The initiative will provide researchers with funded access to microgravity research opportunities, generating critical data that can advance the maturation of their business models.

"Many innovative space-enabled business ideas require data and experimentation in microgravity to demonstrate the feasibility of the underlying business model, assess potential return on investment, and improve scientific, technical, or process performance. Yet access to microgravity remains a significant barrier to testing and advancing these ideas," said Luis Zea, Ph.D., chief scientist of Starlab. "By providing access to the ISS through this initiative, Starlab aims to help organizations generate the evidence needed to advance their concepts toward viable applications and, ultimately, potential commercialization and ongoing use of the Starlab Space Station."

Up to four proposals will be selected: one Starlab-funded award open to a principal investigator from an organization based anywhere in the world and three awards through a joint opportunity funded by Starlab, CSA and the Canton of Zurich for teams with a PI located in the Canton of Zurich.

Selected investigations will receive the opportunity to fly aboard the ISS using BioServe Space Technologies' Group Activation Pack hardware, which contains eight Fluid Processing Apparatuses, each, and enables controlled activation and termination of experiments in orbit. Awardees will receive support for payload integration, launch, on-orbit operations, crew time and return of experimental samples, removing many of the traditional barriers associated with conducting research in space.

Research areas eligible for consideration include microorganisms, mammalian cells and tissues, viruses and bacteria, protein crystal growth, fluid dynamics and mixing, biomaterials, and plant research. Starlab is particularly interested in investigations that can generate evidence supporting future scientific, commercial or operational applications of microgravity, including potential future utilization aboard Starlab.

"Access to microgravity should not be the barrier that prevents a promising idea from becoming a viable business," said Brad Henderson, chief commercial officer of Starlab. "By funding these investigations today, Starlab is helping innovators generate the evidence needed to validate their science, technology and business models, while building the pipeline of future customers who will help make commercial space a sustainable and growing industry."

The two-step proposal process opens Sept. 11, with Step-1 proposal questions due Sept. 25 and Step-1 proposals due Oct. 9. Selected teams will advance to a second phase of evaluation, with award notifications anticipated in December 2026 and flight opportunities targeted for 2028. The full call for proposals and submission form can be found at starlab-space.com/call-for-proposal/.