ESA Business Applications offers funding and support to businesses from any sector who intend to use space (satellite navigation, earth observation, satellite telecommunication, space weather, space technologies) to develop new commercial services.
Applications are open all year. Businesses can submit a proposal at any time through the Call for Proposals for Downstream Applications or can apply to a Competitive Tender or a non-competitive Thematic Call for Proposals.
Kick-start Activities
Space for urban and peri-urban agriculture
Call for Proposals (Competitive) Opening date: 01 April 2025 Closing date: 20 May 2025
This ‘Space for Urban and Peri-Urban Agriculture’ opportunity offers funding to European teams interested in developing services integrating technology solutions to the smart cities and urban agricultural sector. The European Space Agency (ESA) will provide funding for six-month feasibility studies known as ‘Kick-Starts’, which can lead to larger-scale projects and pilots. Kick-Starts are funded at 75% by ESA, up to a maximum of €75K per contract. Proposed services must use satellite data or space-based technologies. Please see the ‘Authorisation of Funding’ section below to verify your team’s eligibility.
Space for Insurance Technology
Call for Proposals (Competitive) Opening date: 28 April 2025 Closing date: 09 June 2025
This ‘Space for Insurance Technology’ opportunity offers funding to European teams interested in developing services integrating technology solutions to the insurance sector. The European Space Agency (ESA) will provide funding for six-month feasibility studies known as ‘Kick-Starts’, which can lead to larger-scale projects and pilots. Kick-Starts are funded at 75% by ESA, up to a maximum of €75K per contract. Proposed services must use satellite data or space-based technologies. Please see the ‘authorisation of funding’ section below to verify your team’s eligibility.
Open Call for Proposals - Kick-Starts
Closing date: 31 December 2025
ESA’s OPEN CALL FOR PROPOSALS - KICK-STARTS (BASS ARTES 4.0) is always open. This means that businesses from any sector can apply for Kick-Starts throughout the year.
Competitive Calls
Space for Insurance Technology
Call for Proposals (Competitive) Opening date: 28-04-2025 Closing date: 09-06-2025
This ‘Space for Insurance Technology’ opportunity offers funding to European teams interested in developing services integrating technology solutions to the insurance sector. The European Space Agency (ESA) will provide funding for six-month feasibility studies known as ‘Kick-Starts’, which can lead to larger-scale projects and pilots. Kick-Starts are funded at 75% by ESA, up to a maximum of €75K per contract. Proposed services must use satellite data or space-based technologies. Please see the ‘authorisation of funding’ section below to verify your team’s eligibility.
Green hydrogen as a sustainable energy source
Open Competition Opening date: 11-04-2025 Closing date: 06-06-2025
This Invitation to Tender invites proposals for feasibility studies for services that explore innovative uses of space technology to advance green hydrogen as a sustainable energy source. This study aims to leverage satellite communication (SatCom), satellite Earth observation (SatEO), and satellite navigation (SatNav) to support green hydrogen production, storage, and distribution. The focus is on evaluating practical applications of green hydrogen across multiple sectors.
Space for urban and peri-urban agriculture
Call for Proposals (Competitive) Opening date: 01-04-2025 Closing date: 20-05-2025
This ‘Space for Urban and Peri-Urban Agriculture’ opportunity offers funding to European teams interested in developing services integrating technology solutions to the smart cities and urban agricultural sector. The European Space Agency (ESA) will provide funding for six-month feasibility studies known as ‘Kick-Starts’, which can lead to larger-scale projects and pilots. Kick-Starts are funded at 75% by ESA, up to a maximum of €75K per contract. Proposed services must use satellite data or space-based technologies. Please see the ‘Authorisation of Funding’ section below to verify your team’s eligibility.
Commercial Applications of Space Weather Data
Open Competition Opening date: 19-02-2025 Closing date: 16-05-2025
Space weather is defined as the physical and phenomenological state of natural space environments. Observation, monitoring, analysis and modelling of the state of the Sun and interplanetary and planetary environments (both via space- and ground-based observations) help us to understand its state and the possible impacts on Earth. The purpose of this Invitation to Tender is to support industry in assessing the technical and economic viability of commercial services that leverage space weather data across a number of stated domains (and/or alternatives adequately justified by industry).
Non-Competitive Thematic Calls for Proposals
Maritime Decarbonisation
Call for Proposals (Non-Competitive)
Maritime decarbonisation is a central element of maritime sustainability. Shipping is recognised as the most efficient form of commercial transport in terms of CO2 emissions per tonne of cargo transported in one mile. However, due to the scale of the industry, maritime transport is still a significant contributor to the world’s total greenhouse gas emissions (around 3% of total global CO2 emissions).
This call for proposals, issued under the ARTES BASS programme line, is aimed at supporting the development of sustainable space-based services and applications that address challenges related to the decarbonisation of the maritime industry. Additionally, the call seeks to assist the maritime sector in adapting to and complying with new European and international regulatory frameworks.
Maritime Decarbonisation: Green Fuels
Call for Proposals (Non-Competitive)
Advanced agricultural monitoring and management solutions
Call for Proposals (Non-Competitive)
The European Space Agency (ESA) invites companies to participate in the Advanced Agricultural Monitoring and Management Solutions initiative. This opportunity aims to support the development of innovative services that leverage space technology to enhance agricultural monitoring and management. The Call for Proposals welcomes submissions for Feasibility Studies and Demonstration Projects.
Space for Intermodal Transport
Call for Proposals (Non-Competitive)
This opportunity offers funding to European teams interested in developing sustainable space-based services and applications for intermodal transport, covering both freight and passenger transportation. The Call will accept proposals for Feasibility Studies and Demonstration Projects. Proposed services must utilise satellite data or space-based technologies.
Space for Sustainable, Connected and Liveable Cities
Call for Proposals (Non-Competitive)
This Call for Proposals invites proposals for feasibility studies and demonstration projects for services that leverage space-based services and applications for the smart cities sector. Successful bidders may have the opportunity to work closely with Space for Smart and Green Cities Task Force members who are supporting this call in the development of the proposed service. Refer to the ‘authorisation of funding’ section below to determine if your team is eligible for this funding.
Space for sustainability in sports and mass events
Call for Proposals (Non-Competitive)
This Call for Proposals invites feasibility studies and demonstration projects that leverage satellite technology to enhance the sustainability of sports and mass events. Proposals are encouraged to explore innovative ways to reduce the environmental impact of large-scale gatherings, such as sports championships, music festivals, and conferences.
Space for Olympic Games
Call for Proposals (Non-Competitive)
The intended call for proposals aims at supporting new space-based services for the digital transformation and sustainability of the sport sector, specifically in the organisation, management, and further exploitation of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. It primarily targets the next Games in Europe - Paris 2024 and Milano-Cortina 2026, with the ambition of providing services for the future Games, ensuring continuity of the sustainability model.
Coastal resilience to climate change
Call for Proposals (Non-Competitive)