About

ESA BIC Poland is where Polish ambition meets cosmic opportunity. As the official Polish arm of the European Space Agency’s prestigious Business Incubation Centre network, our mission is to discover, foster, and launch the next generation of space-tech companies. We provide the funding, expertise, and international network necessary to transform groundbreaking ideas into market-leading enterprises, building a vibrant and world-class space sector right here in Poland.

WHO WE ARE

ESA Business Incubation Centres (ESA BICs) are the largest network of space incubators in Europe. The main objective of ESA BICs is to support entrepreneurs with a space-based business idea, thereby creating and growing clusters of space related start-ups across Europe. All ESA BIC are managed by local champions who connect their ESA BICs to their local industry, universities, research organisations, government, and investor communities, while also maintaining strong regional/national links. This makes the ESA BICs very well embedded in the local communities as well as the place of choice for all space related innovation and business

ESA Business Incubation Centres Map

ESA BIC Poland is joining the network as the 26th ESA BIC. The objective of ESA BIC Poland is to create and strengthen the community of successful space related start-ups in Poland by supporting 35 incubatees over the period of 5 years under the ESA BIC scheme. ESA BIC Poland will be based in two locations – Warsaw and Rzeszow. The branch in Warsaw will support 5 start-ups per year and the branch in Rzeszow 2 start-ups per year. 

Why should you apply?

We believe great ideas need more than just funding to take flight. That’s why ESA BIC Poland provides a 360-degree support package, equipping our startups with all the essential tools for growth. From crucial seed funding and hands-on expert support to gaining international visibility with the prestigious ESA brand, our programme is designed to cover every angle.

Explore the pillars of our offer below and see how we help you build a successful company from the ground up.

Funding

Incentive Funding up to 50 000 EURO

Technical Support

Technical support up to 80h expert advice

Business Support

Business development support & mentoring by experts up to 50h

Administrative Support

Workspace for better collaboration and meetings

Legal Consulting

Legal consulting up to 10h

ESA BIC Brand

The right of use of ESA BIC brand

Social Network

Access to the international network of ESA BICs community

Promotion

International promotion of your project

who can apply?

  • Start-ups based on an innovative idea using space technologies, data and assets
  • Legal Polish entities
  • SME status
  • Company not older than 5 years (the applicant does not need to have a registered company)

Partners network

ESA BIC Poland is an incubator whose operation is based on the cooperation of many institutions. Providing support tailored to the needs of a startup requires the involvement of many partners with very different competences and resources. Financial institutions, experienced incubators, research institutes, technology or consulting companies together provide the support that is necessary for the rapid development of a product or service as part of the incubation process.

Industrial Development Agency JSC (ARP) is responsible for implementation and management of ESA BIC Poland. ARP tasks in the ESA BIC Poland project include:
  • promotion
  • scouting
  • start-up selection
  • financing
  • management
  • reporting
  • creating an ecosystem around incubated start-ups
The incubation process will take place in two voivodships, Mazovia and Subcarpatia, and will be led by The Foundation For Technology Entrepreneurship in Warsaw or Rzeszow Regional Development Agency in Rzeszow.