Space meets automotive industry at ESA
As part of the IAA international automobile fair in Frankfurt, Germany, 200 senior technical experts have visited the Agency’s ESOC space operations centre in Darmstadt to learn more about space and technology transfer possibilities for the automotive sector.
Major market players such as BMW, Audi, Opel, VW, Bosch, Siemens, Astrium, Schaeffler and Magna Steyr took part on 14 September, along with numerous smaller suppliers.
The ESA event offered technology users a platform to exchange ideas about developments and potential applications in the aerospace and automotive sectors.
With this year’s Internationale Auto Ausstellung (IAA) fair under way and the rich science and technology landscape of the Hesse/Rhein–Main area, the event was fully attended.
Inspired by ESA astronaut
After a fascinating introduction by ESA astronaut Reinhold Ewald on technology benefits from human and unmanned space missions, Gerald Poellmann from Magna Steyr AG talked about the key bridges between the aerospace and the automotive industries.
Working sessions covered areas such as materials and coatings, and sensors and measurement technology.
Additionally, ESA presented opportunities for joint research under the ESA Technology Programme and spin–in provided by the Innovation Triangle Initiative.
To close the day, many guests enjoyed guided tours and further discussions in the control rooms of ESA’s satellite operations centre.
“Overall, the purpose of the event was to reduce the gap and promote technology spin-off between the two sectors,” concluded Frank M. Salzgeber, Head of ESA’s Technology Transfer Programme Office.
“I am glad to see that it gave 200 highly qualified participants valuable insights into new developments and their potential through presentations of cutting-edge technologies.”
ESA’s Technology Transfer Programme Office (TTPO)
The TTPO’s main mission is to facilitate the use of space technology and space systems for non-space applications and to demonstrate the benefit of the European space programme to European citizens.
The office is responsible for defining the overall approach and strategy for the transfer of space technologies, including the incubation of start-up companies and their funding. For more information, please contact:
ESA’s Technology Transfer Programme Office
European Space Agency
Keplerlaan 1
2200 AG, Noordwijk
The Netherlands
Tel: +31 71 565 6208
Email: ttp@esa.int
More information about ESA technology transfer programme is available at: http://www.esa.int/ttp
