The most efficient innovations often stem from using existing technologies for purposes unrelated to their original applications.

‘Technology transfer’ is especially effective from the space field, where technologies have been developed to very high standards, to be failure-proof, reliable and durable. This is why space technology is not only travelling around Mars, but also orbits our daily lives – without us even noticing.

ESA’s Technology Transfer Programme (TTP) ensures that European industry and citizens benefit from Europe’s most advanced space technology developments.

The publication DOWN TO EARTH: How space technology improve our lives presents a selection of the latest space technology transfers assisted by ESA’s TTP.

It gives an insight into the different ways space technology is supporting us today. Space not only spawns the world’s most innovative and most intricate technologies, but also the most thoroughly tested and thus the safest.

Many of those technologies have found their way back to Earth – space technology touches virtually every aspect of our everyday life.

From intelligent textiles to car safety, from medical innovations to novel engineering solutions, from gaming technology to high-tech environmental-control systems, we are surrounded by technology that originated in the space sector and is now generating profits for businesses in a multitude of other markets.

ESA’s Technology Transfer Programme Office (TTPO)

The main mission of the TTPO 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 and funding of start-up companies using space technologies and satellite services, at the Agency’s four Business Incubation Centres in Europe.
For more information, please contact:

ESA’s Technology Transfer Programme Office
European Space Agency ESA
Keplerlaan 1, 2200 AG, Noordwijk
The Netherlands
Tel: +31 71 565 6208
Email: ttp @ esa.int
Website: http://www.esa.int/ttp