3rd CommEO Award (powered by CDL-Milan & ESA)
Are you building the future of Earth Observation advancing Resilience, Climate, or Infrastructure solutions?
The European Space Agency (ESA) and Creative Destruction Lab (CDL-Milan) invite you to participate in the 3rd CommEO Award. This co-created competition is designed for ambitious, early-stage startups looking to anchor their technical innovation in a robust commercial strategy.
Join the next generation of Earth Observation leaders !
By participating, you gain access to a unique set of opportunities:
- Venture-Building Excellence: Apply CDL’s world-class methodology to sharpen your business model and establish a structured toward acceleration and market opportunities
- Scientific Leadership: Access CDL mentors and ESA’s unparalleled expertise in space and Earth Observation
- ESA credibility: Benefit from ESA’s established reputation and technical authority, helping reinforce trust among investors and partners.
Prizes include:
- Mentorship: Guaranteed interview for the Creative Destruction Lab’s Global CDL Space Program
- Satellite data access: 25,000 EUR voucher for ESA Third-Party-Missions (TPM) data, including more than 65 satellite missions
- Integrated data and technology resources: Skywatch 8,600 EUR commercial data credits,12 months of SkyWatch BUILD with Tier 2 support (6,500 EUR value), API onboarding, hands-on support, development and go-to-market guidance
- Cloud Resources: 10,000 EUR voucher for cloud computing, sponsored by OVHcloud
- Networking: Free admission to ESA 3rd EO commercialisation Forum to connect with industry leaders, invitation to upcoming CDL events in Milan
Bring your idea to Milan and Seville !
Preliminary Round – online submission (February 18th to March 22nd 2026)
All submitted ideas will be assessed by a jury composed of CDL-Milan experts, ESA experts and sponsors. Announcement of selected 15 participants for pitching the first round will be made by end of March.
Initial Round – Milan, Italy (April 13th, 2026)
This selection round will bring together founders, operators, investors, scientists, and policymakers from across the Earth Observation ecosystem for a high-impact afternoon of live pitches, interactive demos, and curated networking.
The event is designed to be a hybrid showcase experience: in addition to formal pitch presentations, each startup will have a dedicated demo/booth space. This allows judges and guests to move freely, engage directly with founders on their business, and dive deeper into technical questions in a more interactive setting.
The top 5 applicants will advance to the main stage in Seville.
Final Round – Seville, Spain, ESA 3rd EO commercialisation Forum, May 12th, 2026 (13:45-14:30)
The finalist ventures will present their innovations on a prestigious platform, culminating in the final jury decision and the announcement of the overall winner, distribution of the sponsors prizes, and a People’s Choice Award.
Preliminary round submission information
Proposed ideas shall align with Earth Observation commercialisation objectives, leveraging EO-based downstream solutions to address worldwide challenges and emerging opportunities:
- Resilience: dual-use applications supporting civil security
- Climate: emission monitoring, climate risks, carbon accounting etc.
- Infrastructure: urban planning, asset monitoring etc.
Idea submission format : Each idea shall include 5-minute PowerPoint pitch (pptx format, maximum 15 slides) to be uploaded as attachment, on the OSIP application page.
After the pre-selection phase, successful candidates will have one week to confirm their attendance, either online or in person.
CommEO Award assessment timeline
1. Submission Deadline: Pre-selection submission closes on March 22nd, 2026.
2. Shortlist Announcement: The 15 participants selected for the first round are announced by March 26th.
3. First Round (Milan): The top 5 finalists are selected on April 13th, 2026.
4. Final Round (Seville): Finalists pitch to investors and experts at the 3rd EO Commercialisation Forum, May 12–14, 2026.
5. Award Ceremony (Seville): Three winners are awarded on May 12th, 2026
Sponsors
Creative Destruction Lab (CDL), Space Program
The CDL Space program is a prestigious, objectives-based mentorship initiative run by the non-profit Creative Destruction Lab, specifically tailored for massively scalable, early-stage (pre-Seed to pre-Series A) deep-tech startups in space exploration, satellite communications, Earth observation, robotics, and related fields. Operating internationally from sites like CDL-Paris, CDL-Texas, CDL-Milan, and CDL-Toronto, it connects founders with top-tier mentors—including astronauts, investors, scientists, and entrepreneurs—for five intensive sessions over nine months (October to June) to refine objectives, raise capital, and build networks, all at no cost or equity stake.
Gaining entry is highly competitive, as CDL receives thousands of global applications annually for limited spots, with only a select subset advancing through rigorous selection based on team strength, technology differentiation, and growth potential
ESA Third Party Missions (TPM)
Third Party Missions are Earth Observation satellites operated by various commercial and public organisations worldwide. Through dedicated agreements with these partners, ESA facilitates access to their data to advance research and the development of innovative applications.
Through a single access point, users worldwide can tap into an extensive catalogue of data from more than 65 missions, including around 80 instruments. The offering spans Radar Imagery, Optical and Multispectral Radiometry, as well as Atmospheric data. Missions include GHGSat, Pléiades Neo, ICEYE, SkySat, Spire, Planet SuperDove etc.
SkyWatch provides a unified platform to discover, purchase, and integrate satellite, aerial, and drone imagery into applications, GIS environments, and operational systems, helping teams turn geospatial data into usable infrastructure.
OVHcloud is a global leader in cloud innovation, delivering powerful and reliable public and private cloud solutions, shared hosting, and high‑performance dedicated servers to customers in over 140 countries.
With a strong commitment to security, sustainability, and transparency, OVHcloud also provides domain name services, telephony solutions, and fast, dependable internet connectivity, empowering organizations of all sizes to build, scale, and succeed with confidence.
