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ESA Funding Opportunity: Czechs Invited to Apply for up to €300,000 – Join Free Webinar on July 8

The European Space Agency (ESA) Phi-Lab Austria invites Czech companies, universities and startups to join a free online webinar to learn how to apply for grant funding up to €300,000 per project.

This is a unique opportunity for Czech innovators for development, testing, validation, or scaling of space Czech hardware or software technologies and collaborate with Austrian partners and users.

Webinar Details

Topic: ESA Phi-Lab Austria – “Industrialisation by Design” Funding Call
Date: 8th July 2025 (Tuesday) at 10:00–11:30
Platform: online
Language: English
Participation: Free and open to all eligible Czech companies and organizations

Kindly contact Anna Ruščák, ESA Technology Broker, for the meeting link on ruscak@tc.cz.

Why Should Czech Companies Join the Webinar?

  • Learn how to apply for ESA funding
  • Ask your specific questions live to the ESA Phi-Lab Austria team
  • Understand what makes a competitive proposal
  • Explore collaboration opportunities with Austrian partners on the call
  • Get inspired to join Europe’s growing space innovation ecosystem.

Don’t Miss This Chance!

ESA Phi-Lab Austria’s funding is a powerful tool to bring Czech and European innovation closer to the European space market. Whether you’re a small tech startup or an established company, this is a real opportunity to grow your ideas—with the support of ESA and Austrian partners.

Join the webinar on July 8 and learn how to take your innovation to orbit!

More Information

Kindly reach out to the ESA Phi-Lab Austria team directly:
esaphilab@accent.at

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Last Chance Before Summer: Join the PNT Workshop on June 26th, 9:00–10:30 AM

The Ministry of Transport, together with the European Space Agency Technology Broker and Technology Centre Prague, warmly invite you to the final PNT (Positioning, Navigation, and Timing) Workshop of the season, taking place online on June 26th from 9:00 to 10:30 AM.

This session is your last opportunity before summer to explore new PNT technologies and discover funding opportunities under the ESA NAVISP program — designed to support innovative PNT solutions.

What’s on the agenda?

Building on the success of previous sessions, including the April 15th kick-off workshop and the recent session welcoming over 30 potential new PNT users, this workshop will feature:

  • Introduction to NAVISP (Navigation Innovation and Support Programme) — ESA’s flagship program to foster innovation and industrial competitiveness in PNT
  • Czech PNT ecosystem highlights — strengths, priorities, and collaborative potential
  • Real-world NAVISP success stories, products and industrial applications

Practical Details

📅 Date: 26 June 2025
🕘 Time: 09:00–10:30
🌐 Format: Online
🗣️ Language: Czech
👥 Organized by: Ministry of Transport of the Czech Republic & ESA Technology Broker & Technology Centre Prague
📌 Registration: http://geform.tc.cz/ESA_PNT_Workshop

Who Should Attend?

This workshop is highly practical and tailored for professionals across key sectors:

  • Transport and logistics companies (fleet tracking, routing, traffic management)
  • Telecommunications providers (network synchronization)
  • Energy and utility operators (grid timing, monitoring systems)
  • Security and public safety agencies (navigation and coordination)
  • Financial sector stakeholders (secure time stamping and transactions)
  • Infrastructure planners
  • Tech research teams, and innovative SMEs exploring new business opportunities in navigation and space technologies.

Whether you’re developing new PNT products or looking to integrate advanced navigation, timing, or positioning technologies, this workshop will provide actionable insights and connections.

Why PNT Matters

PNT technology is critical to our modern digital society. It underpins everything from mobile networks and financial transactions to autonomous vehicles and space missions. The increasing reliance on PNT means disruptions could cost billions of euros daily across industries such as transport, finance, and emergency services.

Emerging technologies like multi-constellation GNSS, machine learning, and quantum computing open exciting avenues for innovation — increasing the robustness, precision, and availability of PNT solutions and enabling new, value-added services.

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ESA Technology Brokers Engage with Czech Innovators in Brno

On June 10, 2025, the ESA Technology Broker for Czechia participated in two key events in Brno, both focused on expanding awareness and engagement with space technologies, Earth observation, and collaboration opportunities with the European Space Agency (ESA).

