The space technology company NRG Solutions has been accepted into the European Space Agency Business Incubation Centre in Latvia (ESA BIC Latvia) support programme. This is the first company to join the incubation programme – over the next five years, at least 12 startups are planned to be supported. This marks an important step toward supporting innovation and entrepreneurship in Latvia's space sector.
The evaluation and selection process was conducted jointly by ESA BIC Latvia, Latvia Space ecosystem experts and the European Space Agency, ensuring compliance with ESA’s rigorous standards and mission alignment. The two selected startups represent both upstream and downstream domains of the space economy.
While negotiations are ongoing with the second startup, pending finalisation of a minor compliance task, ESA BIC Latvia is proud to officially announce the first startup accepted into the programme: NRG Solutions. NRG Solutions harnesses Earth Observation (EO) data and advanced geospatial technologies to modernise property assessment and valuation. Their solution empowers real estate professionals with remote, data-driven insights by identifying structural and environmental factors that influence building conditions. Unlike traditional evaluation methods, which rely heavily on in-person inspections and subjective estimates, NRG Solutions offers a scalable and data-rich alternative that enhances efficiency and accuracy in the decision-making process.
"We're beyond excited to be the first company selected to join ESA BIC. We look forward to a fruitful incubation period leveraging the expertise, support and community of ESA BIC. Our ambition is to turn complex EO data sets into actionable value for real estate professionals, and we're off to a great start," said Linda Sēle, CEO of NRG Solutions.
ESA BIC Latvia, managed by Commercialization Reactor, will support selected startups over a two-year incubation period with up to €60,000 in non-equity funding per startup, access to the big ESA network in Europe, as well as local mentoring, technical support, legal and IP service support, and connections to an international network of space innovators and industry. Minimum of 12 startups are planned to be incubated over a 5 year period. Incubatees will also have the opportunity to participate in ESA project tenders covering everything from Earth research to space missions. All ESA BIC Latvia services will be available at no cost, allowing entrepreneurs to focus on innovation and business growth.
"Selecting our first startups is a proud moment for ESA BIC Latvia. We are here to help transform bold space-related ideas into scalable businesses that generate value for Latvia and beyond. NRG Solutions is a prime example of how space technology can be harnessed to address real-world challenges here on Earth. We’re excited to accompany them on their growth journey," said Lev Lapkis, Manager of ESA BIC Latvia.
The ESA incubator has a permanent open call, but enrolment in the programme takes place 2 times per year following Tender Evaluation Board meetings. The next deadline for applications is June 22nd, 2025, 6PM Riga time. Apply here: https://www.esabic.lv/apply
Currently, the ESA BIC network in Europe consists of 32 centres across 22 countries. ESA BIC Latvia was opened on November 13th, 2024, with Commercialization Reactor acting as the operational supervisor. Overall, ESA BIC centres have helped develop more than 1,800 startups over the past 20 years – some of which have become unicorns.
