ESA BIC Andalusia, the only European Space Agency business incubation center in Andalusia, based in Seville, has completed the technical evaluation of the initiatives and projects submitted to its first call for new space-sector startups. The application deadline closed on October 31, receiving a high number of proposals.

The submitted projects were assessed by the Tender Evaluation Board (TEB), a technical committee that met at CATEC’s headquarters in Seville and was composed of representatives from the European Space Agency (ESA), the Spanish Space Agency (AEE), the Directorate General for Entrepreneurship Promotion and Lifelong Learning of the Regional Ministry of University, Research and Innovation of the Government of Andalusia, CATEC, and ESA BIC Andalusia.

The startups selected in this first call will be publicly announced in the first quarter of 2026. The call was open both to entrepreneurs in the process of creating a startup and to companies already established with less than five years of activity. It focused on initiatives with scaling potential, technological applicability, and a direct link to the space sector. Eligible projects must be developing innovative products, services, or business models connected to space, either through the direct use of space technologies, infrastructures, or data, or through downstream applications.

During an incubation period of up to two years, the selected startups will receive a comprehensive support package designed to accelerate their business development. This includes €60,000 in direct, non-repayable funding, co-financed 50% by ESA and 50% by the Regional Ministry of University, Research and Innovation; 80 hours of specialized mentoring combining business coaching, legal consulting on intellectual property, and technical support for the development and validation of technological solutions; free access to ESA BIC Andalusia’s facilities and infrastructure in Seville, provided by the Seville City Council, throughout the incubation period; support in accessing funding, including investors and public funding schemes; and participation in networking and visibility activities within the European ESA BIC network.

Source: Actualidad Aeroespacial