ESA BIC Czech Republic is part of the European Space Agency’s (ESA) largest European incubator network, which has already financially supported more than 2,000 space startups. Its branches in Prague and Brno have incubated 72 companies, many of which now operate on international markets and deliver innovations with real-world impact. Incubated companies receive expert mentoring, technical consultations, and access to specialists from both industry and academia, helping them turn innovative ideas into practical solutions and bring them to market as quickly as possible.
“Companies that have completed the ESA BIC incubation programme are successfully operating on international markets and generating tangible economic impact for the Czech Republic. Moreover, 57 percent of the supported startups were founded directly thanks to the incubator’s financial support, clearly demonstrating its key role within the Czech space ecosystem.”
The 72 supported startups currently employ more than 500 people, and their combined revenues for the latest reported year exceed CZK 300 million. This is therefore not just a collection of innovative projects, but a growing economic sector with a real impact on employment. Supported companies have also completed 74 investment rounds worth more than EUR 30 million, confirming their ability to attract capital and investor confidence on an international level. Among ESA BIC Czech Republic’s success stories is Dronetag, a company developing technologies for drone identification and monitoring that has become a global leader in its field.
“With ESA BIC’s support, we developed Dronetag Mini — our first product and the foundation of everything that followed. Today, Czech technology helps protect airspace in more than forty countries worldwide.”
ESA BIC Czech Republic is entering its next decade with ambitions to continue growing and strengthening its role within both the Czech and European innovation ecosystems. The programme is currently negotiating increased financial support for startups and, in cooperation with the Pilsen Region Business and Innovation Centre, is preparing to open its third branch in Pilsen.
“Over its ten years of existence, ESA BIC Czech Republic has successfully incubated more than 70 startups, making it a key part of the space ecosystem not only in the Czech Republic but across Europe as well. In today’s geopolitical and global economic context, the space sector is becoming even more important for maintaining European competitiveness and sovereignty. The ESA BIC network is a valuable tool for Czech startups in establishing technical and business partnerships across ESA member states. Our team is currently working to strengthen ESA BIC Czech Republic’s role in this area.”
The programme’s continued development is also confirmed by the long-term support of the City of Prague, which has been a local partner of ESA BIC since the incubator’s launch in the Czech Republic. Prague City Council has approved the city’s continued participation and co-financing of the incubator through 2032 in the amount of approximately CZK 31 million. The support was granted thanks to the incubator’s successful track record and achieved results.
“Space technologies already play a significant role in the functioning of modern cities, and their importance will continue to grow. Prague wants to be part of this development — the city has long been working to build an environment where innovative companies with international potential can emerge and thrive. ESA BIC Czech Republic is an example of successful cooperation between the city, the state, and international institutions that delivers concrete benefits for both the economy and quality of life. That is why continuing support for this programme clearly makes sense from the city’s perspective.”
