Our team and mission

The Ventures and Financing office aims to support European Space start-ups that have managed to demonstrate their technologies and are ready to develop and grow commercially.

On the ventures side, the team manages the ESA Marketplace programme element, which includes working closely with industry and member states to promote commercial growth for high-growth companies as well as manage the ESA Business Accelerator programme. Furthermore, the team supports pre-commercial ESA programmes to identify and promote promising projects and start-ups. 

Candidates interested are encouraged to visit the ESA website: http://www.esa.int

Field(s) of activity for the internship

You can choose between the following topics:

1) Topic 1: Process Automation and Digital Tools

• identify opportunities to automate repetitive or manual processes within market research, financial assessments, and application tracking;
• contribute to the design and development of simple internal tools (e.g., dashboards, templates, or scripts) to streamline data analysis and reporting;
• support integration and upkeep of document repositories, or shared databases used in engagement and tracking efforts;
• work with the team to pilot and evaluate automation tools to enhance operational efficiency.

2) Topic 2: Communication and Relationship with the Industry

• actively promote the ESA Marketplace programme to key stakeholders and organizations across the space ecosystem;
• provide hands-on support to companies during their application process, offering clear guidance and responsive assistance;
• collaborate with internal teams to create effective marketing materials, case studies, and outreach content tailored to different industry segments;
• assist in organising and supporting industry events, webinars, and matchmaking activities that foster ecosystem engagement. 

3) Topic 3: Space Market Research and Business Analysis

• conduct research to identify and evaluate potential candidate companies within the space sector, supporting the development of a comprehensive and up-to-date ecosystem map;
• analyse business plans submitted by applicant companies, assessing their viability, innovation potential, and alignment with evolving space industry trends;
• support internal efforts to refine financial assessment processes, including data collection, scoring frameworks, and benchmarking practices;
• monitor and report on emerging industry trends, contributing insights for future thematic programme campaigns and strategic focus areas. 

Behavioural competencies

Result Orientation
Operational Efficiency
Fostering Cooperation
Relationship Management
Continuous Improvement
Forward Thinking

For more information, please refer to ESA Core Behavioural Competencies guidebook

Education

You must be a university student, preferably studying at master’s level. In addition, you must be able to prove that you will be enrolled at your University for the entire duration of the internship.

Additional requirements

The working languages of the Agency are English and French. A good knowledge of one of these is required. Knowledge of another ESA Member State language is an asset.

During the interview, your motivation for applying to this role will be explored.

General assets:

• proactiveness and autonomy;
• knowledge of the financial ecosystem and an understanding of the company’s investment lifecycle;
• knowledge of the European space ecosystem and economy;
• strong analytic and organisational skills;
• demonstrated interest in space technologies and start-ups;
• practical experience from working in a space startup.

Topic-specific assets:

Topic 1: Process Automation and Digital Tools:

• experience with Microsoft 365 tools, especially Excel (advanced functions/macros), Power BI, and Power Automate for process optimisation and reporting;
• ability to identify inefficiencies and propose automation solutions within existing workflows using Microsoft-based platforms.

Topic 2: Marketing and Communication:

• knowledge and background in marketing and communication is an asset.

Topic 3: Space Market Research and Business Analysis:

• knowledge and background in economics, finance or business administration is an asset.