Norwegian EO industry lifts off with new ESA InCubed national call

Norway-based companies of any size are invited to participate in the latest InCubed call by submitting proposals for the development of groundbreaking and commercially promising products in the Earth Observation (EO) field. The call opens on 15 April and the deadline for submissions is 27 May 2025 at 14:00 CET.

ESA InCubed is an Earth Observation commercialisation programme managed by ESA Φ-lab that aims to boost entrepreneur initiatives in the Earth Observation (EO) sector, supported by its signatory Participating States. With a focus on leveraging the benefits of EO data and services, InCubed provides co-funding for the development of any elements of the EO value chain, namely full satellites and constellations, platforms, payloads and instruments, ground segment-based systems, and downstream applications and value-added services. 

Depending on the type of activity, companies can apply for co-funding support and will be guided by ESA top-tier experts to create sound products/services from a technical, commercial, and financial standpoint, with ESA acting as the de-risking partner.

In collaboration with the Norwegian Space Agency (NOSA), the upcoming Norway national call will open on 15 April 2025 and has a budget of €2.1 million. Proposals should be focused in developing innovative and commercially successful EO products and services.

Norwegian companies with innovative ideas leveraging EO data or developing relevant EO technologies may apply. Universities and research institutes with no commercial interest in the project may be funded up to 100% of their costs if those do not surpass 30% of the total activity funding. Business ideas currently being funded by other ESA/NOSA programmes are not eligible for this call, unless for complementary tasks.

Interested Norwegian companies should submit an idea pitch on the Open Space Innovation Platform (OSIP), which will be ranked based on defined criteria, including the understanding of InCubed’s objectives; quality and completeness of the business and technical proposals; adequacy of the management approach, planning and co-funding; and level of experience. Qualifying pitches will be invited to submit a full proposal to ESA. Successful applicants will be contacted directly by ESA to discuss further contract negotiations. The first evaluation cycle will be in June 2025.

Interested companies can find out more about this call during the InCubed meeting at NOSA, in Oslo, on 7 April, and enrol via the NOSA dedicated link. The call opens on 15 April 2025 and the closing date for submissions is 27 May 2025 at 14:00 CET.

To know more: ESA InCubed, Norwegian Space Agency

Photo courtesy of ESA