ESA BIC Castilla-La Mancha has launched its 2026 call for applications, aimed at startups, innovative SMEs and entrepreneurs developing solutions connected to the space sector or using space technologies to create new products and services.
The call has a total budget of €360,000, with each selected project eligible to receive financial support of less than €60,000, alongside access to the ESA BIC Castilla-La Mancha incubation programme and a range of specialised services designed to accelerate both technological and business development.
The programme aims to turn innovative ideas and technologies into sustainable companies with the potential to grow, enter the market and become part of the space industry value chain.
Who can apply?
The call is open to:
- Startups and innovative companies qualifying as SMEs and established less than five years ago.
- Entrepreneurs and founding teams who have not yet incorporated a company and undertake to do so if their project is selected.
- Startups currently based outside Castilla-La Mancha, provided that their activity, product, technology or service can deliver significant benefits for the region’s business, industrial, research or economic ecosystem.
Projects must demonstrate a clear connection with the space sector or the use of space technologies.
This includes both solutions developed directly for the space industry and projects that apply technologies, infrastructures or data originating from the space sector to non-space markets.
Earth observation, navigation and positioning, satellite communications, precision agriculture, mobility, environmental applications, energy, robotics, artificial intelligence, data analytics and advanced materials are among the many areas in which space technologies can generate new business opportunities.
Much more than funding
Joining ESA BIC Castilla-La Mancha means much more than receiving financial support.
During the incubation period, each selected project will have access to at least:
- 50 hours of business support and coaching.
- 20 hours of specialised technical support.
- 20 hours of legal and intellectual property advice.
Companies will also gain access to the business, scientific and technological ecosystem surrounding ESA BIC Castilla-La Mancha, as well as to capabilities and networks linked to the European Space Agency.
The incubation period may last for up to 24 months. Once it has been completed, companies may also apply to remain within the programme’s facilities for an additional period of up to twelve months under a post-incubation arrangement.
What can the funding be used for?
Funding may cover activities directly related to the development of the incubated project, including:
technical development of the product, process or service; technology validation and demonstration; prototyping and testing; specialised technical assistance and consultancy; external testing and development services; business development and market access activities; and the protection, management and exploitation of intellectual and industrial property rights.
The final amount awarded to each project will depend on the approved activities, the outcome of the evaluation process and available funding.
How will projects be selected?
Applications will be assessed across five main areas:
- Team background, experience and capabilities.
- Technology and services.
- Value proposition and market potential.
- Business model and risk management.
- The proposed incubation activity and implementation plan.
Applications can receive a maximum of 100 points. To be eligible for funding, projects must achieve at least 60 points overall, as well as a minimum of 40% of the available score in each assessment category.
The evaluation will be carried out by the Tender Evaluation Board (TEB), comprising representatives from the European Space Agency (ESA), the Castilla-La Mancha Science and Technology Park Foundation (PCTCLM) and the Spanish Space Agency (AEE).
How to apply
Applications must be submitted exclusively online through the electronic headquarters of the Castilla-La Mancha Science and Technology Park Foundation.
The application period will remain open for two months from the day following publication of the call in the Official Gazette of Castilla-La Mancha on 2 October 2026.
Applicants will be required to submit, among other documentation, a project description, business plan, detailed budget, implementation schedule and incubation proposal.
The technical documentation relating to the project must be submitted in English, as it will form part of the ESA evaluation process.
If you are developing a technology with potential applications in space, using space-based data or technologies to solve challenges in other industries, or creating a solution that could become part of the space industry value chain, this call is your opportunity to join ESA BIC Castilla-La Mancha.