URBIS The Smart Cities Meetup 2025

Held at the Brno Exhibition Centre (BVV), URBIS showcased new technologies for smart cities. As ESA Technology Broker, we explored innovative sensor technologies and applications of satellite data that have strong potential for space and terrestrial synergy.

Among the exhibitors, several companies presented advanced sensor systems highly relevant for urban planning and environmental monitoring. For instance:

  • Sensority s.r.o. demonstrated environmental sensor platforms for air quality and noise monitoring.
  • Flowbox showcased energy and water monitoring systems powered by AI and real-time data analysis.
  • TopGis and GEOVAP presented solutions leveraging satellite imagery and remote sensing data for high-resolution terrain mapping, infrastructure planning, and city development.

These applications align closely with ESA’s Earth Observation programmes and open pathways for dual-use innovations between space and smart city solutions.

ESA Technology Broker, ESA Ambassador and Regional Coordinator for Technology Incubator

ESA Academia Info Day at Brno University of Technology (VUT)

On the same day, from 13:00 to 15:30, ESA Technology Broker Czechia and ESA BIC Brno held a seminar at the Rectorate of VUT, aimed at researchers and academic institutions. The session, titled “Opportunities in the ESA Programme”, introduced ways Czech universities and R&D teams can engage with ESA initiatives.

Key Highlights:

  • Co-funding through ESA BIC Brno for space-tech startups and spin-offs (up to €50,000).
  • Co-funding through ESA Technology Broker support for tech transfer and commercialization (up to €75,000).
  • Overview of ESA’s Open Space Innovation Platform (OSIP) for submitting breakthrough ideas.

Special Focus Areas:

  • Spectrum Sharing Makerspace: Grants of €15,000–€20,000 for spectrum-related projects.
  • ESA ARTES Programme: Funding schemes supporting telecom innovations (TRL 1–9), including:

Other Support Programs:

  • ESA GSTP: Prototype and demonstration support (TRL 3–6), coordinated by the Czech Ministry of Transport.
  • Lift-Off Challenge: National contest (CZK 60,000 prize) for early-stage teams to develop and pitch space-based ideas.

The seminar equipped participants with practical tools for turning research into real-world space and commercial applications. If you’re developing a sensor, data platform, or novel technology with space relevance, contact us—ESA is here to help accelerate your innovation.

The ESA Technology Broker’s role is to connect Czech companies, researchers, and institutions with ESA technologies, expertise, and funding mechanisms. Our presence at both URBIS and the VUT seminar reflects our commitment to strengthening ties between academia, industry, and the European space ecosystem.

If your organization is developing a novel sensor, data application, or technology with space potential—or if you’re looking for ways to adapt space technologies to Earth applications—contact us. Let’s explore how ESA can help accelerate your innovation.

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Join us at the Positioning Navigation Timing Workshop

Are you curious about new opportunities in space technologies and advanced navigation?

ESA Technology Broker and Ministry of Transportation invite you for the Positioning Navigation Timing Workshop.

📅 Date: Thursday, 12 June 2025
🕘 Time: 09:00–11:00
🌐 Format: Online
🗣️ Language: Czech
👥 Organized by: Ministry of Transport of the Czech Republic & Technology Centre Prague
📌 Registration: here.

This session is specifically intended for organizations in the Czech Republic who currently use or could benefit from Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) technologies, including:

  • Transport and logistics companies (fleet tracking, routing, traffic management)
  • Telecommunications providers (network synchronization)
  • Energy and utility operators (grid timing, monitoring systems)
  • Security and public safety agencies (navigation and coordination)
  • Financial sector stakeholders (secure time stamping and transactions)
  • Infrastructure planners
  • Tech research teams, and innovative SMEs exploring new business opportunities in navigation and space technologies.

Why attend?

PNT systems are foundational to modern infrastructure. Their reliability impacts everything from emergency services to automated transport and financial markets. Europe is now investing in the next generation of PNT technologies — combining multi-constellation GNSS, AI, and quantum tech — to build more resilient and precise systems.

What’s on the agenda?

