The ESA BIC Liftoff Challenge opens the door to the space sector for young innovators

The ESA BIC Czech Republic space business incubator, operated in the Czech Republic by CzechInvest, is launching the first edition of the ESA BIC Liftoff Challenge. The goal is to support the development of innovative projects with a space connection and to reach out especially to students—one of the most promising groups in terms of innovation potential.

The space sector is no longer the exclusive domain of space agencies and so-called “new space” companies. This competition aims to inspire the younger generation to explore how space technologies and satellite data can be applied in new and meaningful ways.

The competition is open to individuals or teams of up to five people. Participants must be between the ages of 18 and 35 inclusive. A key evaluation criterion is the so-called space connection—i.e., the project’s link to the space sector in the broadest sense.

“A space-related project doesn’t necessarily have to aim for orbit. Many ideas use space technologies here on Earth, enabling the creation of innovative solutions that often give startups a competitive edge. With the ESA BIC Liftoff Challenge, we want to give young people in the Czech Republic the opportunity to explore the potential of space technologies and satellite data for their own ideas and turn them into real, impactful projects. We’ve designed the competition so that even participating itself will be a valuable experience and help participants start thinking more entrepreneurially,” says Michal Kuneš, Programme Manager at ESA BIC Czech Republic.

The competition consists of three stages. In the first round, participants submit a brief project description in the form of a lean canvas. The most promising ideas advance to the second round, where teams, supported by expert mentors, develop a full business plan. The best concepts will move on to the final round, where they will pitch their projects to a panel of judges.

The authors of the top three projects will receive financial support for further development of their business ideas. The winner will also have the opportunity to present their idea in front of investors at the ESA BIC Launchpad 2025, part of the Czech Republic’s largest space festival—Czech Space Week 2025. Additionally, even after the competition, teams will have the chance to collaborate with the ESA BIC Czech Republic team to continue developing their ideas and potentially apply for incubation in the ESA BIC programme—turning their idea into a functioning startup.

Prizes:

• 1st place: CZK 60,000

• 2nd place: CZK 30,000

• 3rd place: CZK 10,000

“The Czech space ecosystem is evolving rapidly and opening up opportunities for a new generation of creators—not only engineers and scientists but also entrepreneurs, visionaries, and students. Our goal is to foster an environment where young people feel empowered to think on a space scale and contribute to shaping the Czech footprint in space for the decades to come,” adds Tereza Kubicová, Deputy for Technology Development at CzechInvest.

Applications are open until June 30, 2025. At this stage, all that’s required is an innovative idea and the submission of a lean canvas.

ESA BIC Czech Republic supports startups and projects that apply existing space technologies on Earth or develop new technologies for use in space. The incubator was founded in 2016 with support from the CzechInvest Business and Investment Development Agency, JIC (South Moravian Innovation Centre), the European Space Agency, the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the City of Prague, and the South Moravian Region.

Since its founding, ESA BIC Czech Republic has supported over 50 startups, helping them bring their technologies closer to market, establish international partnerships, or secure additional investment. Many of them are now active internationally and contribute to the strong reputation of the Czech space sector across Europe and beyond. Notable alumni include Dronetag, Zaitra, Festka, and Spacemanic.

Media contact:
Petr Mild
Marketing Manager, ESA BIC Czech Republic
petr.mild@czechinvest.gov.cz
+420 601 585 739