OSIP Highlights July - December 2024

What do flame-resistant smart textiles, plant biomass conversion, satellite communication systems and Mars construction materials have in common? They can all be found among the 85 innovative research and development activities funded by ESA's Discovery & Preparation programme through the Open Space Innovation Platform (OSIP) between July and December 2024.

ESA set up the Open Space Innovation Platform (OSIP) to discover and invest in new unconventional ideas that could greatly benefit and advance European space industry and academia.

In this article, the minds behind five projects funded during this period tell us about their research, motivations and goals, as well as how ESA Discovery funding is helping them take their activities to the next level.