ESA Commercialisation Gateway

On 12 May, the 3rd ESA Earth Observation (EO) Commercialisation Forum will dedicate its afternoon programme on the institutional support for EO commercialisation and the journey from the industry to the investors. From 14:30 – 15:30, attendees will have the opportunity to attend the ‘Institutional support to EO commercialisation’ session, featuring: - Michele Castorina, Head of the European Space Agency - ESA Φ-lab Invest Office and InCubed Programme  - Edward Farquharson, Senior Adviser at the European Investment Bank (EIB)  - Juliette Lambin, Head of the Future Missions and Architecture Department at ESA  - Inge Jonckheere, Head of the Green Solutions Division at ESA  - Berenice G., Head of the Copernicus Ground Segment Services at ESA  - Peggy Fischer, ESA Third Party Missions, Copernicus Contributing Missions and Earthnet Programme Manager at ESA The afternoon will then continue with ‘The EO Journey: from Industry to Investor’, bringing together perspectives from both the financial and industrial ecosystems, with contributions from: - Gianluigi Baldesi, Head of Ventures and Financing Office at ESA  - Javier Espurz, Head of Corporate Bank Spain at Deutsche Bank SAEU  - Marina Quintero González, Associate at Hyperion Fund  - Charles Beigbeder, General Partner at Expansion Ventures - Carles Debart, Director Business Development - Europe at GHGSAT  - Fabrizio Pirondini, Founder and CEO at Xoople Read more and register by 4 May 2026: https://lnkd.in/dbPjnjY3

Promoted by ESA Connectivity and Secure Communications, the Concepts for Ultra-Large Aperture Antennas tender is now open. This study will explore techniques, topologies, and technologies for realising very large (i.e., more than 20 m in diameter) array antennas in orbit. The activity will consider feasibility in all frequency bands currently used for satcom, as well as bands likely to be used in the future, but will focus on operation at higher frequencies. Proposals for this European Space Agency - ESA opportunity must be submitted by 9 June 2026 at 13:00 CEST, with clarification requests to be submitted no later than 26 May 2026 at 13:00 CEST: https://lnkd.in/dTHez3Mt

Less than a month to go before senior technology leaders from across Europe’s deep‑tech and space ecosystems come together near Zurich. On 13 May 2026, the European Space Agency - ESA and the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) will host the Deep‑Tech × Space Summit at the European Space Deep-Tech Innovation Centre (ESDI) at Switzerland Innovation Park Innovaare. The summit will bring together Chief Technology Officers, innovation leaders, investors, and industry experts to exchange perspectives on technology strategy and the commercialisation of advanced technologies. Discussions will touch on how deep‑tech capabilities can better translate into real systems and scalable solutions for space and adjacent markets. The programme features contributions from a range of European organisations, among them ESA, PSI, Park Innovaare, Porsche Engineering, SWISSto12, Deep Tech Nation Switzerland, and Speculative Technologies. Read more and register: https://lnkd.in/defBffpQ

Are you a student or early‑career professional with a project idea that links space and sustainability? If so, the European Space for Sustainability Award 2026, led by ESA - Responsibility and Sustainability, is currently accepting project submissions, with the poster deadline approaching on 3 May 2026 at 23:59 CST. The award recognises innovative project ideas that demonstrate how space‑based solutions can contribute to sustainable development, with the evaluation of European Space Agency - ESA experts. Award opportunities include: - An invitation for the winner and the jury special mention to present their project at the European Interparliamentary Space Conference (EISC) in September 2026. - A visit to ESA’s European Astronaut Centre (EAC) in Cologne. - Access to a dedicated mentorship programme. - The possibility to spend two to four weeks as a visiting researcher at the European Space Policy Institute (ESPI) in Vienna. - Increased visibility and expert feedback within the European space ecosystem. Further information on eligibility, guidelines, and submission requirements is available here: https://lnkd.in/gxfD9gAj

On 15–16 April, ESA Operations, Engineering & Space Safety hosted the 10th European Mission Operations Ground Segment Software & Architecture Workshop (ESAW 2026) at European Space Agency - ESA's Space Operations Centre (ESOC), in Germany. The event brought together 225 participants from across the space sector, with more than 40 technical contributions focused on ground segment software and architecture. The programme included a keynote by Stefanie Grundner from the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) in Germany, addressing cybersecurity challenges and regulatory frameworks for space systems, and highlighting the need to strengthen cyber‑resilience across ground segments. Technical sessions featured contributions from ESOC experts, including Polona Caserman, along with Tiago Simões and Federico Antonello interventions, on emulators and simulation technologies for future ground segments. Discussions also covered dual‑use ground segments, sustainability, and organisational challenges associated with working in more restricted environments, engaging both institutional and industrial participants.

