Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice took part in ESA BIC Slovakia Launch Day, which was hosted by the Technical University of Košice (TUKE) on December 4, 2025. On this occasion, the ESA Business Incubation Centre Slovakia (ESA BIC Slovakia) was officially opened, symbolically in the same year that the European Space Agency (ESA) celebrated its 50th anniversary.
The project is being implemented by the Eastern Slovak Space Cluster (ESSC), which brings together the strongest players in the region’s innovation ecosystem. Its founding members are UPJŠ in Košice, TUKE, the Institute of Experimental Physics of the Slovak Academy of Sciences (SAV), Deutsche Telekom IT Solutions Slovakia, and SARIO.
Several representatives from UPJŠ attended the event: JUDr. Ľudmila Elbert, PhD., university associate professor, vice-rector for undergraduate and lifelong learning; RNDr. Ivana Šišoláková, PhD., associate professor, member of the Supervisory Board of the Eastern Slovak Space Cluster, doc. Mgr. Michal Gallay, PhD. vice-dean for external relations at FoS at UPJŠ and Mgr. Max Martin from the Institute of Geography at FoS at UPJŠ, who presented extensive activities in the field of remote sensing (DPZ) and spatial analysis as part of the program.
The opening of ESA BIC Slovakia also included the historic launch and presentation of the first open call. Those interested in incubation have the opportunity to submit their projects by February 15, 2026.
During the event, current topics in the fields of space innovation and technology were presented. The event created an important platform for key figures working in the space ecosystem and technology companies, as well as representatives of the academic sphere, to meet.
