FAQs

ESA BIC Incubation Overview | What’s the general programme outline?

After signing the contract and setting a kickoff date, your incubation journey begins. You receive funding of €50,000, split into €25,000 from ESA and €25,000 from Baden-Württemberg. ESA pays out the first €10,000 after the contract is signed and the first project milestone is submitted. Upon a successful midterm review, the second €10,000 is released, and the final €5,000 is paid after successfully completing the final review.

The funding from Baden-Württemberg works differently. Startups can submit invoices and payment proofs at any time during incubation, and the money is reimbursed within one to two weeks.

Throughout the process, you receive business and financial support through our partner network, tailored to your specific needs.

ESA BIC Incubation Funding | For what purpose can I spend the funding?

The funding can be used for development activities in hardware or software, either externally with German partners or internally. However, shareholders cannot pay themselves with this money. The €50K funding is primarily intended for development costs from third-party support. If you plan to use the funding differently, we encourage you to reach out to discuss possibilities. Every case is unique, and we’re happy to find the best approach together.

What do I have to pay attention to when filling out the application documents?

The ESA BIC, an accelerator by ESA and DLR, aims to commercialize space technology. A strong space connection in your business project is key—either through existing use or future integration. If you're planning to adopt space technology, we support your business development. Our homepage offers examples for inspiration. Beyond the space connection, we also prioritize the team, value proposition, and market strategy.

Which reference number should I use in the application documents?

You can come up with your own reference. Please make sure that you use the same one in all necessary application documents.

Do I need to have already registered as a company when I apply to ESA BIC?

No. For the application phase it is enough to apply as natural person. Before you sign the incubation contract it is necessary to register a company in Baden-Württemberg. We recommend to deal with the registration process early so that the gap between the application and the start of the incubation does not become too large.

What happened after I applied?

You can submit your application documents to three deadlines per year which will be published on our homepage. After submission, the ESA BIC management check the documents formally. If they are complete and have enough substance to perform in front of the jury, we will invite you to the Tender Evaluation Board (TEB). There, you present your idea within 15 minutes with a following question round of 15 minutes. Afterwards, the jury discuss your proposal and decide if you can be incubated. You will get feedback from the ESA BIC management within 2 weeks.  

What is the composition of the jury? What do I have to pay attention to during my presentation?

The so called Tender Evaluation Board (TEB) consists of representatives of ESA, DLR and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Reutlingen. These members are entitled to vote. In addition, experts from the fields of Space Solutions, Financing and Business Development also participate and have an advisory role. Even if the jury has a wide range of expertise, make sure you don't go too in-depth in the technological aspects. Focus on the most important aspects of your technology and make sure it is understandable. If the jury wants to know more, they will ask.

Is it necessary that I move physically to one of the two sides of the ESA BIC BW?

In our vision, the ESA BIC incubator is more than just a place to work. In case you don’t need an office in one of the ESA BIC sites we highly encourage you to participate in our events which are tailored to the needs of the startups. There are between 8 and 10 events per year. The ESA BIC is a centre to meet other entrepreneurs and partners. We believe in face-to-face contact and want to further the exchange between the incubatees and alumni.

Status: February 2025