Companies will receive funding to study project viability
ESA Space Solutions Portugal, coordinated by Instituto Pedro Nunes (IPN), has opened applications for SPARK 4 TECH, a programme that supports Portuguese companies interested in transferring space technology for the benefit of Earth. Applications are open at
www.space.ipn.pt until
4 November 2022.
SPARK 4 TECH, an initiative of the European Space Agency (ESA) with the support of the Portuguese Space Agency and ANACOM, aims to fund technical and economic feasibility studies of the transfer of technology used in space in terrestrial applications, in order to prove the relevance of a technology/know-how from space to another technological field, as well as reduce the business risk and confirm the market opportunity.
Each project will receive up to 50 thousand euros of funding, corresponding to 50% of the total eligible costs (100 thousand euros), during the six months of the feasibility study, and access to other ESA funding opportunities. Portuguese entities, companies operating in the space or non-space sector (including SMEs) and academic and research organisations can apply.
Simultaneously with SPARK 4 TECH, applications for the Spark 4 Business programme are also open until 4 November 2022, through the email
space@ipn.pt. So far, Spark 4 Business has already supported 26 Portuguese startups, with a total value of 650 thousand euros of funding awarded.
More information on the programmes and on applications at
space.ipn.pt.