It is with great pleasure that we announce the winners of the ESA EPIC European-UAE Space Startup Competition 2025, an initiative that fosters global partnerships, supports access to bigger markets, and drives innovation for Space and for Earth.
It is our ambition to further support the internationalisation of space-based businesses beyond Europe. To materialise it, the winners of this competition will accompany ESA representatives and will receive a sponsorship by VISTA to attend the Dubai Airshow DWC, UAE, on 17-21 November 2025, “a prestigious event where the world’s space community gathers to access the latest advancements and trends, academic works, industry connections and partnership opportunities”.
Among 50 candidates, this competition identified the most promising European space-related startups with potential business cases for the UAE market or collaborative projects with UAE partners.
The Winners of the Competition
AIRMO GmbH (Germany): AIRMO provides energy companies with a complete compliance solution for OGMP 2.0 and EU Methane Regulation requirements. From site-level measurements to automated reporting, we help you meet regulatory goals with accuracy and efficiency.
FOSSA Systems, S.L. (Spain): FOSSA Systems is a Spanish company that specialises in providing satellite connectivity services to remote and inaccessible areas and operates on a SaaS business model (pay per message) in industries such as oil and gas, logistics, utilities and energy, agriculture, livestock, infrastructure, and construction, among others.
MinWave Technologies SA (Switzerland): MinWave delivers ultra-compact, lightweight micro- and millimeter-wave devices. Their offerings include energy-efficient, steerable antennas that provide full-duplex satellite connectivity for both LEO and GEO applications. Their product family also includes meta-filters, diplexers, and meta-antennas for terrestrial and Satcom applications.
SpaceLocker (France): SpaceLocker is a shared satellite operator. Thanks to its standardised interfaces, the company enables public and private entities to deploy their sensors or experiments in orbit in a simple, fast, and sustainable manner.
Novac Srl. (Italy): Novac is an innovative Italian startup developing advanced supercapacitors for high-power aerospace applications, such as SAR systems. Their technology enables rapid energy bursts with minimal degradation, while significantly optimising weight, volume, and integration flexibility. Novac supercapacitors feature long operational life and reliable performance even at extremely low temperatures.
Pioneering Global Opportunities for European Space Entrepreneurs
At ESA, our mission extends beyond fostering innovation within Europe, we are committed to connecting ambitious innovators to international markets. Through initiatives like the ESA EPIC European-UAE Space Start-up Competition, and with the support of the ESA Business Incubation Centres (ESA BIC) and VISTA Start-Up, we empower European space entrepreneurs to expand their horizons and access new opportunities worldwide.
Building on our successful efforts in India, Singapore, Japan, and Australia, we are proud to now support our winners as they explore the dynamic UAE market. This initiative has supported companies across Europe, from countries such as Belgium, Czechia, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and the UK. Its pan-European impact is also underscored by the fact that almost all participating startups are part of the ESA Business Incubation Centre (ESA BIC) network, which spans 23 countries and has supported over 2,000 companies over the past two decades.
By facilitating global partnerships and providing tailored support, ESA continues to help European companies transform their ideas into impactful solutions for Space and for Earth, strengthening Europe’s presence on the world stage.
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