European Space Agency - ESA has successfully launched the SMART IND! Industrialisation & Serialisation campaign with a dynamic Pitch Event held on 15–16 April. The event brought together a broad range of stakeholders from across the space industrial ecosystem and featured more than 130 pitches, with contributions from Large System Integrators, established companies, new ventures, and investors. Key thematic areas addressed during the event included: - Artificial Intelligence, Additive Manufacturing, and digitalisation - Enabling serialisation and high‑volume production - Achieving substantial reductions in cost and production time The pitching sessions were chaired by Elisabetta Lamboglia, Ph.D., Michael Mallon, Wafaa TABIBI, and Nicoletta Wagner. Consult the following webpage for the upcoming ESA Technology M-IND campaign, focused on mid‑size LEO satellite: https://lnkd.in/dvTKXCJs

The countdown has begun for the 3rd European Space Agency - ESA Earth Observation Commercialisation Forum (ESA CommEO). This ESA Earth Observation event in Seville, on 12-14 May, will offer three days of insight, innovation and high-level networking. As the commercial Earth observation (EO) sector continues to evolve at pace, the Forum will bring together the leaders and decision‑makers shaping its future. The event’s opening session, on 12 May, will feature: - Josef Aschbacher, Director General at ESA  - Simonetta Cheli, Director of Earth Observation Programmes at ESA  - Emma Gatti, moderator of the session, Journalist at SpaceNews - Juan Carlos Cortés, Director General at Agencia Espacial Española  - Roberto Viola, Director General at DG CNCT, European Commission  - Christoph Kautz, Director for Space Policy, Satellite Navigation and Earth Observation at DG DEFIS, European Commission, EU Space  - Maja Markovčić Kostelac, Executive Director at European Maritime Safety Agency  - Adam Niewinski, Co-founder and Managing Partner at OTB Ventures During the following session ‘The EO Worldwide Market Status and Forecast’, the overall health of the market will be presented, along with major gaps from previous forecasts and updated projections. Speakers taking part in the discussions will be: - Carla Filotico, Partner and Managing Director at Novaspace  - Giovanni Sylos Labini, Vice-Chairman at EARSC - Hans Bracquené, Chairman at SME4SPACE - Giuseppe Borghi 🇪🇺 🌍 🛰️, Head of the ESA Φ-lab Division Thirdly, in the ‘EO Market Trends, Opportunities and Threats’ session, speakers will offer a forward‑looking view of how EO is evolving in response to shifting policies, financial sector dynamics, and the outcomes of the latest ESA Ministerial Council: - Giuseppe Ottavianelli, Head of the Applications Section at ESA  - Dusan Chrenek, Principal Adviser for Digital Green Transition at DG CLIMA  - Wencke Van Der Meulen, Business Director Atmospheric Monitoring Instruments, Airbus Read more and register by 4 May 2026: https://lnkd.in/dbPjnjY3

From record participation to tangible progress, the FLPP Spring Session highlighted a European space transportation community actively shaping the capabilities it will depend on in the decades ahead. As European Space Agency - ESA’s programme for future space transportation, FLPP, brings together industry, institutions and Member States to mature key technologies, from launch systems to in‑orbit mobility and logistics, supporting Europe’s autonomy, resilience and competitiveness in space. The dialogue continues. Save the date for the FLPP Autumn Session, taking place in Paris on 14 October 2026, and join the community as it continues to turn ambition into operational capability. Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/dupC5QJj

One month left until the webinar presenting the ESA Space Solutions (BASS) Call for Proposals: Digitalisation of the Water Sector. On 20 May 2026 at 11:00 CEST, this informative session will highlight opportunities for organisations developing space‑enabled digital solutions to benefit from zero‑equity funding, reduce technical and commercial risk, and access to European Space Agency - ESA’s network. The call is supported by partners including Water Europe, Gap Inc., Global Water Operators' Partnerships Alliance/UN-Habitat (GWOPA) and UpLink – World Economic Forum, and targets proof‑of‑concept and pilot projects with demonstrated customer needs, clear market potential and added value from satellite Earth observation, satellite navigation and satellite communications applied to water sustainability and resilience. Read more and register for the webinar: https://lnkd.in/eYrbG5AE

European Space Agency - ESA’s networking event for the European space business community, Industry Space Days 2026, will take place on 16-17 September 2026 at ESA ESTEC in Noordwijk, the Netherlands.   The 2026 edition will feature: - One‑to‑one meetings arranged in advance - An exhibition bringing together ESA and industry representatives - A programme of keynotes and panel sessions featuring speakers from ESA, industry, investor communities and institutional bodies -ESA-led presentations and workshops addressing business opportunities and upcoming activities.   Industry Space Days is organised by the ESA SME Office and aims to foster cooperation across the space sector and support new business opportunities.   Read more and register: https://lnkd.in/eFXwVNK6