The European Space Agency, through its Business in Space Growth Network (BSGN), is pioneering innovation across diverse sectors by capitalising on the unique research conditions provided by space.
With Industry Accelerators dedicated to advanced materials, life sciences, and agriculture, ESA’s BSGN programme supports commercial projects that leverage space-specialised environment to address challenges on Earth, fostering new markets and sustainable growth. These accelerators, managed by ESA’s industrial partners, create a productive synergy between space-based research and terrestrial industry, enabling groundbreaking applications that significantly impact sectors which are essential for sustainable economic development.
Key Areas of Impact
Human Health and Pharmaceuticals
Space microgravity environment offers unparalleled conditions for pharmaceutical research. Laboratories like SpacePharma’s microgravity labs have pioneered the development of drugs and therapies, often achieving greater efficiency and efficacy than traditional methods. The BSGN Life Sciences Accelerator collaborates with firms like Amorphical, Astrobone, and Colorobbia, advancing research in microgravity for innovative drug development, bone health, and regenerative medicine, providing transformative applications for human health on Earth.
Biotechnology
Space-based biotechnology research under BSGN’s Life Sciences Industry Accelerator capitalises on microgravity to enhance drug discovery, improve disease modelling, and accelerate cellular biology advancements. Microgravity enables highly precise crystal growth, supporting the development of new drug formulations and more effective drug delivery systems. Additionally, it aids in biomanufacturing processes such as monoclonal antibody and vaccine production, while also advancing regenerative medicine and stem cell research. This unique environment accelerates life sciences breakthroughs, offering transformative potential for healthcare on Earth.
Agriculture and Food Production
Challenges in growing food in space have led to innovations that also address food security on Earth. The BSGN Agriculture & Food Industry Accelerator supports research into resilient crop varieties and efficient production methods, such as Astrobiome’s integration of space-driven microbiome technology to create regenerative agricultural solutions and pioneer biofertilizers for resilient farming. These advancements, inspired by space research, hold potential for sustainable agricultural practices that can respond to climate variability and resource limitations.
Advanced Materials
Space conditions, especially the absence of gravity, enable high-precision manufacturing of advanced materials. ESA BSGN’s Advanced Materials Accelerator supports companies like Space Forge, whose ForgeStar platform produces durable and efficient materials, applicable across industries from energy to electronics. Microgravity allows for enhanced crystallisation processes and contamination-free production, advancing materials science on Earth.
Lunar Resource Utilisation
ESA’s Space Resources Accelerator, in collaboration with the European Space Resources Innovation Centre (ESRIC), focuses on in-situ resource utilisation (ISRU) on the Moon. This initiative supports commercial projects that explore how lunar resources can sustain long-term space missions while reducing reliance on Earth-based mining.
Together with ESRIC and the Luxembourg Space Agency, ESA has just launched the Second Space Resources Challenge, which calls on the community to develop groundbreaking technologies for Excavation & Beneficiation of Lunar Regolith. The challenge aims to foster innovation and collaboration across academia and industry as well as push technology readiness levels forward for sustainable innovation and build momentum for In-Situ Resource Utilisation missions to space.
A Closer Look at Space-Driven Innovation
For a detailed overview of these areas, the video below provides insights into the transformative work of BSGN’s Industry Accelerators, exploring topics such as Astrobiome applications in sustainable farming, space-based 3D printing with Photocentric’s Cosmic Maker, and advancements in medical research under microgravity. It also examines precision fermentation as a method for alternative protein production, demonstrating the expansive applications of space research on Earth. This video highlights ESA’s dedication to fostering innovations that bridge space exploration with critical Earth industries.
To learn more about ESA’s BSGN Industry Accelerators, visit the BSGN website by clicking on the button below.