Open Call for Proposals: Kick-starts
ESA Business Applications and Space Solutions (BASS) · Grant topic
Summary
A Polish company can use this call for R&D.
Funds six-month business feasibility studies assessing technical viability, customer demand and commercial potential of services using at least one space asset.
- Who can apply
- Companies can lead: SME, large company.
- Amount
- €75K per project
- Deadline
- 30 Oct 2026 13:00 CETin 6 days · +5 later cut-offs
- Status
- Open
Machine-classified from the call text; check eligibility at the source.
Description
Kick-starts are a type of feasibility study and last six months. The aim of a Kick-start is to determine whether a service is technically feasible and commercially viable, and whether there is demand for it. Kick-starts must involve the use of at least one space asset, such as satellite communications, satellite Earth observation data or satellite navigation.
During a Kick-start, the business will:
• design the technical service architecture
• engage with potential customers
• improve the business plan
• establish next steps in developing the service.
Businesses can apply for the ESA BASS Open Call for Proposals for Kick-starts at any time throughout the year. However, submitted proposals will be evaluated in batches according to the schedule of deadlines below:
• 30 October 2026, 13:00 CET
• 26 February 2027, 13:00 CET
• 30 April 2027, 13:00 CEST
• 11 June 2027, 13:00 CEST
• 03 September 2027, 13:00 CEST
• 05 November 2027, 13:00 CET
Funding For Kick-starts
Kick-start activities will be funded at 75%, with ESA providing up to €75,000 per contract. The maximum total cost of a Kick-start activity is €100,000.
Please check esa-star publication for the correct list of participating Member States.
Login to view Open Call for Kick-starts
Disclaimer
Please note that all information provided on this webpage is for general guidance only. In case of any discrepancies or conflicts, the official ESA sources shall always take precedence. These include, but are not limited to:
• esa-star publication
• esa-star tendering
Participants are strongly advised to refer to these official channels for authoritative and up-to-date information regarding ESA opportunities, requirements, and procedures.
Who can apply, in detail
- Applicant types
- SME, Large company
- Purpose
- Research and innovation
- R&D relevance
- 3 of 3
- Poland eligible
- Unclear
- Country limit
- Participating ESA Member States; the country list is not supplied
- Region
- Any
- Consortium
- Unclear
- Readiness level (TRL)
- —
- Per project
- €75K
- Topics
- Space-enabled services
- Technical feasibility
- Commercial viability
- Satellite communications
- Earth observation
- Satellite navigation
Machine-classified from the call text; check eligibility at the source. 24 Oct 2026
Call facts
- Opens
- —
- Deadlines
- 30 Oct 2026 13:00 CET
- 26 Feb 2027 13:00 CET
- 30 Apr 2027 13:00 CEST
- 11 Jun 2027 13:00 CEST
- 03 Sept 2027 13:00 CEST
- 05 Nov 2027 13:00 CET
- Deadline model
- Multiple cut-off
- Programme
- ESA Business Applications and Space Solutions (BASS)
- Call
- Open Calls
- Types of action
- Kick-Start
- Source
- business.esa.int
- Checked
- 24 Oct 2026
This is a summary of the source page, not the official text. Eligibility, conditions and the submission system are at the source.