The ESA BICs in the Baltic countries are also included in the cooperation. The purpose of the Academy is to bring the communities together and give startups and alumni access to knowledge, experience and practical advice that can help them develop their companies.
Nordic Academy arranges four webinars this year, and the last webinar in 2026 will be arranged by ESA BIC Finland.
In the From Lab to Launch webinar, the focus was on a particularly important challenge: how to take technology from the lab and prepare it for launch and operation in space.
Developing an innovative technology is a significant achievement. But when that technology is intended for space, development is only part of the journey.
The technology must also be tested, verified and qualified for an environment that is exceptionally demanding. It may need to survive vibration during launch, extreme changes in temperature, radiation, vacuum and many other stresses—all while continuing to perform reliably when repair may no longer be possible.
For an early-stage company, this journey can raise many questions.
- What kind of testing is actually required?
- How early should qualification be considered?
- How do you move through the different technology-readiness levels?
- How can a startup approach this process in a way that is both technically sound and commercially realistic?
These questions affect more than engineering. The decisions made during testing and qualification can influence a company’s timeline, funding requirements, partnerships and ability to reach the market.
Understanding the process early can therefore save both time and resources and help companies communicate their progress more clearly to customers, investors and partners.