The “Space for V4” project creates a platform that connects various people from the space industry, research, and business sectors.
“The V4 region, and Slovakia in particular, has excellent technological foundations to engage in the space sector. The problem is that the ecosystem is still small, so there are not many activities. The industry has not yet reached a critical mass. Therefore, it is important to educate the public, help companies outside the space field understand this business, and build connections beyond the sector,” says Igor Žaček, known for projects like Ecocapsule and the Vytah.Conf conference.
Slovakia and Space: Present and future potential
“The space sector in Slovakia is slowly growing. More than 45 companies work with technologies utilizing satellite data, especially in Earth observation and navigation. A strong technological base and the involvement of universities and research institutions provide a good foundation for further development,” explains Anna Čaplovičová, Executive Director of INOVATO.
The Ministry of Education coordinates national space activities and international cooperation, supported also by the Ministries of Transport, Environment, Economy, and Interior, which participate in programs such as Galileo and Copernicus. The SARIO agency, with support from the Slovak Space Office, helps connect Slovak companies with foreign partners and supports startups.
Universities in Bratislava, Košice, Žilina, and Comenius University actively collaborate on space missions and technology development. The Eastern Slovak Space Cluster unites academics and companies to attract talent and support innovative projects. Among nonprofit organizations, notable are SOSA, which develops Slovak satellites, and SSPA, focused on space policy and law.
“Grants play an important role, such as the new Slovakia – SPACE program with a budget of €10 million, which supports research and development with a space focus. The ‘Space for V4’ project connects all players from the region, promoting collaboration and growth,” states Čaplovičová.
ESA Business Incubation Centres (ESA BIC) are a network of more than 30 European incubators supporting startups that use space technologies or data. Over the past 20 years, they have helped more than 1,800 companies. They offer up to €50,000 in equity-free funding, technical and business consulting, access to ESA experts, infrastructure, and partners. The programme supports both orbital and terrestrial applications in areas such as agriculture, energy, mobility, and healthcare. It is intended for startups up to five years old with a clear “space connection.” The incubation lasts 24 months and combines mentoring, training, and networking.
Czech Republic: A thriving space ecosystem
The Czech Republic’s space activities are coordinated by the Ministry of Transport, which leads the Coordination Council and manages the National Space Plan 2020–2025. The plan aims to develop an innovative and competitive space sector with an emphasis on cooperation with ESA and EU programs including Galileo and EGNOS.
Prague is also the seat of the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA), enhancing the Czech Republic’s international significance.
“Key players in the Czech Republic include the Ministry of Transport, Czech Space Team, ALKP, Brno Space Cluster, Czech Aerospace Cluster, and Czech Space Alliance. The GNSS Centre of Excellence plays a significant role. ESA supports Czech startups through the ESA Business Incubation Centre and other programs,” explains Veronika Mašínová from JIC.
Research is concentrated at Czech universities and academies, focusing for example on nanosatellites and space navigation. Funding comes from ESA programs and national grants, creating favorable conditions for growth and commercialization of space technologies.
Poland: Dynamic Growth and International Cooperation
“Poland has a rapidly growing space ecosystem with a strong network of companies, research institutes, and government support,” says Pawel Kwiatkowski from ABGI POLAND.
The Polish Space Agency (POLSA) coordinates national initiatives and connects industry with research while providing access to ESA programs. ESA Business Incubation Centres in Warsaw and Rzeszów assist startups in developing technologies and business skills.
“Clusters, research institutes, and technology hubs such as the Space Technologies Centre and the Space Technology Park in Zielona Góra are the driving forces behind development,” adds Kwiatkowski. Poland is increasing its ESA budget to over €360 million, accelerating sector innovation.
Venture capital through funds like Space Bridge Fund and PFR Ventures supports the transition of innovative projects into practice. The National Space Program 2021–2026 sets strategic priorities for satellite systems, robotics, and the use of space data.
Hungary: Developing sector with ambitions
Hungary is actively developing its space sector through a combination of state support, research, and business. “A key project is the HUNOR (Hungarian to Orbit) program, in which a Hungarian research astronaut conducts experiments prepared by domestic universities, research teams, and companies in orbit,” explains Lórinc Pava from DESIGN TERMINAL.
The Hungarian Space Office (HSO) coordinates and represents space activities in the country, providing information on tenders, events, and news. Hunspace is an industrial cluster uniting scientific and technological companies to foster growth and innovation in the Hungarian space sector.
The Hungarian Research Network (HUN-REN), which unites research institutions and hundreds of scientists in various fields including space technologies, plays a major role. For startups, the Design Terminal – Space Terminal, an ESA partner, is key, offering mentoring, funding up to €50,000, and networking.
The ESA Technology Broker program helps companies transfer space innovations to traditional industrial sectors, supporting development through financial grants. Educational activities in STEM fields are supported by the ESA ESERO project, which motivates young people through space themes.
In investments, the Herius Capital fund focuses on supporting space startups in Europe and the Central and Southeast European region.
Strengthening cooperation and new opportunities
The main goal of the “Space for V4” project is to connect small and medium-sized enterprises, research institutions, startups, and other actors in space technologies and the space economy. The project supports regional development and increases the competitiveness of the V4 countries on the global market.
Pavol Pecho from the University of Žilina emphasizes the importance of knowledge sharing: “I see great potential for Slovakia. We can learn from more experienced countries, which saves time and energy. I believe Slovakia will soon catch up with its neighbors and reach the forefront in some areas of space research.”
The project opens new opportunities for business and commercialization of space technologies, supports cross-sector collaboration in industries like engineering, automotive, telecommunications, healthcare, and agriculture. It also helps startups grow and develop commercial solutions through grants and consortium partnerships.
VýťahConf 2025 and the V4 network: Building contacts and cooperation
A significant part of the project was the VýťahConf 2025 conference held on April 24 in Bratislava. The event brought together the space industry with innovations and technologies applicable on Earth. Attendees included startups, researchers, and public institutions who discussed, exchanged experiences, and built new connections.
Experts from ESA, NATO, and innovative companies spoke on stage. The startup competition was very successful, showcasing the potential of young projects.
The result is also an informal V4 network connecting space entities from all countries, enabling faster information sharing and cooperation on new technologies.
Space for V4 at INOFEST 2025: The future under Control
The project will culminate at the INOFEST 2025 festival, where current trends, challenges, and cooperation opportunities within the V4 countries will be discussed.
“We want to bring partners together and support practical cooperation to advance the region’s space economy and increase the competitiveness of the V4 countries. At the same time, we want to attract companies from other sectors, such as the automotive industry, which can apply their experience in this dynamic sector,” says Anna Čaplovičová from INOVATO.
TEXT: Anna Čaplovičová, Natália Stašíková
PHOTO: INOVATO
The project is co-financed by the governments of the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia through Visegrad grants from the International Visegrad Fund. The mission of the fund is to promote the ideas of sustainable regional cooperation in Central Europe. visegradfund.org
