Building Space Businesses
The first and only space incubator in Southern Italy part of ESA Business Incubation Centre network.
We support startups and early-stage teams building space-connected products, at any stage, across any industry. We give you:
- €50,000 in non-dilutive funding, zero equity, zero repayment
- 140 hours of technical, business, and legal mentorship
- Access to 70+ investors via the ESA Investor Network
- ESA BIC network spanning 32 centres in 20+ countries
- Labs, office space, and R&D infrastructure
We support startups and early-stage teams building space-connected products, at any stage, across any industry. We give you €50,000 in non-dilutive funding, technical and business mentorship and access to the biggest European Space network
Managed by
Supported by
Incentive for Incubatees co-financed by
Managed by
Supported by
Incentive for Incubatees co-financed by
Basic Checklist for application
You have an idea for a new startup or you are already an entrepreneur with a startup (< 5 years old)
The business has a connection to space
Incorporated in Italy
Min. 50% self-owned
Space- Related Domain Examples
Integrated Connectivity · Human Spaceflight · Aviation Applications · Security & Defence · Digital Engineering · In-Space Manufacturing · Advanced Materials · Ground Segment · Mission Control · Space Robotics · Photonics · Blue Economy · Life Sciences
High-Performance Computing · Finance, Investment & Insurance · Environmental Monitoring · Satellite Communications · Advanced Manufacturing · Emergency Management · In-Orbit Servicing · Maritime Surveillance · Space Propulsion · Quantum Technologies · Additive Manufacturing · Smart Cities · Spacecrafts · Payloads
Positioning, Navigation & Timing · Cybersecurity of Space Systems · Transport & Logistics · Guidance, Navigation & Control · Disaster Risk Reduction · Agriculture & Food · Space Stations · Optical Systems · Satellites · Energy · GNSS · Health · Tourism · Rockets
What we Offer
Mentoring for Success
Business cases and execution differentiate great ideas from great startups. You bring the idea and its underlying technology. We'll help you turn it into a great startup through tailored technical, business, and legal mentorship, as well as access to our extensive network.
Non-Equity Funding
We provide up to €50,000 in non-dilutive funding to accelerate your R&D, product development, and market entry. You keep full ownership of your company.
ESA Network Access
Direct access to the ESA BIC network of over 2,000 startups, agencies, corporate partners, and investors, connections to the ESA Investor Network (70+ VCs and angels), participation in workshops top industry events (including ESA stand visibility), and use of the ESA brand.
Workspace & Infrastructure
Provision of office space at DTA Headquarters in Brindisi. For access to labs and test facilities—either in Brindisi or at DTA’s Grottaglie Airport Test Bed, a unique infrastructure for aerospace test and experimentation—we can arrange it depending on availability and in coordination with relevant partners.
01
Meet Us: Book a call
Check requirements and book a meeting with us. Review the eligibility criteria and schedule an introductory meeting (mandatory). The process is straightforward: if your innovation has a space connection, we want to hear from you.
02
Application
Prepare and submit your proposal. After the introductory meeting you will be ready to prepare your application. The application must be submitted online through the apply page before the cut-off date.
03
Selection
Get selected. You will pitch your startup to a panel composed by ESA and ASI representative and space experts, against technical and business criteria.
04
Incubation
Join the programme. Accepted startups enter the incubation programme that includes 50k € of zero-equity funding, expert coaching, technical support and full access to the partner ecosystem.
Discover the process
Capabilities
Who we are
Managed by Distretto Tecnologico Aerospaziale
DTA is a non-profit consortium company and one of Italy’s most active aerospace clusters, bringing together companies, research centres, and public institutions. With nearly 20 years of experience, it develops and manages complex research and innovation projects, promotes technology transfer, and operates strategic infrastructures—such as the Grottaglie Airport Test Bed—to strengthen the competitiveness of the Apulian and Italian aerospace ecosystem. As the entity managing ESA BIC Brindisi, DTA also enables startups and SMEs to advance their technologies and business models, facilitating their integration into the regional aerospace ecosystem.
Supported by expert Partners
Universities and Research Centers
Aerospace Companies
Co-Funding for Incubates
Consulting and Finance
Riccardo Puglisi — Founder
Archimede
"Thanks to ESA BIC, we transformed a vision into a concrete product strategy, that helped us to secure our first fundraising round."
Francesco Giordano — CEO
Flying Demon
"ESA BIC Brindisi provided the professional coaching and strategic ecosystem necessary to bridge the gap between innovation and the market. Their support was vital in transfering sensor technology for deep space into drone-based EO solution for the environmental and agricultural sectors."
Gianvito Lucivero — CEO
QSensato
"The support from ESA BIC Brindisi is instrumental in strengthening our space-based use cases, atomic clocks, magnetometers and other quantum-based devices . Thanks to this network, we are able to validate the market needs of our sensors to enable new capabilities in space."
Pasquale Castellano — CEO
Dymension
"In a market as complex as satellite systems engineering, the guided path at ESA BIC Brindisi is incredibly formative. It provided necessary support to define the precise direction our startup needs to make space design more efficient, traceable, and future-oriented."
Massimo Chiarillo —Founder
Coste360.it
"ESA BIC Brindisi serves as a strategic ally in navigating administrative and bureaucratic complexities when dealing with public customers. This support allows us to focus our energy on our primary mission: enable continuous monitoring of the Italian coastline through satellite data."
Gabriel Eze — CEO
Aspace Company
"The greatest value of ESA BIC Brindisi lies in its personalized business development. The one-on-one sessions with experts have been vital in refining the offering of our satellite-based soil-testing application and preparing our business to attract international investment."
ESA BIC Brindisi
Distretto Tecnologico Aerospaziale
Cittadella della ricerca,
S.S. 7 "Appia", km 7+300,
72100 Brindisi BR — Italia
