ESA BIC Centro is part of the ESA Business Incubation Centre program, which supports space-related entrepreneurship across Europe. Locally, the program is implemented by Instituto Pedro Nunes (IPN), a non-profit innovation organization created by the University of Coimbra in 1990. IPN combines research, incubation, and technology transfer, and has over 25 years of experience supporting technology-based startups.
Incubation activities take place in:
Coimbra
Pampilhosa da Serra
Santa Maria, Azores
ESA BIC Centro is coordinated by IPN and implemented together with regional incubation and public institutional partners, including:
Supports the national implementation framework of the programme
Supports the incubation of startups hosted at IPN and strengthens the local innovation ecosystem
Promotes regional development and supports incubation activities in the Centro Region, including Pampilhosa da Serra
Hosts space-related incubation activities in a low-light-pollution region with a strong Earth observation focus
Ensures alignment with regional development priorities
These partners ensure that the program is rooted in regional development while connected to national and European space strategies.
ESA BIC Centro is one of many ESA Business Incubation Centres across Europe. Together, they form a coordinated network that shares expertise, evaluation processes, and access to ESA programs. Startups benefit from this network through visibility, collaboration, and access to European markets.
