We turn space ideas into successful businesses

We ESA Business Incubation Centre for Southern Italy.

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

ESA BIC Brindisi is the European Space Agency’s incubation centre for Southern Italy, managed by the Distretto Tecnologico Aerospaziale (DTA). We support startups with a strong connection to space through equity-free funding, top-tier mentorship, and access to a unique industrial ecosystem.

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Managed by

Supported by

Incentive for Incubatees co-financed by

Why joining the Space Incubator?

Space is not just rockets and satellites. It’s technology applied to agriculture, the environment, health, and urban mobility. If your idea leverages space data, infrastructure, or technologies — we want to hear from you.

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Our Mission

We’re here to transform ideas with a strong connection to space into outstanding businesses—able to grow, stand out, and win the market with energy and vision.

Our Vision

To build in Southern Italy an aerospace innovation ecosystem recognised across Europe, where talent, companies, and institutions collaborate to turn space technology into economic and social value for Apulia and Italy.

Our Scope

To train and support space-connected startups as they grow, developing skills, business models, and go-to-market capabilities to turn potential into real impact.

Investment Manager

This is the space to introduce the Services section. Briefly describe the types of services offered and highlight any special benefits or features.

What it means to be part of the network

Joining ESA BIC Brindisi means gaining access to a global ecosystem, not just a shared office.

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Concrete Benefits

Direct connection with 2,000 space startups active across the ESA BIC network

Access to the ESA Investor Network: 70 VC funds and business angel networks

Visibility at international industry events, including opportunities to be hosted at the ESA stand

Use of the ESA brand — a unique credibility asset in Europe

Participation in workshops, curated networking, and co-development opportunities with global industrial players

A complete programme to take you from prototype to market

We don’t just offer workspace. We provide a structured 12–18 month journey with tangible resources, experienced mentors, and a network that opens doors that are hard to open alone.

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Equity-free funding

Up to €50,000 in non-dilutive grant funding, without giving up shares in your company.

The contribution can be used across most cost categories: product development, IP protection, marketing, travel, employee salaries, and equipment purchases (excluding founders’ compensation).

Coaching & Mentorship

Coaching is what differentiates a great idea from a great startup. The programme includes:

Up to 80 hours of specialised technical support from mentors from ESA, ASI and industrial partners — technology development, prototyping, feasibility studies, and space engineering

Up to 50 hours of business coaching with serial founders, space-industry C-level executives and senior consultants — strategy, go-to-market,

investment readiness, and market validation

Up to 10 hours of legal consulting on intellectual property, contracts, licensing, and legal strategy

Fundraising & Networking

Beyond direct funding, we connect you with the people who can accelerate your growth:

Access to the active community of 2,000 space startups in the ESA BIC network

Connection with 70 VCs and business angel networks through the ESA Investor Network

Visibility at international aerospace events, trade fairs, and conferences

Support for commercial expansion within the DTA and ESA BIC ecosystem

Where you work makes a difference

ESA BIC Brindisi’s spaces are located within the Cittadella della Ricerca campus in Brindisi, an environment dedicated to deep-tech innovation at the heart of the Apulian aerospace system.

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Operating headquarters at DTA

Cittadella della Ricerca, Brindisi

Flexible office Solutions

Dedicated desks and hot-desking

Access to laboratories

Test facilities at DTA, ESA BIC partners, ESA and ASI

Grottaglie Airport

Direct access to the GATB

Collaborative environment

Deep-tech startups in incubation

Market Support

Lab activities and technical consulting

One of ESA BIC Brindisi’s unique features is privileged access to the Grottaglie Airport Test Bed (GATB): A national infrastructure for flight testing and advanced experimentation.

GATB is part of Italy’s National Research Infrastructure Plan and is a member of the European UAS Test Centres Alliance, with a formal technical cooperation with EUROCONTROL.

Grottaglie Airport

Test Bed

Why GATB is a unique resource for startups

1. Runway over 3 km within a low-traffic operational civil airport

Large portion of segregated airspace over land and sea for safe flight testing

2. Optimal weather conditions (low rainfall, limited wind, mild temperatures) — ideal for continuous test campaigns

3. Support for the full UAS development cycle, from TRL 4 (early experimentation) to TRL 9 (operational validation)

4. Access to specialised laboratories for: hybrid/hydrogen propulsion, fuel cells, avionics, sensors and payloads, GNSS/inertial navigation systems, human–machine interfaces

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ESA BIC Brindisi: Part of a €400 million European network

ESA BIC Brindisi is part of the ESA Business Incubation Centers, the largest European network of incubators dedicated to space startups. Present in over 20 participating countries, this network has generated measurable, concrete impact.

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