SPARK_Logo_2023_Portrait-Neg

Embarking together towards
future space transportation

The European Space sector is transforming quickly to allow a more and more competitive access to Earth orbits and beyond, serving advanced science, exploration and commercial applications to bring the benefits of Space to our society.

To further increase the return of investment in Space, the European Space Agency, together with its Member States, supports entrepreneurs with the ambition to exploit space technology or utilise space systems in non-space markets (spin-off), or become suppliers to the space sector, e.g. by exploiting non-space technology in the space market (spin-in).

From vision to reality.

In synthesis, the primary objective of Next Stage to Space Project is funding European Space transportation ecosystem, to diversify sourcing for innovation, that can ensure the competitiveness of space transportation applications.

Next Stage to Space will help to achieve the following space transportation objectives:

Develop a critical mass of New Space technology actors for space transportation applications;

Making use of operational structures to develop dynamic initiatives;

Task business incubators to select innovative start-up solutions in cooperation with ArianeGroup and MTA;

Structure participation of companies, universities, national and local entities.

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From reality back to vision.

To support ArianeGroup and MTA with innovative cases, six pilot technologies have been identified. Are you ready for the challenge?

Have a look: on each of them there is a world to be discovered!

High efficiency batteries for space applications

Intelligent visual detection methods for enhanced quality

Sealing/coatings for cryogenic CFRP surfaces

Folded Core materials for cryogenic CFRP tank insulation

Optimized production in additive manufacturing (DED process)

Augmented Reality based process visualization, manufacturing and training

Timeline

March 2023
Opening Open Call for Interest
22 May 2023
Industry Day
The Industry day is positioned as a mere prelude to the formal Open Call for SPARK Funding and the consequent TEB process. It will bring together relevant candidates for the SPARK Funding with ESA, the LSIs and the general public.
12 June 2023
Opening Open Call for Application
Registrations are possible until 20 August 2023 โ€“ 23:59 CEST.

Apply Now

until mid-September 2023
Evaluation of Applications
end-September 2023
Startup Incubation Phase
September 2024
New technologies available to space industry