The European Space Agency launched the Boost! programme to support commercial space transportation services across Europe. Through this programme, funding and technical support have been provided to commercial European companies for the development of launch vehicles, integration facilities, and spaceport infrastructure. The programme also supports Member States in establishing national spaceports and test facilities.

Prerequisites:

• Needs assessment to identify relevant areas to fund access to space R&D

• Access to technical/business experts to support private entities applying for funding

• Lead agency & budget

• Procurement pathway

• Partner support as needed

Cost:

• Ballpark: USD 50k–250k (does not include cost for the fund)

• Includes: partnership setup, fund design and governance, technical assistance, monitoring & evaluation, administrative support. 

Timeframe:

• Overall: 12-60 months

• Phase: fund design (6-12 months), funding round(s) (6 - 48 months), optional evaluation & scale-up (6 - 12 months)

Pros:

• Technological Competitiveness – Strengthens expertise and technological capabilities, enhancing national and international competitiveness.

• Resource Optimization – Fosters optimal resource allocation and supports efficient operations.

Considerations:

• Prioritisation Complexity – Requires understanding of national priorities and needs to determine which use cases to fund, and prioritises them through significant consideration and time.