Industry Space Days (ISDs) are three-day bi-annual events, organised by ESA to bring together the main European players in the space sector. Their main purpose is to increase the involvement of SMEs in space activities and to foster cross-fertilisation between the different actors in the entire space sector.

To this end, a series of measures are taken to facilitate networking and the establishing of new business contacts. These include: pre-arranged face-to-face meetings, exhibitions highlighting the innovations and expertise of selected SMEs, briefings on business opportunities by large groups and institutional organisations, and conferences on space perspectives and market trends.

Benefits arising from the intense 3-day ISD event

The ISDs provide:

• An efficient way to establish new contacts:
  The ISD event guarantees the opportunity to pre-arrange and have a significant number of meetings with potential partners who may otherwise be difficult for SMEs to meet.. This allows SMEs to present their distinctive competence and products, and to build new partnerships.
• A valuable means to learn of upcoming business opportunities:
  Workshops are organised to present technology programmes and work opportunities envisaged by ESA and its prime contractor partners. Companies can also pro-actively propose workshops on topics of strategic interest to space programmes.
• A time-saving time-efficient communication tool:
  The intensity of the meeting opportunities at the ISD means that an SME can explore and initiate many valuable cooperation possibilities and obtain new insights from sources often not visible from the SME's own position in the value chain.
• An opportunity to exhibit expertise and products:
  During the ISD, space is made available for a number of technology exhibitions where selected SMEs can present their products, innovations and expertise. This provides an opportunity for informal ad-hoc get-togethers with other professionals, with the potential of leading to new business opportunities.

The ISD is a unique event which provides an excellent opportunity for SMEs to meet and discuss prospective business with new contacts, to attend conferences and workshops, and to showcase their technologies to potential partners.

An event replete with opportunities for SMEs

The 4th ISD was organised from 29-31 May 2006 at ESTEC, ESA’s European Space Research and Technology Centre in Noordwijk, The Netherlands. Around 650 people attended this event, of which an estimated two thirds were representatives of European and Canadian SMEs. More than 5000 pre-arranged business meetings were held during the event and 46 SMEs participated in the technology exhibition.