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. These 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.
The incubation hub is based on the 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 are building their businesses 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 UPCOMING INFO SESSIONS TO HEAR SUCCESS STORIES
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:
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Daniel Spils of Soilspect (industry: infrastructure & smart cities); the startup produces an innovative tool for monitoring ground settlement to accelerate sustainable construction.
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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 utilise 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! Register for the next webinar on 7 March to find out more.
GET TIPS ABOUT PREPARING YOUR ESA BIC APPLICATION
These 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. Join us for the info sessions on 29 February, 7 March and 12 March (details here). The best chance of your application being successful is to be well prepared.
All details about applying to ESA BIC by 27 March are at: http://esa-bic.nl
Featured image credit: Unsplash