ESA bic Centro

Name: ESA bic Centro
Address: Instituto Pedro Nunes, Coimbra, 3030-199, PT
Telephone: +351239700900

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Portugal
Coimbra
ESA bic Centro

Business incubation for space-enabled startups in Portugal’s Central Region and the Azores. 🇵🇹

Desde 2014 que o Instituto Pedro Nunes (IPN) se tornou o primeiro Space Solutions Centre da Agência Espacial Europeia (ESA). O IPN congrega as 3 iniciativas da ESA para promover as aplicações Terrestres de tecnologia espacial:
- Centro de Incubação da Agência Espacial Europeia (ESA BIC Portugal);
- Embaixadores do Programa ESA Business Applications; e
- Brokers de transferência de tecnologia (ESA

Innovation Partners). Após a implementação de um programa piloto “Portugal Technology Transfer Iniciative”, no qual se provou que em Portugal a indústria espaço e de aplicações (downstream) são sectores em expansão, a primeira fase (2015-19) do ESA BIC Portugal, Plataforma Embaixadora ESA BA e Innovation Partners foi um sucesso. No advento de uma nova década, 2020 arranca com renovadas iniciativas e maior cobertura geográfica:
- ESA BIC Portugal a implementar por todo o território nacional, além das já envolvidas Regiões Centro, Norte e Lisboa e Vale do Tejo – apoiando técnica e financeiramente startups com 50 mil Euros;
- Plataforma Embaixadora com mais oportunidades de financiamento nacionais (SPARK 4 Business Open Call) – co-financiando estudos de viabilidade técnica e de mercado com 25 mil Euros;
- Innovation Partners com mais mais oportunidades de financiamento nacionais (SPARK 4 Tech Open Call) – co-financiando estudos de viabilidade técnica e de mercado com 25 mil Euros. Assim, Portugal está a reforçar, através do ESA Portugal Space Solutions Centre o seu posicionamento no sector da economia do espaço, bem como a aumentar a competitividade das empresas Portuguesas na Europa, e criação de novas empresas e mais postos de trabalho.

24/08/2026

🚀 Coimbra Space Summer School 2026 will take place from 2 to 4 September, organised by Instituto Pedro Nunes, through the ESA BIC Centro programme, in partnership with the Observatório Geofísico e Astronómico da Universidade de Coimbra, the GeoPlaNet Erasmus Mundus Joint Master in Planetary Geosciences, and the Municipality of Pampilhosa da Serra.

🌕 Inspired by the Artemis II mission, this 12th edition challenges participants to explore the industries that will make permanent human presence on the Moon possible and develop innovative products and services through multidisciplinary teamwork, expert sessions, mentoring and a business ideas competition.

👉 Applications are open until 28 August: https://forms.gle/fAM41RCDRvg2UYrw6

ℹ️ Learn more: https://spacesummerschool.ipn.pt/
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🚀 A Coimbra Space Summer School 2026 realiza-se de 2 a 4 de setembro, com organizção do Instituto Pedro Nunes, através do programa ESA BIC Centro, em parceria com o Observatório Geofísico e Astronómico da Universidade de Coimbra (OGAUC), o Mestrado Conjunto Erasmus Mundus em Geociências Planetárias – GeoPlaNet e o Município da Pampilhosa da Serra.

🌕 Inspirada na missão Artemis II, esta 12.ª edição desafia os participantes a explorar as indústrias e setores que tornarão possível uma presença humana permanente na Lua e a desenvolver produtos e serviços inovadores através de trabalho em equipa, sessões com especialistas, mentoria e uma competição de ideias de negócio.

👉 As inscrições estão abertas até ao dia 28 de agosto: https://forms.gle/fAM41RCDRvg2UYrw6

ℹ️Saiba mais: https://spacesummerschool.ipn.pt/

14/08/2026

🛸✨ You often hear about the New Space economy, but how does it differ from traditional space?

🏛️ Traditional Space: Historically driven by governments and large aerospace companies, with multi-billion-euro budgets and decades-long development cycles.

⚡ New Space: A rapidly growing ecosystem powered by private investment, commercial agility, and innovative startups that are making space more accessible than ever.

🚀 Startups are driving this New Space revolution, and ESA BIC Centro is here to help Portuguese entrepreneurs become part of it.

Instituto Pedro Nunes Incuba+ Santa Maria ESA Commercialisation Gateway

10/08/2026

🌌📡 Innovation isn't limited to big cities. Pampilhosa da Serra offers a unique environment for developing both space-to-Earth and Earth-to-space technologies.

What makes the Pampilhosa Business Center hub unique:

🏢 780 m² of incubation space, including 15 private offices and a 20-seat coworking area.

🌳 Outstanding amenities, including a terrace, garden, and modern meeting spaces.

🌠 Near-zero light pollution, providing exceptional conditions for astronomical and space observation.

🛰️ A direct connection to PASO (Pampilhosa da Serra Space Observatory), creating opportunities for testing and collaboration.

🧪 An ideal testbed for Earth observation, wildfire/flood monitoring technologies, and drone testing.

Come and scale your technology in a peaceful, focused environment with unique links to the space sector. 🛰️

ESA Commercialisation Gateway

06/08/2026

🛰️➡️🌍 In the space economy, startups are generally divided into two main categories: Upstream and Downstream. Which one is yours?

