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Funder · Multinational

European Space Agency

Supports European space science, exploration, and satellite technology programs for research institutions and industry teams.

Global / Multinational
Key stats
Annual funding€7B
Programs72
Active grants6
Total grants76
About

The European Space Agency (ESA) is an independent intergovernmental organisation founded in 1975 to advance European space capability. It is not an EU institution, and its membership reaches 23 states across Europe. The agency reported a 2025 budget of EUR 7.68 billion, most of which sits in procurement and optional programme spending rather than open grants.

ESA does still offer grant-like suppo…

Programs & grants under this funder
Copernicus Masters

Awards over €300,000 in cash prizes to entrepreneurs building Earth-observation data products.

1 grant
Copernicus Masters
Between cycles
€300K pool
Arctic and Sub-Arctic Regions

Funds Kick-start studies that use satellites to support safe, sustainable Arctic development.

1 grant
Arctic and Sub-Arctic Regions
Closed
- pool
Asia-Pacific Kick-Start

Funds Kick-start studies that bring space-enabled services to the Asia-Pacific region.

1 grant
Asia-Pacific Kick-Start
Closed
- pool
ESA Business Applications Space Solutions (BASS)

Supports Co funding for space enabled downstream applications Kick starts plus periodic thematic calls.

5 grants
BASS Kick-start
Open
- pool
BASS — Sustainable Wetlands
Closed
- pool
BASS — University of Tomorrow
Closed
- pool
BASS — Digitalisation of the Water Sector
Closed
- pool
BASS — Wildfires
Open
- pool
ESA BIC Business Incubation Centres

Provides two years of incubation and fifty thousand euros for space-tech startups across Europe.

1 grant
ESA BIC — Incubation
Open
- pool·Rolling submission
Bioengineering in the Space Environment

Pays 200,000 euros to study bioengineering business ideas that use microgravity.

1 grant
Bioengineering in the Space Environment
Closed
- pool
Blockchain Kick-Start

Funds Kick-start studies pairing blockchain with satellite navigation, comms or Earth data.

1 grant
Blockchain Kick-Start
Closed
- pool
Blue Capital

Pays 75% of a 6-month feasibility study, up to 60,000 euros, for 'Blue Natural Capital' services.

1 grant
Blue Capital
Closed
- pool
ESA Business Incubation Centres (ESA BICs)

Gives space startups €50,000 in equity-free funding plus ESA technical support.

1 grant
ESA Business Incubation Centres (ESA BICs)
Between cycles
- pool
Circular Economy Kick-Start

Pays 75% of a 6-month study, up to 60,000 euros, for circular-economy ideas using space data.

1 grant
Circular Economy Kick-Start
Closed
- pool
Connected Agriculture Kick-Start

Pays 75% of a 6-month study, up to 60,000 euros, for satellite-connected farming services.

1 grant
Connected Agriculture Kick-Start
Closed
- pool
Connected Rural Communities Kick-Start

Pays up to 64,000 euros for satellite-enabled services connecting rural communities.

1 grant
Connected Rural Communities Kick-Start
Closed
- pool
The Dark Side of the Earth

Pays up to EUR200K for feasibility studies on space-based night-time observation services.

1 grant
The Dark Side of the Earth
Closed
- pool
Digital Supply Chain

Backs space-enabled digital solutions for tracking sensitive and food supply chains.

1 grant
Digital Supply Chain
Closed
- pool
Digital Transformation and Green Economy

Co-funds space-enabled digital and green-economy business ideas across four tech themes.

1 grant
Digital Transformation and Green Economy
Closed
- pool
Digitising Water Resilience - Acting on Water Stress in Basins

Zero-equity co-funding for space-enabled water-resilience monitoring in stressed river basins.

1 grant
Digitising Water Resilience - Acting on Water Stress in Basins
Closed
- pool
Environmental Crimes

Zero-equity co-funding for satellite services that detect and trace environmental crime.

1 grant
Environmental Crimes
Scheduled
- pool
Future Internet Kick-Start

Funds Kick-start studies exploring space-enabled Future Internet applications.

1 grant
Future Internet Kick-Start
Closed
- pool
Growth Projects

Co-funds market-expansion projects for space-enabled solutions already proven in a first market.

1 grant
Growth Projects
Between cycles
- pool
ESA InCubed — Earth Observation Co-Funding

Backs international partnerships funding commercial Earth observation products and services with mission-focused agencies.

1 grant
ESA InCubed — Co-funding
Between cycles
- pool
Integrated Applications for Microgrids in Developing Economies

Fully funds feasibility studies on satellite-based microgrid management for developing economies.

