2025 Highlights

2025 was a pivotal year for the commercial space sector, and the Business in Space Growth Network (BSGN) played a key role in driving progress. From delivering three commercial research projects aboard the ISS to securing €3.82M in private investment through accelerated ventures, the BSGN continues advancing initiatives that bridge terrestrial industries and space-based opportunities. The article highlights the year’s key milestones, collaborations, and measurable outcomes.

The Accelerators

The Business in Space Growth Network initiative supports commercial space R&D through accelerators that connect Earth-based industries with space opportunities. These programs aim to create new markets and ecosystems while advancing human and robotic exploration capabilities. 

• •  The Life Sciences Industry Accelerator, managed by MEDES, has announced the selected projects of its 2nd cohort: Pricilia and MyrSpaceCardio. In its 1st cohort, it supported 5 projects, with 2 projects launched their in-orbit experiments during 2025 (BioOrbit and Zeprion-2) and 3 projects expected to launch during 2026 (SpaceOrganoids, HORUS, and Spancer). 

• • The Advanced Materials & In-Space Manufacturing Industry Accelerator, managed by the Satellite Applications Catapult, has supported the acceleration of CosmicMaker and Hephaestus, both expected to execute in-orbit demonstrations in 2026-2027. 

• • The Space Resources Industry Accelerator, managed by ESRIC, is currently supporting 6 projects in the acceleration phase: Maana Electric, Volta Space Technologies, FibreCoat, Orbital Matter, OrbitFab and Space Power. 

• • 2 projects from the Agri-food Industry Accelerator’s 1st cohort launched to the ISS: Sophie’s Bionutrients and Astrobiome. 

Commercial Services 

The Business in Space Growth Network has updated its commercial service pages to provide the latest offerings and capabilities. Visit the updated listings to explore current service listings, discover new solutions for space-related activities, and suggest additional services to help expand the portfolio. 

Events 

The following section highlights the main events and activities that took place during 2025, showcasing important milestones and community initiatives from throughout the year.   

• • Space Resources Week, which took place during May 2025 in Luxemburg, is a yearly event organised by our partner the European Space Resources Innovation Centre (ESRIC), in collaboration with the European Space Agency (ESA), the Luxembourg Space Agency (LSA) and the Luxembourg Institute for Science and Technology (LIST).  The event brings together space agencies, business leaders, researchers, and early-stage ventures, addressing the science, technology, economic, legal and regulatory aspects of space resources. To read more: Space Resources Week 2026 

• • Automated LEO Platforms Industry Day – The workshop, led by ESA’s Human & Robotic Exploration directorate (HRE), took place during September 2025 in the Netherlands. The workshop brought together ESA teams, LEO commercial service providers, payload hardware developers, terrestrial industry users, investors and consulting services, to examine how a new class of automated, rapidly recoverable, free-flying platforms can accelerate microgravity research and foster commercial activity. To read more: HRE Industry Workshop – Automated LEO Platforms for R&D and Manufacturing – BSGN 

• • Space Resources Forum 2025: Exploring the Ground-Based Pilot Plant – During this event, which took place during November 2025 in ESTEC (the Netherlands), we explored the Ground-Based Pilot Plant (GBPP), a visionary initiative by the European Space Agency (ESA) and the European Space Resources Innovation Centre (ESRIC). The GBPP is a testbed for producing oxygen and metals from lunar regolith using Molten Salt Electrolysis. The event provided early insights into the upcoming ITT for the GBPP, alongside the opportunity to connect, contribute, and collaborate.  

Follow the Business in Space Growth Network on LinkedIn to hear about the latest news and upcoming events. 

Space Resources Challenge

The competition, whose field test was hosted during October 2025 in ESA-DLR LUNA facility in Germany, was the culmination of months of work and experiments. During the final event, 8 teams were challenged to simulate a Moon mission scenario set in the 2040s, during which 8 astronauts live and operate for 30 days at the lunar South Pole, using autonomous systems to extract oxygen from lunar regolith. The teams and their robots had to dig, sort and operate independently, all in a lunar-like testbed. To read more: Second Space Resources Challenge: Highlights and Key Results