Bringing space to Earth
More than 1000 business and public sector professionals met at the fourth European Space Solutions to share and foster space spin-off to innovate here on Earth. Entrepreneurs from ESA's Business Incubation Centre (BIC) start-ups showcased successful transfers.
At the 5-day event taking place in The Hague, The Netherlands, leaders from the public sector and industry discuss how space serves as a powerful tool in tackling today's economic, social and environmental challenges.
European Space Solutions featured hands-on showcases of over 50 innovative space applications, technology solutions and cutting-edge research results from across Europe, including a special focus on space applications in The Netherlands. Furthermore, all interested participants were given information about the incubation programme, deadlines and requirements for application.
As specific examples for the down-to-Earth use of space technologies, ESA’s Technology Transfer Programme Office presented five start-ups from its business incubation centres across Europe:
- Active Aerogels from ESA BIC Portugal presented their novel insulation material, based on aerogels, a synthetic porous ultralight material
- Airgloss from ESA BIC Lazio showcased their innovative solution for monitoring and improving indoor air quality
- Geocento from ESA BIC Harwell illustrated their service for easy access to satellite and airborne imagery using online web technologies, covering a wide range of satellites and other data sources
- ukowapi from ESA BIC Darmstadt presented their solution for reliable and verifiable digital addresses as an alternative to underdeveloped physical address systems to support last-mile delivery of goods
- WOMBATT from ESA BIC Noordwijk showcased their innovative, patented fatigue management solutions for mining haul truck operators and long distance road transport drivers.
In total over 400 start-ups have been nurtured at ESA business incubation centres (BICs) to create new companies and jobs in Europe. In the incubation programme the start-ups are supported with business plan development and technical expertise as well as business consultancy in addition to receiving seed funding.
Initiated as part of ESA's Technology Transfer Programme in 2003 to help entrepreneurs and start-ups to launch businesses based on space research and developments, today the network has grown to 16 business incubation centres that supports yearly 130 new start-ups each year in the Netherlands, Germany, Italy, the UK, Belgium, France, Spain, Portugal,
Sweden, Czech Republic, Ireland, Austria and Switzerland.
More about European Space Solutions here.
