ESA BIC Tagus, the incubation programme of the European Space Agency (ESA), has launched a new call for proposals to select three startups that will join the programme through the end of 2026. Applications are open until October 5. The call is aimed at projects that use space technologies or data to develop innovative solutions with applications in the terrestrial market.

ESA BIC Tagus is coordinated by Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, through the Técnico Venture Lab and supports startups through funding, specialised mentoring, technical support from ESA, and connections to an international network of partners, investors, and companies in the sector.

Along with the launch of this new application round, the programme announced the first three startups incubated by the programme: Altitude, SKYLAB, and HydroAI.

Altitude, a technology spin-off born from research conducted at Técnico and Instituto de Engenharia de Sistemas e Computadores – Microsistemas e Nanotecnologias INESC – MN, is developing a new generation of optical components for space communications, based on silica metasurfaces, with the goal of increasing the robustness, stability, and efficiency of optical communications between satellites and ground stations.

SKYLAB is developing a reusable suborbital launch service aimed at universities, research centres, space agencies and industry, helping to make access to space more flexible and affordable.

HydroAI uses Earth observation data and artificial intelligence to develop a water resource monitoring platform, enabling the tracking of reservoir levels, the forecasting of water availability, and the support of sustainable water resource management.