ESA BIC Norway: 1 October 2026 deadline

ESA BIC Norway, run by Kjeller Innovasjon with Startuplab, Fremtidens Industri, KPB and Norinnova, has its next application deadline on 1 October 2026.

The incentive is EUR 80,000. Neither the incubator nor ESA takes equity, and applicants do not have to bring matching funds. Selected companies can later apply for an Incubation Boost of up to EUR 100,000 after they pass the mid term review. The incubation itself lasts 12 to 24 months.

The program wants a product or service with a clear space connection: using space technology on Earth, building technology for space, or bringing technology from another sector into the space industry. You need a Norwegian company under five years old, or you may apply before founding and register the company by the mid term review. Entrepreneurs must own more than 50 percent, and the team needs a legal work permit in Norway.

The incentive can pay for research and development, hardware, intellectual property, legal advice, consultancy, software development, salaries of employees who are not shareholders, travel and market research. It cannot pay shareholder salaries, office rent, incubator fees or a return on capital. The money must be spent in Norway, with limited exceptions for suppliers in ESA member states when the item is not available in Norway.

Contact post@esabic.no before you apply. Fill in the application package UC 2026 09 and upload a PDF through the application form. ESA BIC Norway confirms receipt within 24 hours, checks formalities within one week, and gives you 48 hours to fix gaps. Eligible teams pitch to a selection board about three to four weeks later. The board includes ESA, ESA BIC Norway, the Norwegian Space Agency and Innovation Norway.