EU space funding glossary

The European funding maze has its own language. VIRA.space (Virtual Innovation Research Assistant) defines the terms the way evaluators use them — each entry with a direct answer, the official source, and where the instrument fits a startup's journey.

• CASSINI

  CASSINI Space Entrepreneurship Initiative

• EDF / EUDIS

  European Defence Fund / EU Defence Innovation Scheme

• EIC Accelerator

  EIC Accelerator

• ESA BIC

  ESA Business Incubation Centre

• InCubed

  ESA InCubed

• ESA Kick-Start

  ESA Kick-Start Activities

• OSIP

  Open Space Innovation Platform

• Cluster 4

  Horizon Europe Cluster 4 — Digital, Industry and Space

• IRIS²

  Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity and Security by Satellite

• Non-dilutive funding

  Non-dilutive funding

• SoE

  Seal of Excellence

• TRL

  Technology Readiness Level