ESA’s OPEN CALL FOR PROPOSALS FOR KICK-STARTS (BASS ARTES 4.0) is always open. This means that businesses from any sector can apply for Kick-Starts throughout the year.
Please note that for 2025 the following deadlines for submissions apply:
- Friday 29 August 2025
- Friday 31 October 2025
About Kick-Starts
A Kick-Start is a feasibility study lasting six months. The aim of a Kick-Start is to determine whether a service is technically feasible, commercially viable and wanted by users. During a Kick-Start, teams will design the technical service architecture, engage with potential customers, improve the business plan, and establish next steps in developing the service. Kick-Starts must involve the use of at least one space asset, such as satellite communications, satellite Earth observation, and satellite navigation.
A Kick-Start consists of three tasks:
- WP1000: Customer/User Engagement – The team running a Kick-Start will connect with users and potential customers to understand what they need from the service, to collect requirements, and to receive feedback about the proposed service. Teams should try to strengthen relationships with clients and establish a customer pipeline. Service requirements are the output of WP1000.
- WP2000: Technical Feasibility – The Kick-Start team will use the user requirements to design the technical service architecture. This should include all system components, interfaces, processes, inputs, outputs, and data involved in the service. Teams can develop a mock-up, prototype, or proof of concept, but this is not compulsory. The service and system architecture definition are the output of WP2000.
- WP3000: Economic Viability – The Kick-Start team will do a market analysis, competitive analysis, risk analysis, and financial analysis in order to establish the economic viability of the service. Teams should develop and build upon their business plans while carrying out user engagement and technical feasibility activities. The output of WP3000 is a comprehensive business plan.
The Kick-Start tasks and outputs are summarised in the diagram below. The three tasks are carried out in parallel over six months and three meetings with ESA are planned during this time:
- Kick-Off meeting (KO)
- Mid-Term Review meeting (MTR)
- Final Review meeting (FRM)