The Luxembourg-based European Space Resources Innovation Centre has announced five startups worldwide chosen to participate in its Startup Support Programme and begin a three-month pre-incubation period in April — and one of them is San Antonio's own Astroport Space Technologies.
ESRIC, in partnership with the European Space Agency, the Luxembourg Space Agency, the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology and Luxembourg's chief technology incubator Technoport, offers the program to support startups in the space resources industry to develop business models and secure additional investments.
The three-month pre-incubation phase allows the five chosen startups to finalize technical concepts and seek out further market opportunities. During the program, they will receive in-kind support for both technical and commercial development.
Astroport Space Technologies — alongside Anisoprint, Adventus Interstellar, Four Point, and Orbit Recycling — was one of five companies selected from 33 applications received from 17 countries worldwide. Astroport is the only U.S.-based company.
Founded in 2020, Astroport invented a new melting process that converted moon rock and dust into sturdy building materials such as bricks and fibers that can hold up under extreme temperatures. The startup is also working on the development of autonomous robot equipment and new methods of 3D construction printing of surface-planetary critical infrastructure. Last year, Astroport opened a research lab facility at Port San Antonio and in October was chosen for the Air Force Research Lab and U.S. Space Force's 2021 cohort in the Hyperspace Challenge.
After the pre-incubation project, one of the projects will be chosen for a two-year incubation phase to develop their model further and receive a non-repayable grant of up to 200,000 euros. That startup may also receive a three-year residency phrase to continue to grow its sales and evaluate technical progress.
ESRIC's interim director Mathias Link said that the Startup Support Programme is meant to promote the development of technology in the space resources sector, and to help promising early-stage startups get connected with resources. In June, ESRIC will put out a second call for applications.
Sam Ximenes, CEO of Astroport Space Technologies, told the Business Journal that the company plans to use the pre-incubation opportunity to develop its markets in the cislunar economy. It's unique to be chosen as the only U.S.-based company to participate in a European program, he said, and since the company currently has operations in Australia, the potential for a European Astroport arm demonstrates the company's expanding global reach.
