ESA Business Applications Space Solutions (BASS)

BASS — University of Tomorrow

Supports educational institutions developing space-enabled learning applications and innovation pilots.

Eligibility · Belgium, Canada, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland +14 more

⚠ This may reflect a past cycle — verify the current call on the funder's site.

The BASS University of Tomorrow 2026 call is a competitive thematic kick-start opportunity operated by ESA's Business Applications Space Solutions (BASS) programme. It funds six-month feasibility studies for space-enabled products and services that address challenges in higher education. ESA co-funds 75% of total activity costs up to a maximum of €75,000 per contract, with total project budgets capped at €100,000. The call deadline is 12 June 2026. Eligible topic areas include democratising academic data access, virtual laboratory environments using augmented or virtual reality, serious gaming for skill development, remote and distance learning expansion, and smart connected campuses incorporating digital twins.

Eligible applicants include companies, universities, research organisations, and non-profits registered in Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, or the United Kingdom. Norway and the Netherlands do not participate in this specific call. Germany holds pre-authorisation and does not require separate national delegation approval. The call is competitive — proposals are ranked and the highest-scoring eligible submissions are funded; not all eligible applicants receive awards. Applicants must contribute 25% of project costs.

The six-month activity includes not only funding but access to ESA technical and commercial guidance and the ESA partner network. Organisations best positioned for this call already work at the intersection of space technology — specifically satellite communications, Earth observation, or satellite navigation — and the higher-education sector, and can demonstrate early engagement with universities or educational institutions as potential customers. Because the output is a feasibility study and business case rather than a finished product, applicants should plan subsequent development phases if the feasibility work confirms viability.