1 grant
Integrated Applications for Microgrids in Developing Economies
Closed
- pool
Integrated Digital Solutions for the Energy Sector

Zero-equity co-funding for space-enabled digital tools that strengthen energy-grid resilience.

1 grant
Integrated Digital Solutions for the Energy Sector
Closed
- pool
Last Mile Delivery

Pays 75% of costs, up to EUR60K, for satellite-enabled last-mile delivery ideas.

1 grant
Last Mile Delivery
Closed
- pool
Maritime Decarbonisation

Funds space-based services that help the shipping industry cut emissions and meet new rules.

1 grant
Maritime Decarbonisation
Open
- pool
Natural Capital

Pays 75% of costs, up to EUR60K, for satellite-based natural capital monitoring services.

1 grant
Natural Capital
Closed
- pool
Nature-based Solutions

Pays 75% of costs, up to EUR75K, for satellite-enabled nature-based solutions services.

1 grant
Nature-based Solutions
Closed
- pool
Organic Best Practices and Ecosystem Preservation

Pays up to EUR60K, zero-equity, for space-enabled environmental preservation services.

1 grant
Organic Best Practices and Ecosystem Preservation
Closed
- pool
Preparedness and Response to Natural Disasters

Pays up to EUR64K for space-enabled natural disaster preparedness and response services.

1 grant
Preparedness and Response to Natural Disasters
Closed
- pool
Prevent and Detect Food and Beverage Fraud

Fully funds feasibility studies on satellite-based food and beverage fraud detection.

1 grant
Prevent and Detect Food and Beverage Fraud
Closed
- pool
Responsible AgriTech

Pays up to EUR64K for space-enabled agritech that tackles farming's environmental and fairness gaps.

1 grant
Responsible AgriTech
Closed
- pool
Smart Supply Chain

Pays up to EUR64K for space-enabled services that make supply chains smarter and safer.

1 grant
Smart Supply Chain
Closed
- pool
Space and 5G Convergence: Transport & Logistics

Co-funds demonstration projects that combine 5G and satellite links for transport and logistics.

1 grant
Space and 5G Convergence: Transport & Logistics
Closed
- pool
Space and Digital Transformation for Green Energy Utilities

Backs space-enabled digital services that speed the energy sector's shift to green power.

1 grant
Space and Digital Transformation for Green Energy Utilities
Closed
- pool
Space-Based Services and Applications Addressing COVID-19 Outbreak

Co-funds satellite-based demonstration projects tackling COVID-19 healthcare and education needs.

1 grant
Space-Based Services and Applications Addressing COVID-19 Outbreak
Closed
- pool
Space for Hydro Energy Sector

Pays up to €120K for satellite-based hydropower forecasting studies with Enel.

1 grant
Space for Hydro Energy Sector
Closed
- pool
Space for Infrastructure: Digital Infrastructure

Funds studies and pilots for satellite-backed digital-infrastructure services.

1 grant
Space for Infrastructure: Digital Infrastructure
Closed
- pool
Space for Infrastructure: Health

Funds studies and pilots for satellite-backed health-infrastructure services.

1 grant
Space for Infrastructure: Health
Closed
- pool
Space for Sustainable Forestry

Funds demonstration projects for satellite-based sustainable forestry management.

1 grant
Space for Sustainable Forestry
Closed
- pool
Space for Sustainable Pharma

Pays 75% (up to €75K) for satellite-based sustainable-pharma services.

1 grant
Space for Sustainable Pharma
Closed
- pool
Space for Urban Air Mobility

Funds up to €200K, 100% covered, for urban-air-mobility feasibility studies.

1 grant
Space for Urban Air Mobility
Closed
- pool
Space for a Wasteless Food Supply Chain

Pays 75% (up to €60K) for satellite-based food-waste-reduction services.

1 grant
Space for a Wasteless Food Supply Chain
Closed
- pool
Space Helping UK on COVID-19 and Other Pandemics

Funds satellite-enabled COVID-19 solutions piloted within the UK health system.

1 grant
Space Helping UK on COVID-19 and Other Pandemics
Closed
- pool
Space Systems for Safety and Security (4S) User Studies: Satellite Applications for Public Safety

Funds up to €250K, 100% covered, for satellite public-safety user studies.

1 grant
Space Systems for Safety and Security (4S) User Studies: Satellite Applications for Public Safety
Closed
- pool
Sustainable Transformation of Agriculture Through Digitalisation and Space

Funds demonstration projects for satellite-backed sustainable agriculture.

1 grant
Sustainable Transformation of Agriculture Through Digitalisation and Space
Closed
- pool
Urban Green

Funds up to €200K, 100% covered, for satellite-based urban green-space services.

1 grant
Urban Green
Closed
- pool
Waste to Energy

Funds European teams building space-data services for the waste-to-energy value chain.

