Space technology spin-off at INTERGEO trade fair
ESA´s Technology Transfer Programme Office and its associated Business Incubation Centres, with a number of start-up companies, will be represented at this year’s INTERGEO trade fair for geoinformation in Nuremberg, Germany on 27–29 September.
The fair aims to create synergies among the relevant market players, to help European companies – and small- and medium-sized enterprises in particular – forge ahead in the international market.
INTERGEO is one of the world’s leading platforms for the latest products and for sharing visionary ideas.
On the evening of the 27 September, ESA’s Technology Transfer Programme Office (TTPO) will hold a joint event with the German Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Development (BMVBS).
This will create a common networking platform for providers of technologies and services from European space programmes and non-space industries looking for novel, often innovative solutions to develop new and better systems and services for applications on Earth. Speakers will include Rainer Bomba, State Secretary in the BMVBS.
At the trade fair, TTPO will be present with representatives from its Business Incubation Centres at stand B80 in Hall 6. There, visitors will be able to discuss how space technologies provide advances in non-space business. They will also be able to meet a number of start-up companies who have created new systems and services based on advanced space technologies and satellite-provided services.
At this year’s INTERGEO, more than 500 companies from 31 countries will exhibit, expecting to attract some 17 500 visitors from more than 80 countries.
ESA’s Business Incubation Centres
In 2003, ESA decided to set up the BICs as part of its technology transfer programme, with the intention of helping entrepreneurs and young companies to use space technologies and knowhow in innovative new products and services in non-space fields.
Successful BICs have already been established in the Netherlands (Noordwijk), Italy (Frascati), Germany (Darmstadt and Oberpfaffenhofen) and the UK (Harwell). Being near major space sites ensures that specialist advice and consultancy is never far away: ESTEC at Noordwijk, ESOC at Darmstadt, ESRIN at Frascati, DLR institutes at Oberpfaffenhofen and the Harwell Oxford science parks in Oxfordshire at Harwell.
A sixth BIC was recently approved for Redu in the Belgian Wallonia region, to be launched soon.
More information about ESA business incubation initiative is available at: http://www.esa.int/BIC
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
