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When ESA BIC Norway opened in August 2018, it was the 20th business incubation centre in the European Space Agency's global network — and the first time Norway had a structured national programme dedicated to space startups. Kjeller Innovasjon, founded in 1995 at the Kjeller Research Park outside Oslo, has run it ever since. In seven years, the programme has helped build a generation of Norwegian space companies from the ground up.
Now it's getting an upgrade. A new ESA contract extension, and with it comes a redesigned internationalisation programme, larger incentives, and a simplified application process. The ambition is clear: more companies, better support, and a stronger Norwegian presence in the European space ecosystem.
ESA BIC Norway is open to the full spectrum of space entrepreneurship — from companies developing technology needed in the space industry or space technology itself, to founders building products and services powered by satellite data. Earth observation, navigation, communication, defence, maritime, precision agriculture: if space is part of your value chain, this programme was designed with you in mind.
At Ground Control #5, Daniel Ras-Vidal — CEO of Kjeller Innovasjon — walks us through what the renewed programme actually looks like. What it offers, what it requires, and what the path in looks like for different types of companies. Practical, direct, and worth your time if you're building something with a space dimension — or wondering whether you should be.
Daniel Ras-Vidal is CEO at Kjeller Innovasjon, a leading Norwegian deep tech innovation company focused on building the next generation of startups and scaleups within space technologies, defence and dual use, and energy. Daniel has 20 years of experience as a leader working at the intersection of innovation, startups, research, investments and public policy, having held roles in the public sector at the Ministry of Trade & Fisheries and the Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise (NHO), before joining Kjeller Innovasjon in 2020. He is passionate about making good ideas and great science come alive to create value through the building of new products, services and companies.
Date: Tuesday 24 June 2026Time: 17:00–20:00 (programme 17:00–18:30, networking 18:30–20:00)Venue: Mesh Nationaltheateret — rooftop terrace, Tordenskiolds gate 2, 0160 Oslo
Price: Free (registration required)