What can I apply for?
Kick-Starts are funded with €75,000 each; applicants are required to provide co-financing of €25,000, equivalent to 25% of the total project cost. The Danish Agency for Science and Higher Education (UFS) has earmarked €900,000 for Danish Kick-Starts and will thus support up to 12 projects. In addition to financial aid, recipients of funding will also receive advisory support from ESA.
ESA’s ARTES BASS Kick-Starts focus on early-stage innovation. They are short, customer- and user-driven feasibility studies, intended to reduce technical and commercial risk related to the development of space-based downstream applications that leverage the integrated use of one or more space assets. Studies must therefore be executed in close collaboration with customers and/or end-users to validate the market needs, technical feasibility, and potential business cases. They may target new products or services dependent on space data or seek to enhance existing ones by integrating such data.
Kick-Starts are especially suited for startups, SMEs, and companies new to space-based innovation but, all Danish companies are eligible to apply for support.
How do I apply?
To be considered for a Kick-Start contract, applications must be submitted directly to ESA through ESA-STAR no later than Friday, October 31, 2025, at 13:00 CET. The process is described in more detail in the Danish application guide and on ESA-STAR.
ESA will evaluate all applications based on its own requirements and criteria; these are described on ESA-STAR. Contracts are awarded based on ESA’s evaluation; UFS is not involved in the evaluation of applications.
Sparring with ESA Technology Broker Denmark for new applicants
Companies that have not previously worked with ESA are encouraged to reach out to ESA Technology Broker Denmark for guidance on the application process.
For further assistance, contact:
Poul Zimmermann Nielsen
Space Commercialization Manager
pzn@esabic.dk
Important
- Register your company on ESA STAR well in advance of the deadline and familiarise yourself with the application requirements, as assembling the necessary documents may take time.
- By submitting an application, the applicant consents to the Danish Space Office publishing information about the project on its website, newsletters, and LinkedIn if awarded an ESA contract.
ESA and UFS will on 22 September 10:30-13:00 host a non-mandatory workshop aimed at potential applicants