Taguspark welcomes new ESA BIC Tagus+ and reinforces Oeiras as a national hub for space

Taguspark is now home to the new ESA BIC Tagus+, a Business Incubation Center run by the European Space Agency, reinforcing its role as the main national hub for science, technology, and innovation in the space sector.

The initiative is led by Instituto Superior Técnico, through Técnico Venture Lab (TVL), and is the result of a national consortium that brings together academic entities, incubators, industrial and institutional partners, with the aim of accelerating the creation and growth of space-based start-ups.

Located on the IST Campus in Oeiras, at Taguspark, ESA BIC Tagus+ aims to create a space entrepreneurship cluster anchored in Greater Lisbon, in conjunction with strategic hubs in other regions of the country, namely the Azores. The program aims to position Oeiras as a benchmark in the space economy, promoting the enhancement of scientific knowledge, technological innovation, and the creation of highly skilled jobs.

In its first three years, ESA BIC Tagus+ aims to support at least 18 start-ups, offering incubation for up to 24 months, financing, specialized mentoring, technical and legal support, as well as access to international infrastructure and networks, including the European Space Agency's European network.

For Taguspark, this initiative represents a strategic reinforcement of the innovation ecosystem established in Oeiras, consolidating the link between universities, research centers, start-ups, and technology companies, and affirming the Park as a leading hub in the development of space technologies and space-based applications.

The program is scheduled to open this month with the launch of the first Open Call for start-ups in February.