here to support you.
What’s on offer
- Incentive funding – up to €50k (€25k from ESA and €25k from regional fund) – for the development of products, prototypes software and IPR (no direct labor costs) in addition to the incubator seed.
- Support (up to 80h)
- Technical
- Business development (workshops, trainings, coaches)
- IP Consulting
- Financial administration
- Access
- ESA and incubator’s networks (coaches, experts, suppliers, VCs) and facilities
- ESA BIC community
- ESTEC – ESA biggest R&D facility
- International events
How to apply
The call for incubatees runs all year long with 3 evaluations per year.
Criteria for applicants
European citizens or start-ups up to 5 years old planning to use:
- Space technology for general non-space industrial/scientific/commercial use (spin-off).
- Non-space technology for proposing products and services for the space sector (spin-in).
Application process
- Contact the incubator manager of your choice (Nicolas Helssen for Flanders or Emilie Bourlard for Galaxia Space Innovation) and get informed about their on boarding procedures.
- Download the permanent call documents.
- Complete the three templates.
- Send a digital version of them to bic@spacesolutions.be.
- Send a hard copy of them to Verhaert New Products & Services, Hogenakkerhoekstraat 21, 9150 Kruibeke, Belgium.
For incubation in Wallonia
Get in touch
Emilie Bourlard
Galaxia Space Innovation
Wallonia
+32 63 23 18 44
Send Emilie a message
For incubation in Flanders
Get in touch
Nicolas Helssen
BELSPO
+32 487 355 345