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Welcome to the ESA BIC Northern Germany Alumni Series, where we showcase the remarkable journeys and experiences of our alumni startups. As prospective incubatees explore the possibilities within the ESA Business Incubation Centre Northern Germany, this series offers a firsthand glimpse into the transformative impact of our incubation program. Each instalment of the Alumni Series provides a unique opportunity to delve into the stories of startups like Blue Orbit Space Systems who have thrived within the ESA BIC ecosystem. Through the interviews, alumni share insights, lessons learned, and the support received during their time in the programme.
Today we talked to René, Founder and CEO of Blue Orbit Space Systems. May their journey inspire you to join the ESA BIC startup community
1. Tell us a bit about Blue Orbit and what you do!
Blue Orbit is an aerospace company, a startup based in Bremen. We focus on the development of plasma solutions for aerospace, and the application of outer space plasma-based technologies for industrial solutions on the ground. The company consists of a multidisciplinary team of scientists and engineers. We develop software, hardware and integrated solutions.
2. Tell us about your team!
The Blue Orbit Space Systems team has been growing and is a multidisciplinary and multicultural team consisting of scientists and engineers with experience in academia and industry. We originally consisted of five members, and now we have some additional members joining the team. We have competences in engineering, science and software development.
3. How did you come to know about the ESA BIC Northern Germany business incubation programme and what motivated you to apply?
I knew about the ESA BIC Northern Germany from when I first came to Bremen, Germany. I started looking for aerospace opportunities in Bremen and I knew about AviaSpace Bremen. I started attending the seminars – online seminars that they were offering weekly, biweekly or monthly – about opportunities in aerospace and trends in the aerospace industry, with different people from around Europe.
Through these conferences, I learned about the ESA BIC Northern Germany incubation centre and the incubation programme. At this time, I was thinking that I had good connections with people that we were working together with, developing different technologies inofficially. I thought it was a good opportunity to apply and put our knowledge and experience to work developing products for the space industry in Bremen. That’s how we came to know about it and what motivated us to apply.
Visualization of a Blue Orbit thruster in space (©2025 Blue Orbit Space Systems)
4. During your time as one of the incubatees, what are some highlights or goals that you’ve achieved?
I think so far the biggest achievement for us has been gaining a customer – having their confidence in us to develop tailored solutions for them. I think for us it’s our biggest achievement, despite it still being ongoing.
Apart from this, another highlight has been the development of our first prototypes of resistojets and electric propulsion prototypes.
5. What is your advice for aspiring entrepreneurs and young startups?
I think my advice would be to really take time to gain experience and develop knowledge about product development, because it’s something different when you develop technologies in academia than when you are developing a product for a specific market. They should also know the market beforehand.
6. In one sentence, how would you describe Blue Orbit?
I would describe Blue Orbit as an innovative startup that is developing plasma and plasma technologies for aerospace solutions, while at the same time trying to bring aerospace technologies to ground applications in industry to solve industrial problems.
To learn more about Blue Orbit:
ESA BIC Northern Germany IS READY FOR YOUR IDEAS:
As you embark on your entrepreneurial voyage, we invite you to discover the diverse paths taken by our ESA BIC Northern Germany alumni, from inception to exit. Their experiences serve as inspiration, illuminating the possibilities that await within the vibrant community of ESA BIC Northern Germany. Join us on this journey as we celebrate innovation, collaboration, and the boundless potential of space-tech startups. Together, we shape the future of entrepreneurship and technological advancement, one success story at a time.
About ESA BIC Northern Germany
The Incubation Centre of the European Space Agency in Northern Germany (ESA BIC Northern Germany) is headquartered jointly with the Bremen aeronautics and space industries association at the Bremer Innovations- und Technologiezentrum BITZ as well as the Digihub Industry – two of the largest innovation and technology centres for high-tech companies and startups in the German federal state of Bremen. The ESA BIC Northern Germany brings new startup opportunities to the region and thus strengthens the aeronautics and space sector in the German federal state of Bremen. AVIASPACE BREMEN e.V. supports the incubatees with its network, public relations work and targeted coaching not only during the incubation period, but also afterwards as alumni. STARTHAUS Bremen & Bremerhaven is the central point of contact in the Bremen startup ecosystem and supports the startups on all issues relating to business development and financing. The ESA BIC Northern Germany is managed by Anwendungszentrum GmbH Oberpfaffenhofen (AZO), an international networking and branding company for the European space programmes that also manages ESA BIC Bavaria with three locations in southern Germany.
Since 2021, ESA BIC Northern Germany has also been offering its service to space-related startups in Schleswig-Holstein. The Technikzentrum Lübeck with GATEWAY49, AviaSpace Bremen and AZO jointly operate this extension of ESA BIC Northern Germany. As of June 2024, ESA BIC Northern Germany also offers its services to space-related startups in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. The Innovation Port Wismar with AviaSpace Bremen and AZO jointly operate this extension of ESA BIC Northern Germany. There are also plans to extend ESA BIC Northern Germany to the northern German federal states of Hamburg, Lower Saxony, and Berlin-Brandenburg.
Technical support of the ESA BIC Northern Germany, is offered by Fraunhofer IFAM, German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence DFKI, DLR-RY Institute for Space Systems, Alfred-Wegener Institute for Polar Research AWI, Universities in the State of Bremen incl. many institutes such as IUP Institute for Environmental Physics, Center of Applied Space Technology and Microgravity ZARM, TH Lübeck, University Lübeck, Life Science Nord, Airbus Group, ArianeGroup, AES Aircraft Elektro/Elektronik System, Dräger, DSI Aerospace, Possehl, and OHB.
