Join the Copernicus Accelerator to turn your idea into a start-up
To foster the development of commercial space solutions and products, a new Open Call from EC for the Copernicus Accelerator offers a great opportunity for start-ups and entrepreneurs to develop their ideas on how to use Earth observation data into real companies with the help from professional mentors.
The goal is to provide tailored business development support to start-ups, SMEs, research institutes and universities who have innovative ideas using Earth observation (EO) data, specifically the user uptake from the European Union's Earth observation programme Copernicus.
The Open Call particularly is targeting start-ups younger than three years and entrepreneurs planning to be incorporated within one year, It establishes a new entry point for applicants for about half of the fifty places on the Coperniccus Accelerator. The remaining spots will be allocated to the winners of the Copernicus Masters and Copernicus Hackathons.
Philippe Brunet: "Europe must become the best place to start a space business!"
“We are proud that, that the Copernicus Accelerator - as part of the Copernicus Start-up Programme - has enabled 90 participants to benefit from a one-year tailored business coaching service since its start in 2016,” says Philippe Brunet, Director for Space Policy, Copernicus and Defence at the European Commission, Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs (GROW).
”With this new Open Call, we are again looking forward to numerous applications from Europe enriching the programme’s diversity.”
Specifically, the Copernicus Accelerator is open for start-ups, who:
- Use Copernicus data or information for their products or services
- Come from Copernicus participating countries (EU 28 Member States, Iceland and Norway)
- Are not older than three years (or are to be incorporated within a year)
- Have a recommendation by an established organisation with experience or interest in Earth Observation
The Copernicus Accelerator Open Call is on the hunt for start-ups using Copernicus data and information for their services to provide smarter solutions for terrestrial applications.
Kick-start your business
As Copernicus Accelerator mentee, you will receive tailored business coaching, network with fellow start-ups and have an experienced mentor matched with your start-up. You will be able to determine the focus of your coaching, creating a business plan, acquiring your first customers, raising capital, or any other skill that you need at this point of your start-up journey.
In 2018, there are three ways to access the Copernicus Accelerator programme:
Fifty start-ups will be selected to participate in Copernicus Accelerator that will last 11 months. The programme will be kicked-off with a Boot-camp at the EU Space Week in Marseilles, 3-4 December 2018.
During the Boot-camp, you will be introduced to your mentor and will be able to participate in a range of activities, including coaching sessions, round tables, business speed dating, networking activities, and pitching sessions. The rest of the Accelerator will be conducted remotely through e-mails, webinars and conference calls.
Interested start-ups must be either citizens of one of the Copernicus Participating Countries (EU Member States, Norway and Iceland) or have established their company in the territory of one of the Participating Countries. The selection of the participants for the programme will be made by an international panel of experts in early October 2018.
DEADLINE for applications 15 September 2018
Applications can apply directly via the Open Call until 15 September 2018, 23:59 CEST.
Find out more about the programme here.