News

Vienna, June 2026 – Austrian space company GATE Space has won €6.3 million in funding through the European Commission’s EIC Accelerator program. The financing consists of a combination of research and development grants and equity investment implemented by the European Investment Bank (EIB) and is considered one of Europe’s most competitive technology funding instruments.

24 June 2026, Schwechat, Austria – With the opening of the new Space Factory at ESA Phi-Lab Austria, Lower Austria is taking the next important step in the expansion of its Space Tech hub. The new development and testing infrastructure offers start-ups, research institutions and space companies state-of-the-art facilities for the development, prototyping and testing of space technologies. 

Schwechat, 12 June 2026, The first commercial satellite mission from Austria was presented today at Vienna Airport. With the mission "IOD-01 | AT-Astra" R-Space introduced the first commercial satellite developed and manufactured entirely in Austria. The launch is scheduled for autumn 2026 with the third flight of ISAR Aerospace's Spectrum rocket from the spaceport in Andøya, Norway. R-Space is supported by ESA Phi-Lab Austria, Europe's first ESA Phi-Lab.

26 June 2025, Vienna - Yesterday we celebrated 1 year ESA Phi-Lab Austria and held our 3rd Open Call Event. It was a year filled with ground-breaking ideas, collaboration with visionary founders, and exciting progress in the Austrian space innovation ecosystem.

To mark this milestone and to announce our 3rd Open Call for Proposals, we held our Anniversary & Open Call Event, where we looked back on our first year and launch the next Open Call for Proposals to shape the future of space technology.

23 June 2025, St. Pölten - One year ago, ESA Phi-Lab Austria was opened as the first competence centre of its kind outside ESA headquarters. Today, Lower Austria, together with the European Space Agency, draws an impressive balance of the first year: Five highly innovative projects, 2.5 million euros in promised funding – and a young company that will soon be launched into space with SpaceX.

10 July 2024, Vienna-Schwechat - Yesterday, ESA Phi-Lab Austria invited innovative companies, start-ups and researchers to participate in its first Open Call. The new competence centre at Vienna International Airport, which is the first of 11 ESA Phi-Labs for in Europe, is launching this exciting call to promote projects that are shaping the future of space upstream technology.

24 April 2024, Vienna-Schwechat - A landmark partnership between the European Space Agency (ESA), the Ministry of Climate Protection, and the state of Lower Austria was announced at a press conference at Vienna International Airport today. The first European ESA Phi Lab has been officially opened. The centre of excellence aims to promote the commercialization of space travel.