Establishing an ESA Business Incubation Centre (ESA BIC) in Lithuania: opportunities for space start-ups

February 1, 2022
Online

On May 21, 2021, Lithuania officially became an Associated Member of the European Space Agency (ESA). The Ministry of the Economy and Innovation of the Republic of Lithuania, together with the Agency for Science, Innovation and Technology has initiated the process for establishing an ESA Business Incubation Centre (ESA BIC) in Lithuania. 

The ESA BIC is a partnership with common goals between ESA and the countries in which ESA BICs operate, as well as start-ups, businesses, research institutions, municipalities and other public or private stakeholders. The aim of an ESA BIC is to help start-ups who work in the field of space or have relevant and potential ideas in this field to develop into commercially viable businesses. There are currently 23 ESA BICs operating in 18 ESA Member States. Up to date, over 1100 start-ups have been selected for the ESA business incubation programme, receiving technical, legal and business support.

The European Space Agency, in coordination with the Lithuanian Ministry of Economy and Innovation and the Agency for Science, Innovation and Technology, will publish a competitive tender for the implementation and management of an ESA Business Incubation Centre (ESA BIC) in Lithuania in Q1 2022. 

To support interest in this opportunity, ESA Space Solutions is organising a virtual Information Day for potential bidders in Lithuania on 1 February 2022, from 10:30 to 12:00 CEST. 

During the event, ESA representatives, together with the Lithuanian Ministry of Economy and Innovation and the Agency for Science, Innovation and Technology,  will present the ESA’s common approach towards business incubation and the objectives for the ESA BIC in Lithuania, as well as the procedures, requirements and conditions to bid for the competitive tender.

The Information Day will aim at showcasing the ESA BIC model and its success across ESA Member States, as well as providing the necessary details for the stakeholders and potential partner to participate.

The competitive tender “ESA BIC Lithuania (2022-2027)“ will be open to Lithuanian academic institutions, companies, innovation hubs and other relevant actors in the Country.

All representatives of business, research and the public sector who are interested in the activities of ESA and the Lithuanian Space Industry are invited to the event.

Registration 

For more information on the event, please contact: 

Eigirdas Sarkanas, Chief Officer of MITA R&D Programs and International Cooperation Department and representative of the Lithuanian Space Office, [email protected], +370 604 76995