We are happy to announce the launch of the first EPIC European-Australian 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) and under the umbrella of the ESA Partnership Initiative for Commercialisation (EPIC), we look forward to expanding the reach of European Space Startups and Scaleups globally. This competition seeks to identify the most promising European space startups and scaleup with potential business cases for the Australian market or collaborative projects with Australian partners.
Competition Highlights
- Objective: To spotlight European space startups/scaleups aiming at the Australian market or seeking cooperation with Australian entities to address export markets.
- Prize: Selected companies will receive a sponsoring of 3,500 EUR to attend the 76th International Astronautical Congress (IAC) in Sydney, 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 76th International Astronautical Congress (IAC), “a prestigious event where the world’s space community gathers to access the latest advancements and trends, academic works, industry connections, and partnership opportunities”, scheduled from 29 September to 03 October, 2025.
The opportunity
Website of the event: https://www.iac2025.org/.
- Engage with key industry leaders and organisations in the space sector.
- Expand your network, meet potential partners, customers, and explore new business avenues.
Application Details
Participants are required to submit the following:
- Business Proposal (500 words max): Provide a high-level description of your space business, outlining the problem it addresses and your solution.
- Market Relevance (500 words max): Explain why your proposal is specifically relevant to the Australian space market (upstream or downstream) or how you intend to team up with Australian partners to address other export markets.
- Support Needs (400 words max): Describe the type of support you would need from European and/or Australian institutions.
- Advantages of Partnership (400 words max): Discuss the expected or potential benefits of partnering with Australian entities (commercial or institutional).
- 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 are the basis for the evaluation the jury will use to select the winners. The evaluation criteria include the relevance of the solution to the Australian market, the potential to partner with Australian partners and the benefits generated by those partnerships. Lastly, they also include the ability of the team to take on the challenge of doing business with Australian partners.
Please note that in an event of a tie, priority will be given to applicants that have not yet won an ESA space startup competition in 2024 or 2025 (e.g. India, Japan, Singapore competitions, Prix Bulles Pierre Cardin).
Submission Guidelines
- Submit your proposal via the form below
- Deadline for Submissions: 06 June 2025 at midnight.
This competition is a unique chance for European space startups to step into the Australian 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.
Submit your proposal
