Contact hello@esabic.dk if you have not received any answers to your questions.
ESA BIC welcomes startups with a relevant space technology background or heritage. This can include experience in downstream application of space technology in non-space industries, new space/upstream development, technology transfer between space and non-space sectors, or licensing a patent from the ESA patent portfolio.
Learn more about space connection on The Space Service Hub and in these videoes.
No, it is not essential to establish a business but it must have a CVR number in order to apply to and be accepted into the incubation program. The company must be created at the latest by the middle of the incubation period if there isn’t an entry in the commercial register when it starts.
It is important that all of the formal requirements are met, e.g. that a connection to space exists. But, besides the formal criteria, the TEB board mainly evaluate the startups on their business case. This includes the team, the market, etc. But, since this is a very transparent process, you can find all of the selection criteria in the Open Call on the apply pages.
The incentive money may only be used for research and development (R&D), IP protection, third-party consultancy and (to a defined limit) market research.
Your proposal should focus on supporting, leveraging, or exploiting space systems or space technology in a non-space domain, including:
The space-related solution must be crucial to the business and exhibit a high level of innovation.
No. but we will request some reporting from you.
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After you have applied, your application will be assessed by a Tender Opening Board (TOB), typically within one week of the deadline for submissions. The TOB will review your proposal to assess whether it has met the necessary application criteria.
If the necessary requirements have been met, you will then be invited by the TEB to give a presentation to the Tender Evaluation Board (TEB), which will meet around three weeks after the submission deadline. The outcome of the TEB will be provided to you shortly after the meeting.
If you are selected you will receive an invitation to attend a negotiation meeting for the ESA BIC DK programme.
From the deadline for applications to the beginning of the incubation, the evaluation procedure takes about two months.
These are the evaluation criteria:
The TEB consists of representatives from ESA, The Innovation Fund, EIFO, and the 3 ESA BIC hubs in Denmark.
Yes. You can apply as often as you wish.
It is essential that all formal requirements — such as the existence of a connection to space — be met. But in addition to the legal requirements, the TEB board judges the startups mostly on their business case. This applies to the group, the market, etc. The Open Call on the application site has all of the selection criteria, though, as this is a fairly transparent process.
No, the startup is free to suggest how long the incubation period should last. This might run from 12 to 24 months.