1 grant
Waste to Energy
Closed
- pool
5G/6G Services Kick-Start

Pays companies up to 60,000 EUR to test space-enabled 5G/6G service ideas.

1 grant
5G/6G Services Kick-Start
Closed
- pool
Ageing Population Kick-Start

Funds space-enabled service ideas for Europe's ageing population.

1 grant
Ageing Population Kick-Start
Closed
- pool
Artificial Intelligence Kick-Start

Funds feasibility studies that combine artificial intelligence with space data.

1 grant
Artificial Intelligence Kick-Start
Closed
- pool
Automated Road Transport

Funds feasibility studies on satellite-enabled automated and connected road vehicles.

1 grant
Automated Road Transport
Closed
- pool
Biodiversity Kick-Start

Funds feasibility studies for space-enabled biodiversity products and services.

1 grant
Biodiversity Kick-Start
Closed
- pool
Commercial Climate Services

Funds feasibility studies for commercial services that respond to climate change.

1 grant
Commercial Climate Services
Closed
- pool
Environmental Crimes

Funds feasibility studies for satellite services that fight environmental crime.

1 grant
Environmental Crimes
Closed
- pool
FinTech

Funds feasibility studies for space-enabled financial-technology services.

1 grant
FinTech
Closed
- pool
Food Security

Funds feasibility studies for satellite-enabled food-security services.

1 grant
Food Security
Closed
- pool
Industry 4.0 and High Value Manufacturing Kick-Start Activities

Pays up to EUR60K, no equity taken, for space-enabled smart-factory ideas.

1 grant
Industry 4.0 and High Value Manufacturing Kick-Start Activities
Closed
- pool
People Mobility

Funds feasibility studies for satellite-enabled urban mobility services.

1 grant
People Mobility
Closed
- pool
Satellite Connectivity for Autonomous Land Vehicles Safety

Funds companies building satellite connectivity for safe autonomous vehicles.

1 grant
Satellite Connectivity for Autonomous Land Vehicles Safety
Closed
- pool
Space for Cycle Pollution Monitoring and Reduction

Pays 100% of costs, up to EUR200K, for space-based pollution-cycle services.

1 grant
Space for Cycle Pollution Monitoring and Reduction
Closed
- pool
Space For Municipalities

Funds feasibility studies for satellite-enabled municipal services.

1 grant
Space For Municipalities
Closed
- pool
Space for Olympic Games

Funds space-based digital-transformation services for the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

1 grant
Space for Olympic Games
Open
- pool·Rolling submission
Wildlife Protection

Funds feasibility studies for satellite-enabled wildlife-protection services.

1 grant
Wildlife Protection
Closed
- pool
Proof-of-Concept Studies and Pilot Projects for Space-Enabled Applications

Funds businesses building commercial services on top of space assets.

1 grant
Proof-of-Concept Studies and Pilot Projects for Space-Enabled Applications
Open
- pool·Rolling submission
Novel Internet of Things Services Using Space Capabilities

Fully funds feasibility studies on space-enabled Internet of Things services.

1 grant
Novel Internet of Things Services Using Space Capabilities
Closed
- pool
Services Enabled by High Altitude Pseudo Satellites Complemented by Satellites

Fully funds feasibility studies combining high-altitude platforms with satellite services.

1 grant
Services Enabled by High Altitude Pseudo Satellites Complemented by Satellites
Closed
- pool
Services Supporting Critical Infrastructure

Fully funds space-enabled services that make critical infrastructure safer and greener.

1 grant
Services Supporting Critical Infrastructure
Closed
- pool
Space-Based Services for Smart Airports

Pays up to €250K in zero-equity funding for space-enabled smart-airport services.

1 grant
Space-Based Services for Smart Airports
Closed
- pool
The Arctic Region: Environmental and Economic Resilience

Pays 50-80% for satellite services protecting Arctic ecosystems and fisheries.

1 grant
The Arctic Region: Environmental and Economic Resilience
Closed
- pool
Space for Infrastructure: Air, Land and Sea Transport

Funds studies and pilots for satellite-backed transport-infrastructure services.

1 grant
Space for Infrastructure: Air, Land and Sea Transport
Closed
- pool
OrbitalAI Φsat-2

Rewards teams for AI tools that process Earth-observation data onboard satellites.

1 grant
OrbitalAI Φsat-2
Closed
- pool
ESA BIC UK

Backs UK space-tech startups through its incubation programme.

1 grant
ESA BIC UK
Between cycles
- pool
Space for Infrastructure: Water Management

Funds feasibility studies and pilots for satellite-enabled water infrastructure.

1 grant
Space for Infrastructure: Water Management
Closed
- pool
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