Our team and mission

ESA Business Applications and Space Solutions (BASS) aims to show that space is open for business and has the power to improve our everyday lives on Earth. This is done by helping companies in ESA’s member states in the development of innovative services and products which utilise data from existing space assets, such as Satellite Communication, Earth Observation, Satellite Navigation and Human Spaceflight technologies, in combination with terrestrial technologies, to deliver sustainable services for the benefit of user communities. 

The programme helps stakeholders in addressing commercial and technical risks throughout the development lifecycle, transforming commercially promising space‐based application concepts into operational, profitable and self‐sustaining applications. Working in close cooperation with stakeholders and user communities across a wide variety of markets, BASS enables innovative space-based applications that deliver a positive socio-economic and environmental impact.

Affected by a rapid digital transformation, policies and regulations around climate risk disclosures and targets as well as more extreme hazards to model and insure, finance and insurance present a significant growth opportunity for innovative services which integrate space technologies.

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

Field(s) of activity for the internship

Topic of the internship: Business intelligence for finance and insurance space applications 

As an intern, you will aim to support the business intelligence of the Finance and Insurance working group to uncover insights and trends that will drive strategic decision-making. You will aim to build a comprehensive understanding of the market opportunities in the financial and insurance sectors for downstream space applications to support the development of sustainable, green and innovative applications. This will include the following tasks:

• supporting the development of data-driven strategies to enhance business performance;
• collaborating with team members to gather and interpret data from various sources;
• assisting in the preparation of reports and presentations that communicate findings;
• identifying opportunities for process improvements based on data analysis;
• supporting the implementation of new data analysis tools and techniques;
• identifying and characterising commercial opportunities for innovative services and applications in the financial and insurance sectors exploiting space assets such as Satellite Communications, Satellite Navigation, and Earth Observation;
• supporting the identification and engagement with champion industry stakeholders and public entities who may be the potential customers/users of the services identified;
• identifying the gaps with respect to the existing technology and services and support the identification of new developments both for terrestrial and space-based technologies.

You are expected to gain the following experience during the internship:

• insight into the role of business intelligence in strategic decision-making;
• experience with data visualisation tools and techniques;
• experience with stakeholder engagement and communication;
• an overview of innovative services based on integrated space-based data and terrestrial technologies;
• an understanding of the future trends in the financial services industry and the emerging role of the space industry in the finance and insurance value chains.

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.

Knowledge and background in data analysis, finance or actuarial science would be considered a plus.