Deadline: October 31, 2025
The European Space Agency (ESA) has announced its Open Call for Proposals for Kick-Starts (BASS ARTES 4.0), offering businesses from any sector the chance to explore innovative space-enabled services through six-month feasibility studies.
The focus areas of this opportunity are: determine whether a service is technically feasible, commercially viable and wanted by users; design the technical service architecture; engage with potential customers; improve the business plan; establish next steps in developing the service; use of at least one space asset such as satellite communications, satellite Earth observation, and satellite navigation; WP1000: Customer/User Engagement to connect with users and collect requirements; WP2000: Technical Feasibility to design the technical service architecture and define system components, interfaces, processes, inputs, outputs, and data; WP3000: Economic Viability to conduct market, competitive, risk, and financial analysis and deliver a comprehensive business plan.
A Kick-Start feasibility study runs for six months and includes three main stages: a Kick-Off meeting, a Mid-Term Review, and a Final Review. These activities enable participating teams to connect with customers, refine technical designs, and build robust business strategies.
To apply, companies must first register in the esa-star Registration system, download the tender documents, prepare their proposal, contact their National Delegation for a Letter of Authorisation, and finally submit the application through esa-star Tendering.
Funding for Kick-Starts is available to organisations based in participating ESA Member States including Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Each project can receive up to 75% funding, with ESA providing a maximum of 75,000 euros per contract, while the total cost of a Kick-Start activity must not exceed 100,000 euros.
The evaluation of applications is carried out by ESA within one month following each submission deadline, ensuring a timely selection process for participating businesses.
For more information, visit ESA.
