Three space technology startups – Value.Space, Antscape, and Cata Strato – have been accepted into the incubation programme of the Estonian Space Business Incubator. The teams were selected in the 17th application round of ESA BIC Estonia (European Space Agency Business Incubation Centre Estonia), where six strong candidates presented their space-related business ideas to a jury consisting of consortium partners.
Contracts have now been signed with all companies selected for the Estonian Space Business Incubator, and planning of the next steps has begun together with the incubator team and mentors.
Sven Lilla, manager of the ESA BIC Estonia and Space Lead at Tartu Science Park, highlighted that the development and application of space technologies are rapidly gaining popularity. “Interest is clearly growing, as a total of 17 companies applied to the programme during 2025, of which 7 were selected,” said Lilla. According to him, this round is characterised by increasingly bold boundary-pushing, with startups entering the market with more ambitious and exciting solutions. In addition, interest from foreign founders in the Estonian entrepreneurship ecosystem has grown significantly.
“Space-sector startups are essentially deep-tech companies – their solutions must operate reliably, often under very constrained conditions. Through ESA BIC Estonia, we help teams move faster from prototype to market-ready product by providing mentors, contacts, and testing opportunities, and by accelerating their path to first customers,” said Kristiina Libe, Deep Tech Project Manager at Tehnopol.
In the autumn round, with 17 applicants, the following companies were selected:
Value.Space develops solutions that deliver safety and risk information more effectively to mining production and logistics. This helps modernise existing value and risk assessment methods by relying on real-time monitoring of structural condition and integrity.
Antscape is creating an application that combines ecology and satellite-based remote sensing to make green area planning more transparent, science-based, and cost-effective.
Cata Strato develops cost-efficient multi-layer defence systems for critical infrastructure and solutions that support search and rescue missions.
In the spring round held earlier this year, with 11 applicants, the following companies were selected:
BabAI develops the BabAI Orbital lightweight onboard artificial intelligence module that protects CubeSats from orbital collisions.
Energy Risk Service is building a satellite-data-enhanced forecasting system for renewable energy producers, traders, and grid operators, integrating remote sensing data with machine learning models.
Spiral Hydrogen is developing a centrifugal, bubble-free electrolyser to produce hydrogen with very high efficiency (>. The technology addresses inefficiencies and complexity in current electrolysis solutions, particularly for space missions that require in-situ resource utilisation (ISRU) on the Moon or Mars and advanced life-support systems.
MS Forest is a dynamic forestry data registry and forest management planning solution that addresses key forest inventory challenges, including the time- and cost-intensive nature of accurate data collection and the need for continuous data updates.
All companies selected for the programme receive a €60,000 grant, half of which is funded by the European Space Agency and half by the cities of Tartu and Tallinn.
To date, 39 companies have joined ESA BIC Estonia, with 20 based in Tartu and 19 in Tallinn.
The City of Tartu has invested €395,000 in these companies to date; they have paid over €7.5 million in labour taxes and generated more than €12.4 million in revenue. The City of Tallinn has invested €405,000, and companies there have paid over €6.2 million in labour taxes and generated more than €22.3 million in revenue.
Both cities contribute €30,000 per company.
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European Space Agency Business Incubator Estonia – Creating New Business Opportunities
The European Space Agency Business Incubator Estonia (ESA BIC Estonia) is the first of its kind in the Baltic states. ESA BIC Estonia is part of the world’s largest incubation network, comprising 30 space business incubators across 70 locations throughout Europe. To date, the network has supported the creation and development of over 1,600 space technology startups.
Operating in Tartu and Tallinn, ESA BIC Estonia aims to admit 15 space startups between 2023 and 2026, providing them with a €60,000 product development grant and access to sector-specific mentors. The goal of ESA BIC Estonia is to create new jobs and contribute to the local economy’s development.
The lead partner of ESA BIC Estonia is Tartu Science Park, which, in cooperation with the science and business campus Tehnopol, delivers space business incubation services in both Tallinn and Tartu.
The space business incubator consortium consists of seven partners:
Tartu Science Park, Tehnopol Science and Business Campus, the City of Tartu, the City of Tallinn, the University of Tartu together with Tartu Observatory, Tallinn University of Technology, and KredEx.
More information about ESA BIC Estonia is available at: www.esabic.ee
