The European Space Agency launched a new round of Start-Up Projects Initiative on March 29. The project helps small and medium enterprises enter the satellite communications sector. The project provides for the awarding of development contracts for propositions that include a satcom component as an essential element.

Two possible funding levels, depending on the commercial maturity of the proposition, will be applied: financial support up to 100 percent (max 300,000 euros or about $388,000), for validation of concepts in early stages of development involving innovative technologies with perceived high commercial and/or technical risks and financial support up to 50 percent (max 150,000 euros or about $194,000) for integration and demonstration activities based on existing technologies tailored to pre-operational products, systems and applications, with identified market opportunities.

Any SME from the following countries is eligible to participate: Austria, France, Finland, Germany, Greece, Italy, Ireland, Luxemburg, Norway, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. For further information, please visit ESA on the Web at http://telecom.esa.int/startup.