Intern in the Commercialisation Department - Ventures and Finance Office

Location
ESA Headquarters, Paris, France

Our team and mission

The Access to Finance, Ventures and Analytics Office is responsible for developing measures to encourage, assist and ease access to finance for space entities and commercial projects, including support to venture capital investment and support to secure debt or loans. In addition, the office provides expertise in business analytics and automation, supporting both the operation and impact assessment of the CIP programmes and support schemes (including financing activities). It also contributes to the development of a comprehensive and effective commercial and institutional market intelligence, making full use of and coordinating with relevant areas across ESA.

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

Field(s) of activity for the internship

You can choose among the following topics:

1) Topic 1: Process Automation and Digital Tools

• identify opportunities to automate repetitive or manual processes within market research, financial assessments, and application tracking;
• contribute to the design and development of simple internal tools (e.g., dashboards, templates, or scripts) to streamline data analysis and reporting;
• support integration and upkeep of document repositories, or shared databases used in engagement and tracking efforts;
• work with the team to pilot and evaluate automation tools to enhance operational efficiency.

2) Topic 2: Communication and Relationship with Industry

• provide hands-on support to companies during their application process, offering clear guidance and responsive assistance;
• collaborate with internal teams to create effective marketing materials, case studies, and outreach content tailored to different industry segments;
• assist in organising and supporting industry events, webinars, and matchmaking activities that foster ecosystem engagement.

3) Topic 3: Space Market Research and Business Analysis

• conduct research to identify and evaluate potential candidate companies within the space sector, supporting the development of a comprehensive and up-to-date ecosystem map;
• analyse business plans submitted by applicant companies, assessing their viability, innovation potential, and alignment with evolving space industry trends;
• support internal efforts to refine financial assessment processes, including data collection, scoring frameworks, and benchmarking practices;
• monitor and report on emerging industry trends, contributing insights for future thematic programme campaigns and strategic focus areas.

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 in your final or second-to-last year of university course 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.

You are proactive and autonomous with strong analytical and organisational skills. You are able to identify inefficiencies and propose automation solutions within existing workflows using Microsoft-based platforms.

You have knowledge of the financial ecosystem and an understanding of the investment lifecycle of a company, as well as knowledge of the European space ecosystem and space economy.

The following are considered assets:

• experience with Microsoft 365 tools, particularly advanced Excel functions and macros, Power BI and Power Automate for process optimisation and reporting;
• a demonstrated interest in space technologies and start-ups; practical experience gained in a space start-up;
• knowledge and background in economics, finance or business administration;
• knowledge and background in marketing and communication.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusiveness
ESA is an equal opportunity employer, committed to achieving diversity within the workforce and creating an inclusive working environment. We therefore welcome applications from all qualified candidates irrespective of gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religious beliefs, age, disability or other characteristics.

At the Agency we value diversity, and we welcome people with disabilities. Whenever possible, we seek to accommodate individuals with disabilities by providing the necessary support at the workplace. The Human Resources Department can also provide assistance during the recruitment process. If you would like to discuss this further, please contact us via email at ESA.Student.Internships@esa.int.

Important Information and Disclaimer
During the recruitment process, the Agency may request applicants to undergo selection tests.

Applicants must be eligible to access information, technology, and hardware which is subject to European or US export control and sanctions regulations.

The information published on ESA’s careers website regarding internship conditions is correct at the time of publication. It is not intended to be exhaustive and may not address all questions you would have.

Nationality

Please note that applications are only considered from nationals of one of the following States: Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.