NewSpace |ESA Phi-LabNET Spain
ESA Phi-LabNET Spain
Driving innovation for the commercialisation of space technologies to enhance climate resilience.
The Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia (IEEC) is committed to technological innovation in the space sector with programmes such as Phi-LabNET Spain of the European Space Agency (ESA). Located in Barcelona, this competence centre aims to foster collaboration between academic institutions, companies, and investors in order to facilitate the commercialisation of space technologies to enhance climate resilience.
The programme is supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Universities through the Spanish Space Agency (AEE) and by the Government of Catalonia in the framework of the NewSpace Strategy of Catalonia.
Innovation for climate resilience
Phi-LabNET Spain is an initiative of ESA’s ScaleUp Programme, an initiative designed to accelerate the commercialisation of space and foster the growth of private investment in the space sector. Since its creation, Phi-LabNET Spain is part of the ESA Phi-Lab NET, a network of 11 Phi-Labs across ESA member states.
The mission of Phi-LabNET Spain is to accelerate the future of the space sector, both upstream (development of space objects and their propulsion into space) and downstream (exploitation and conversion of data and knowledge obtained through space technology into applications on Earth), through innovative projects with high commercial potential. The ultimate goal is to contribute to climate resilience, while strengthening the competitiveness of the space sector through research into groundbreaking science and technologies, and to establish Europe as the global leader in this field.
The consortium
The IEEC is the coordinator of the winning proposal to host a Phi-Lab within the framework of the call launched by ESA, which was awarded in September 2024. Since then, the IEEC has played a pivotal role in managing and coordinating this initiative, which involves a big consortium of universities and research and innovation centres. These are the i2CAT Foundation, the Cartographic and Geological Institute of Catalonia (ICGC), Fundación General CSIC, KIMbcn, ARRIBES Enlightenment, University of Valencia (UVEG), Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya – BarcelonaTech (UPC), Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC-CNS), Ricardo Valle Institute of Innovation (IRV), ESA MELiSSA Pilot Plant at Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), and the Institute of Photonic Sciences (ICFO).
Services
Through strategic partnerships and a solid commitment to both research and industry, the ESA Phi-LabNET Spain ensures that innovative projects, from early-stage ideas to fully developed solutions, receive the essential support to grow and succeed.
Located in the RDIT building at the Mediterranean Technology Park in Castelldefels (Barcelona), the ESA Phi-LabNET Spain provides a variety of services to the stakeholders, including funding, support and coaching (IP management, research mentoring, technical support and business coaching), access to infrastructure (space data, laboratories and other specialised facilities) and networking opportunities.