  • Introduction to NAVISP (Navigation Innovation and Support Programme) — ESA’s flagship program to foster innovation and industrial competitiveness in PNT
  • Czech PNT ecosystem highlights — strengths, priorities, and collaborative potential
  • Real-world NAVISP success stories and industrial applications

This is your chance to learn, connect, and get inspired. Whether you’re in R&D, or industry, if your work touches the PNT landscape, this workshop is for you. Secure your spot and take your first step into the future of navigation.

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Insights from Space for Microelectronics Meeting

Horizontal picture of young professional electronic engineer fixing laptop, making gesture, looking aside, using equipment and electronic elements on working table. Copyspace for advertisement.

Today we hosted an exclusive meeting focused on microelectronics, specifically aimed at microelectronic companies that have limited or no collaboration with space agencies. The meeting served as a platform for these companies to explore possible partnerships and funding opportunities with ESA. Curious? Kindly fill our this form and we will come back to you soon.

Collaborative Opportunities

Using our analytics tool, Astrolab, our analytics identified potential microelectronics candidates for collaboration with ESA. We invited a diverse group of companies to learn about the various ESA and American offer available, which include:

  • ESA Spark Funding
  • ESA BIC
  • ESA BASS and InCubed
  • Direct project collaboration through ESA Star
  • the U.S. market opportunities in microelectronics:
    • how to get to NASA and
    • how to get to private American space market.

Guest Speakers and Key Insights

The meeting featured three informative speakers who shared their insights on working with ESA and the microelectronics sector.

  1. Marek Šimčák from BD Sensors s.r.o. emphasized the importance of transparency and communication with ESA. He noted that while projects usually span from one to six years, patience and diligent communication are crucial for success. Marek also pointed out that despite potential delays, the rewards for hard work can be significant.
  2. Ivan Hruška from egsespace s.r.o. discussed pathways for electronics companies to engage with ESA, sharing his experiences from various programs such as GSTP and others. He highlighted both the advantages and challenges of collaboration with ESA, providing a balanced view for attendees.
  3. Antonio Riviera from STMicroelectronics, one of the world’s largest semiconductor companies, strategically addressing Space for several decades, among the targeted market fields, discussed the long-standing benefits of collaboration with ESA.

Participant Engagement

Throughout the event, we had around 20+ companies in attendance, most of whom have little to no experience working with ESA but are focused on the microelectronics sector. We aimed to equip them with knowledge about available grants and provide an overview of the U.S. market opportunities in microelectronics.

Next Steps

The meeting concluded with plans for follow-up sessions, where participants can dive deeper into technology needs in Europe and discover more about potential collaborations. Kindly fill our this form and we will come back to you soon.

In summary, today’s meeting highlighted both the challenges and the exciting opportunities available for microelectronics companies willing to engage with ESA. We hope to foster a dynamic relationship between these companies and ESA, paving the way for innovation and growth in the microelectronics sector.

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Space For Cities

Space For Cities leaflet

The online workshop will present the use of space technologies for solutions making urban life more efficient. Such applications of space technologies in the “non-space” sector can be supported with € 60,000 by ESA Spark Funding, which will be a subject of the workshop as well. We will leave room for questions and discussion over specific applications at the end.

The online workshop will take place on June 13, 2023 from 9am – 11.30am CET.  

Register here (link for the workshop will be sent shortly before the event).

Space For Cities
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Space for Aviation

Online info session primarily for aviation sector will take place on February 23, 2023, 10am – 12pm CET. The session will present space technology transfer opportunities in the aviation sector along with ESA SPARK FUNDING financial initiative.

Register here. Attendees will receive the event link prior to the event.

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ESA SPARK FUNDING Online Workshop

Informative online workshop will take place on February 1, 2023. 10am – 11am CET Information on ESA SPARK FUNDING (ESA Technology Broker), IPR advice for funding applicants (Václav Suchý, Technology Centre Prague)
11am – 12am CET Q&A session

Register here

More information here

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Space for Hydrogen

Space For Hydrogen seminar presented the activities of the ESA Technology Broker and the possibilities to support the transfer of technological know-how in the space and hydrogen sector. The seminar launched a financial initiative ESA Spark Funding programme, dedicated to support an initial transfer and deployment of innovative technologies.