We are thrilled to announce the launch of the first European-Japanese Space Startup Competition, a groundbreaking initiative designed to forge powerful partnerships and encourage innovation within the space industry. Especially on the occasion of the 20 year celebration of our network of  ESA Business Incubation Centres (ESA BICs), we look forward to expand the reach of European Space Startups and Scaleups globally. This competition seeks to identify the most promising European space startups with potential business cases for the Japanese market or collaborative projects with Japanese partners.

Competition Highlights

• Objective: To spotlight European space startups aiming at the Japanese market or seeking cooperation with Japanese entities.
• Prize: Selected companies will receive a sponsoring of 3,500 EUR to attend the Nihonbashi Space Week 2024, in Japan, and will be accompanied by representatives from the European Space Agency (ESA). A maximum of four companies will be selected.
• Event: The winners will participate in NIHONBASHI SPACE WEEK 2024, one of Asia’s largest space-related business gatherings, scheduled for November in Nihonbashi, Tokyo.

Opportunities at NIHONBASHI SPACE WEEK 2024

Website of the event: (https://www.crossu.org/spaceweek/en/).

• Engage with key industry leaders and organisations in the space sector.
• Expand your network, meet potential customers, and explore new business avenues.

Application Details

Participants are required to submit the following:

1. Business Proposal (500 words max): Provide a high-level description of your space business, outlining the problem it addresses and your solution.
2. Market Relevance (500 words max): Explain why your proposal is specifically relevant to the Japanese space market (upstream or downstream).
3. Support Needs (400 words max): Describe the type of support you would need from European and/or Japanese institutions.
4. Advantages of Partnership (400 words max): Discuss the expected or potential benefits of partnering with Japanese entities (commercial or institutional).
5. Team Overview: Describe your company’s team, experience, and current investment situation.

Additionally, applicants must produce a one-minute video clip introducing their team.

The five application points above constitute the evaluation criteria the jury will use to select the winners.

Submission Guidelines

• Submit your proposal via the form below
• Deadline for Submissions: 30th June 2024.

This competition is a unique chance for European space startups to step into the Japanese market and connect with influential collaborators. We encourage all European startups to seize this opportunity for growth and recognition in the global space industry (eligibility criteria: to be incorporated/registered in a European Country i.e. ESA or EU member state).

We look forward to discovering innovative solutions and fostering meaningful collaborations across continents.

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