ESA Plans to Expand Space Incubator Program to Berlin
Announcement of the ESA BIC Northern Germany expansion to Berlin at ILA Berlin 2026. From left to right: René Kleeßen (Director Organisations and Infrastructures at the German Space Agency at DLR), Dr. Severin Fischer (State Secretary for Economic Affairs, Energy and Public Enterprises, State of Berlin), Kristina Vogt (Minister of Economic Affairs, Ports and Transformation, Free Hanseatic City of Bremen), Géraldine Naja (Director of Space Transportation at ESA). © ESA BIC NG
Berlin is set to become part of the ESA Business Incubation Centre (BIC) Northern Germany, the European Space Agency's largest network of incubators for space-related startups. The expansion plan was announced at the ILA Berlin 2026 aerospace show and reported by the Berlin Senate Department for Economic Affairs in a LinkedIn post.
Once Berlin officially joins, space and deep-tech startups based in the capital will gain access to ESA expertise, technical support, business incubation services, and international networks stretching across Europe. The program covers the full journey from early-stage idea to market-ready product.
State Secretary for Economic Affairs Dr. Severin Fischer welcomed the move: Berlin is gaining a platform that directly connects startups with Europe's space sector, while ESA gains a foothold in one of the continent's most dynamic science and innovation ecosystems. The goal is faster technology transfer and stronger European technological sovereignty.
Berlin startups in the program will be represented and managed by Science & Startups, the joint startup service of the Berlin University Alliance.
The timing makes sense. Berlin has been quietly building a growing cluster in space tech, satellite applications, and dual-use deep-tech. Adding the ESA BIC framework means local founders can now tap into the same support structures that have helped incubate space startups across northern Germany and beyond, including technical partners like Fraunhofer IFAM, the DFKI, and DLR.
The program is co-funded through Germany's contribution to ESA's optional commercialization program ACCESS, with matching co-financing from the state of Berlin.
Learn more about Berlin's new space ecosystem on our blog.
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