BSGN LifeScience Industry Accelerator
Date:
2021 – …
State of progress:
In progress (phase 2)
Objective:
Accelerating commercial activities in low Earth orbit within the life sciences sector
Partners:
ESA (sponsor), MEDES
Description
The BSGN LifeScience Industry Accelerator, led by ESA’s Business in Space Growth Network (BSGN) and managed by MEDES since 2021, aligns with ESA’s future strategy, in connection with Strategy 2040 and the Terrae Novae strategic roadmap. Its goal is to promote the growth of commercial activities in low Earth orbit within the BSGN framework.
The BSGN LifeScience Industry Accelerator aims to:
- involve new stakeholders from the biomanufacturing, biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and cosmetics sectors,
- support projects that address terrestrial challenges that can be solved using the advantages of the space environment combined with space technologies and infrastructures,
- collaborate with the commercial space ecosystem in low Earth orbit,
- encourage the development of high-potential commercial activities,
- attract new funding sources beyond ESA.
This accelerator is part of the ESA BSGN Industry Accelerators, alongside themes such as “Advanced Materials and In-Space Manufacturing,” “AgriFood,” and “Space Resources.”
Completed activities – Phase 1
In 2021, ESA’s BSGN launched the BSGN LifeScience industrial accelerator, managed by MEDES. This first phase served as an exploratory and transition phase dedicated to accelerating projects. The initiative generated strong interest from the life sciences sector in leveraging space conditions, particularly in the fields of diagnostics, pharmaceuticals, and bioproduction. It also highlighted the need to increase awareness within the healthcare ecosystem about the opportunities offered by space.
To date, five innovative life science projects have been accelerated and are scheduled to fly by 2026 via European commercial platforms aboard the ISS.
These initiatives, benefiting from 50% ESA co-funding, illustrate the growing momentum of the sector, both for terrestrial healthcare applications and for the development of commercial services in orbit.
Perspectives (phase 2)
The LifeScience accelerator has now entered its second phase, a key step aimed at strengthening its operations and ensuring the sustainability of its funding model.
While the projects from Phase 1 continue their orbital deployment and begin to deliver their first scientific results, the new cohort has already been selected for acceleration, demonstrating the continuity and growing momentum of the accelerator.
Collaboration with other accelerators and industrial partners will play a crucial role in ensuring the long-term viability of the initiative, by engaging major private-sector actors and exploring new sources of funding.
The main objective of this phase is to optimise and stabilise the processes for identifying and supporting projects, while consolidating a sustainable economic model. The accelerator thus continues its expansion, positioning low Earth orbit as a strategic driver of innovation for the life sciences and attracting players from biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics.
Call for Projects
The second call for projects was launched in spring 2025! It enabled the selection of new innovative projects in the life sciences.
The selected projects will be officially announced soon.
More information
Consult the following information websites:
