ESA BUSINESS INCUBATION CENTRE CYPRUS

The network of ESA Business Incubation Centers (ESA BICs) is the largest network of space incubators in Europe. The two main objectives of an ESA BICs are to:Support entrepreneurs with a space-based business idea;Create and grow clusters of space related start-ups across Europe. All the ESA BICs are managed by local incubators with experience in supporting start-ups. They have good connections with local industry, universities, research organisations, as well as relevant government agencies and investor communities. ESA BICs follow the ESA BIC Common Approach to business incubation. So far, the network of ESA BICs has supported more than 2000 start-ups. Cyprus recently completed the ESA-Cyprus Plan for European Cooperating State (PECS) programme and recognized that Spaceis not only an important domain of research and development, but one of the key pillars of modern economy. On the 17th of March 2026, Cyprus became an Associate Member of the European Space Agency (ESA). The seven-year agreement opens the way for Cyprus's participation in ESA's optional programmes. As such, the Cypriot delegation asked ESA to start the implementation of an ESA BIC in Cyprus, under the ACCESS optional programme, in order to promote and foster the creation of startups active in the Space sector. The objective is to find and support 15 space-related incubatees over an active period of four years, with additional two years added to thecontract duration to support any incubatees until the end of the incubation program. Each selected incubatee shall be entitled to an incentive funding of at least 60kEUR.