The Basque Country will host one of the European Space Agency’s Business Incubation Centres (ESA-BIC)

The Basque Country is thus positioned as one of the key regions for the development of European space technology entrepreneurship, fostering links between the scientific and industrial communities and emerging technological opportunities

Progress is being made towards the objective of the Industry-Basque Country 2030 Plan to support new innovative companies linked to critical technologies, priority sectors and strategic value chains, aimed at creating more and better industry, gaining strategic autonomy and generating quality employment

The Basque Government’s Deputy Minister for Industrial Promotion, Andoitz Korta, and the Director of Entrepreneurship and Internationalisation, Ane de Ariño, took part in the official ceremony designating the Basque Country as the host for the European Space Agency Business Incubation Centres (ESA-BIC). This designation places the Basque Country among the key regions for the development of European space technology entrepreneurship, and strengthens links between the scientific and industrial communities and emerging technological opportunities.

This represents progress towards the objective of the Basque Country Industry Plan 2030 to invest in new innovative industries linked to critical technologies, priority sectors and strategic value chains, with the aim of creating more and better industry, gaining strategic autonomy and generating quality employment

The decision by the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities was taken in early March and was made official at an event held at the Villafranca del Castillo Satellite Tracking Station (VILSPA), located in Villanueva de la Cañada (Madrid), one of the most important stations in the European Space Agency’s (ESA) global network.

This new initiative will enable the incubation of up to four new space-sector start-ups over the next three years, offering the opportunities for growth, specialisation and international networking provided by the ESA brand, as well as a minimum funding of €60,000. Of this total, half will be contributed by the Ministry and at least a further €30,000 will come from the Basque Government and the provincial councils.

ESA-BICs are centres specialising in turning business ideas based on space technology into innovative start-ups with commercial potential beyond the space sector, offering technical, business and financial support to emerging companies. They help entrepreneurs transform concepts linked to satellite technologies, data or space applications into solutions applicable to scientific, commercial or technological industries.

They form part of a broad European network of incubators that have supported hundreds of start-ups in recent years, enabling space-derived technologies to make an impact in sectors such as precision agriculture, mobility, communications and healthcare, amongst others. To date, more than 400 start-ups have benefited from the initiative in countries such as Germany, France, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

Alongside the Basque Country, Castilla-La Mancha and the Region of Murcia have also been selected. These three centres join the European Space Agency’s (ESA) national network of Business Incubation Centres, which already has offices in Andalusia, Catalonia, Castile and León, the Community of Madrid and the Valencian Community, co-funded and coordinated by the MICIU, through the Spanish Space Agency (AEE), and the ESA.