Are you ready to turn deep tech & space innovation into planetary solutions?

The BiDS Award is a joint initiative powered by ESA Φ-lab and ESA BIC Latvia, which will take place within the framework of the Big Data from Space (BiDS) conference — a key European event bringing together industry, research, and policy leaders to explore how space data and technologies can address global challenges: how deep tech solutions help transforming from data to knowledge, to insight or foresight, showcasing how space technologies boost the usage of data providing planetary solutions.

The Award provides visibility, networking, and opportunities to European space start-ups and academia working at the intersection of Earth and global challenges, and the commercialisation of space-enabled solutions. 

While Earth Observation (EO) remains a key enabler, proposals may also involve upstream, downstream, and spin-in innovations — including navigation, satellite communications, in-orbit services, robotics, advanced materials, quantum technologies, and AI-driven analytics.

Throughout this award, participants will have the opportunity to:

• Highlight and showcase innovative and disruptive business models.
• Raise industry awareness of the potential of European space start-ups.
• Receive support to accelerate company development through increased visibility, networking, and targeted contributions.
• Promote open innovation, interoperability, and cross-disciplinary collaboration, building on open and FAIR data principles, digital trust, and cloud-based technologies.

Proposed ideas should be aimed at addressing global challenges and opportunities with space-enabled technologies for human and planetary prosperity. 

Examples include (but not limited):

• Precision agriculture and food security
• Natural disaster monitoring and early warning
• Environmental sustainability and biodiversity tracking
• Maritime safety and autonomous navigation
• Sustainable energy and infrastructure monitoring
• Urban planning and smart cities
• Air quality and pollution monitoring
• Space debris monitoring and in-orbit servicing

BiDS Award process:

1. All submitted ideas will be assessed by the Evaluation Committee.
2. Top 5 applicants will pitch at the Joint ESA/SatCen/JRC Booth, at BiDS 2025 in Riga, Thursday the 2nd of October.
3. 3 winners will be announced and awarded during the BiDS awards ceremony the 2nd of October.

Prizes:

• Five one-year free access to Altair Simulation – AI - data analytics platforms (total value €300,000) – Altair
  
• Access to Satellite Imagery (total value €25,000) – AIRBUS

Evaluation Committee:

• ESA experts
• ESA BIC Latvia representatives
• Sponsors