European Space Agency: Future of Retail
ESA seek business proposals to use space technology for the retail sector, with up to €75 000 per activity.
Opportunity Details
When
Registration Opens
06/10/2025 00:00
Registration Closes
23/01/2026 17:00
Award
Selected projects can access 75% funding by the European Space Agency, up to €75,000 per activity.
Organisation
ESA
Future of Retail is an opportunity for businesses to submit proposals to develop innovative services that leverage space technology for the benefit of the retail sector. Selected projects can access 75% funding by the European Space Agency, up to €75,000 per activity.
Kickstarts are six-month Feasibility Studies designed to determine if a service is technically feasible, commercially viable, and wanted by users. The studies must involve at least one space asset, such as satellite communications, Earth Observation, or navigation.
The challenge
The impacts of climate change on supply chains, pressing sustainability imperatives and increasingly savvy consumers pose challenges that retail businesses must solve to remain commercially successful. Against this backdrop, emerging technologies and data are also presenting exciting new opportunities for retailers to transform the way they reach their shoppers and engage with them.
ESA are looking for promising early-stage service concepts addressing topics of relevance with the following:
- Desirability: service concepts wanted by customers, evidenced through customer engagement
- Viability: service concepts that are commercially viable / profitable
- Feasibility: service concepts that are technically feasible
- Motivated teams with business, technical, and financial expertise
- Added value of space data or technology
ESA will hold an applicant briefing on Wednesday 1 October at 11am CEST (10am UK time): click here to register for a place.
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Funded participation to ESA Business Applications is open to any company and/or organisation, be it as group of users, public body or non-governmental organisation, residing in any of those states that subscribe to the BASS programme (this includes the UK).
Bidding teams must obtain Letter(s) of Authorisation from the relevant national delegation(s) before submitting a Full Proposal.
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These are areas where new services could be developed under this initiative:
- Immersive retail: There has been a dramatic leap in retail personalisation driven by technology such as generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) that anticipates consumer needs with precision. For example, dynamic pricing systems offer personalised deals based on spending habits. Augmented Reality (AR) is also making its debut into the retail sector, guiding customers to specific products or promotional areas.
- Supply chain transparency and resilience: Supply chains in retail are more and more focused on transparent and climate-conscious approaches to meet the demands of increasingly informed consumers. Resilience in supply chains is also a key factor for retailers, supported by predictive analytics to forecast demand spikes and potential shortages.
- Autonomous retail: Self-operating shops, automated warehouses and autonomous delivery vehicles are expected to become more and more common. This trend towards automation is not only about cutting costs; it’s about offering a more seamless and convenient shopping experiences.
- Connected retail: Digital technologies facilitate real-time monitoring of sales data, inventory levels, and customer traffic. This data-driven approach allows connected retail businesses to make informed decisions, identify trends and respond quickly to market changes.
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These are areas where new services could be developed under this initiative:
- Immersive retail: There has been a dramatic leap in retail personalisation driven by technology such as generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) that anticipates consumer needs with precision. For example, dynamic pricing systems offer personalised deals based on spending habits. Augmented Reality (AR) is also making its debut into the retail sector, guiding customers to specific products or promotional areas.
- Supply chain transparency and resilience: Supply chains in retail are more and more focused on transparent and climate-conscious approaches to meet the demands of increasingly informed consumers. Resilience in supply chains is also a key factor for retailers, supported by predictive analytics to forecast demand spikes and potential shortages.
- Autonomous retail: Self-operating shops, automated warehouses and autonomous delivery vehicles are expected to become more and more common. This trend towards automation is not only about cutting costs; it’s about offering a more seamless and convenient shopping experiences.
- Connected retail: Digital technologies facilitate real-time monitoring of sales data, inventory levels, and customer traffic. This data-driven approach allows connected retail businesses to make informed decisions, identify trends and respond quickly to market changes.
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ESA offer funding and support to companies, both for business case assessment and for the development of new, space-based services. The offer includes:
- 75% funding by the European Space Agency, up to €75,000 , for each selected activity. The maximum total project cost is €100,000.
- Technical and commercial guidance
- Access to our network and partners
- Use of the ESA brand for your service
- Zero-equity funding
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ESA will hold an applicant briefing on Wednesday 1 October at 11am CEST (10am UK time): click here to register for a place.
Support is also available from the UK Space Agency: the ESA Proposal Advice Service (ESA PAS) is a UK Space Agency-funded pilot programme designed to help UK-based organisations improve the quality of their proposals submitted to the European Space Agency (ESA). The service provides free, non-technical advice to organisations who are preparing ESA bids and want to strengthen their applications before submission. Click here to complete the ESA PAS form.
You can also contact Innovate UK Business Connect’s Space team for assistance.