🚀 UPSTREAM (Building for Space): Developing the technologies that enable space missions. Examples include satellite hardware, propulsion systems, launch vehicles, sensors, and optical systems.

🌍 DOWNSTREAM (Bringing Space to Earth): Using satellite data, signals, and space technologies to create applications on Earth. Examples include precision agriculture, maritime monitoring, navigation services, disaster management, and climate analytics.

💡 The best part? ESA BIC Centro supports both. Whether you’re building technologies for space or creating innovative applications powered by space data or assets, we’re here to help you launch, grow and scale.

Instituto Pedro Nunes Incuba+ Santa Maria ESA Commercialisation Gateway

03/08/2026

🌊🚀 Strategically located in the middle of the Atlantic, Santa Maria island is becoming a key hub for European space access!

What makes the Incuba+ Santa Maria incubator unique:

💻 Modern offices, coworking spaces, and a fully equipped FabLab for rapid prototyping.

🛠️ Specialised expertise in ICT, Earth and ocean observation, and space technologies.

🤝 Strong partnerships with the University of the Azores and key regional innovation stakeholders.

🌍 A strategic Atlantic location, supporting satellite operations, launch services, Earth observation and ocean monitoring.

As one of ESA BIC Centro's incubation hubs, Incuba+ offers space startups a unique environment to innovate, test, and grow. 🚀

Incuba+ Santa Maria ESA Commercialisation Gateway

30/07/2026

What is an ESA BIC? 🛰️💡

You've seen the acronym, but what does an ESA Business Incubation Centre (ESA BIC) actually do for a startup?

Think of us as your startup’s launchpad. It provides:
💶 Equity-Free Funding: Up to €60,000 in non-dilutive funding to accelerate product development.
🧠 Technical Expertise: Direct access to European Space Agency experts, technical know-how and specialised facilities.
🛡️ Business Support: Mentoring on intellectual property, business strategy, fundraising, and market access.
🤝 Global Network: Connections to investors, industry leaders, research institutions, and fellow entrepreneurs across the ESA BIC network.

Today, there are 40+ ESA BICs across Europe, helping entrepreneurs transform space and space-enabled innovations into successful businesses.

ESA BIC Centro, coordinated by IPN, is proud to be part of this network, supporting startups across Central Portugal and the Azores. 🚀

Instituto Pedro Nunes ESA Commercialisation Gateway

28/07/2026

🛰️🏢 Did you know that our main hub in Coimbra includes an entire building dedicated exclusively to space innovation?

What makes IPN’s hub unique:
🏢 1,800+ m² of incubation space across the IPN campus.
👥 Fully furnished offices with capacity for more than 200 people.
🔬 Direct access to 6 specialized laboratories for technical testing and R&D.
🎙️ On-site multimedia facilities, including a professional recording studio and two auditoriums.
🔑 24/7 access, complemented by in-house project management and financial support.

Located in Coimbra, IPN combines top-tier academic research from the University of Coimbra with business acceleration, providing an ideal environment for space startups to launch and scale.

Instituto Pedro Nunes ESA Commercialisation Gateway

15/07/2026

🇵🇹 80% of Portugal’s space companies have been supported by the ESA BIC network, according to Joan Alabart, Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Space Exploration Officer from the Agência Espacial Portuguesa.

🛰️ Over the past decade, the programme has been a key driver in building Portugal's space sector, from early-stage startups to market-ready companies.

🌌 Looking ahead, the aim is to reach a broader range of space businesses, including those pushing the boundaries of what space can do, through upstream innovations and new frontiers like microgravity, space tourism, and the lunar economy.

🚀 Watch the video to hear what's next for the Portuguese space ecosystem.

Instituto Pedro Nunes Incuba+ Santa Maria

10/07/2026

🤝 Paula Silvestre, from Região Metropolitana de Coimbra, shares her perspective on what initiatives like ESA BIC Centro mean for the territory.

🎓 Beyond funding, ESA BIC Centro gives highly qualified talent a reason to stay and build space-enabled businesses in the Centro Region.

🌍 Watch the video to hear how the programme is contributing to the region's long-term growth.

Instituto Pedro Nunes Incuba+ Santa Maria

08/07/2026

🚀 The doors to space are open! Applications for the Coimbra Space Summer School 2026 are now live!

👨‍🚀 In April 2026, four humans flew around the Moon for the first time in 54 years. Now it's time to imagine what comes next.

🌕 Inspired by Artemis II, the first space crewed mission since 1972, the 12th Coimbra Space Summer School will challenge students, researchers and entrepreneurs to design innovative solutions for the future of human space exploration.

📅 2-4 September | Coimbra & Pampilhosa da Serra, Portugal

🔗Apply now: https://spacesummerschool.ipn.pt/

📸 Photo: NASA

Instituto Pedro Nunes ESA bic Centro Observatório Geofísico e Astronómico da Universidade de Coimbra Câmara Municipal de Pampilhosa da Serra

Endereço

Instituto Pedro Nunes
Coimbra
3030-199

Telefone

+351239700900

Website

http://space.ipn.pt/

Notificações

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