Good practice:

ESA BIC PROGRAMME (ESA TTP)

ESA Business Incubation Centres (ESA BICs) were created with the purpose to inspire and work with entrepreneurs to turn space-connected business ideas into commercial start-ups companies. Such a network, spread over more than 60 cities, is located in 17 European countries. Together with their national partners, ESA BICs provide all the needed technical expertise and business-development support to the more than 300 start-ups currently under incubation.
With a budget of EUR 500,000.00, the Open Call ESA BIC Lazio 2018-2019 selected 10 entrepreneurial projects, each of them worth of EUR 50,000.00. Main beneficiaries are start-ups with less than 5 years, private and public universities (researchers, lecturers and professors) and future entrepreneurs. In the spirit of ESA BIC Lazio programme, Lazio Innova, ESA and ASI make available to the selected projects a 2-years period of an articulated and integrated system of incubation service at Lazio Innova Spazio Attivo Roma Tecnopolo. The incubation service, working as an accelerating phase to enter the market in the short-time period, includes logistics, coaching/technical mentoring services, as well as the access to the space office with spacious rooms all equipped with the latest technology. Thus, Lazio Innova not only makes available and shares its know-how within the actions related to entrepreneurial promotion, but it also offers a complete package of services to encourage the proliferation of space-tech start-ups.

ESA BIC LAZIO PROGRAMME (Open Call): EUR 500,000.00 (co-financing 50% Lazio Region and 50% ASI)

Lazio Region was the first Region hosting an ESA’s incubator. Thus, ESA BIC Lazio performs its role of regional "repeater" for the dissemination of knowledge on space technologies, to facilitate the know-how transfer for the realisation of solutions, products and services in different sectors.

Supporting the development of the spill overs of space investments in terms of innovation and economic growth is an action of primary importance in the policies of public support for innovation and technology transfer.

The ESA BICs provides an excellent opportunity for entrepreneurs and start-ups to turn their ideas and inventions into successful businesses in Europe. In particular, some space technologies spin-offs have resulted in innovative applications and smart solutions for citizens on Earth. The ESA BIC programme offers: office space and logistics support, technical support; business assistance; seed money and access to equity loan facilities; access to inventors, VCs and other finance opportunities; help to find partners and launch business internationally through ESA BIC network.
The Open Call ESA BIC Lazio is at its 4th edition. So far, it funded up to 40 projects in the area of the space economy. This means that this is a proven mechanism for the Lazio Region, which has strengthened all the procedural, methodological and operational tools.
Also the multi-level financing system (European, National and Regional) is a key-element in this regard.