Space startup funding and grants

European CommissionGrant

Horizon Europe Cluster 4 – Digital, Industry and Space

Collaborative research and innovation calls for manufacturing, key digital and quantum technologies, advanced materials, AI and robotics, advanced computing, low-carbon industries and space. Swiss entities have full access to strategic-area calls in the 2026–2027 work programme, except some space calls.

European Space AgencyGrant

ESA Business Applications – Kick-start activities

ESA feasibility funding for space-enabled business applications: 80% by the European Space Agency for a maximum of €64K per contract for SMEs. Open to companies in Germany and Austria; Switzerland does not support Kick-start activities.

ESA Business Incubation Centre SwitzerlandGrant

ESA BIC Switzerland

Incubation for entrepreneurs with innovative ideas and a space connection. Offers up to EUR 200k in non-dilutive funding, up to 80 hours of technical support and business support with Venturelab.

AZOGrant

ESA BIC Germany

Space incubation for start-ups with a space connection and a company age under 5 years. Offers EUR 60,000 cash without taking equity, plus technical expertise, business support, office space and mentoring at sites across Germany.

AZOGrant

ESA BIC Bavaria

The Bavarian sites of ESA BIC Germany in Oberpfaffenhofen, Nuremberg, Ottobrunn, Neubiberg and Würzburg. Funding is given without taking equity; companies must be younger than 3 years and have a space connection.

Science Park Graz GmbHGrant

ESA BIC Austria

Space incubation in Graz for entrepreneurs, start-ups, SMEs, researchers and students commercialising space-enabled products and services. Start-ups launch with €50,000 at zero equity.

FFGGrant

ASAP & Digitaler Zwilling Österreich 2026

FFG’s call for space applications and technology R&D, together with Digital Twin Austria. Funding rates range from 35% to 100% depending on instrument and organisation type.

European Innovation Council (EISMEA)Grant

EIC Accelerator

Funds single start-ups and SMEs, including spin-outs, from EU Member States and Horizon Europe associated countries. It combines a grant (lump sum below €2.5 million) for innovation activities at TRL 6–8 with equity investments of up to €10 million.

European Innovation CouncilGrant

EIC Pathfinder

Grants of up to EUR 4 million for early-stage research towards breakthrough technologies. Pathfinder Open requires a consortium of at least three independent entities; Pathfinder Challenges also accept single applicants and two-partner consortia.

European Innovation CouncilGrant

EIC Transition

Grants of up to EUR 2.5 million to validate and demonstrate a technology and build market readiness. Projects must build on results of an eligible project such as EIC Pathfinder or ERC Proof of Concept; single SMEs, start-ups, spin-offs and consortia can apply.

European Innovation CouncilEquity

EIC STEP Scale Up

Equity, not a grant: investments of EUR 10 million to EUR 30 million in 2026 for single SMEs and small mid-caps with fewer than 500 employees in digital and deep tech, clean tech and biotech. A qualified investor must pre-commit to the round.

Eureka (with national funding bodies)Grant

Eurostars

International R&D projects led by an innovative SME, with partners from at least two Eurostars countries. Each partner is funded by its national body: Innosuisse in Switzerland, BMFTR in Germany (max. 500,000 € for German partners together), FFG in Austria.

European Institute of Innovation & TechnologySupport & coaching

EIT Knowledge and Innovation Communities

Business creation programmes run by EIT communities such as Climate-KIC, EIT Health and InnoEnergy. Start-ups and scale-ups get access to financing opportunities, market access, training, mentoring and investor matchmaking.

European Commission (EIB Group and other implementing partners)Loan

InvestEU Fund

An EU budget guarantee that supports loans and equity through the EIB Group and other financial intermediaries. Companies do not apply to the Commission; they reach the financing through the implementing partners.