The Harsh-Environment Initiative - Meeting the Challenge of Space-Technology Transfer

P. Kumar, P. Brisson, G. Weinwurm & J. Clark

ESA's Harsh Environments Initiative (HEI) is a programme aimed at transferring space technologies to terrestrial operations in harsh environments. C-CORE is the prime contractor to ESA for implementing the programme, and the Canadian Space Agency is a programme sponsor.

C-CORE's approach to meeting this challenge is to seek out operational priorities in the oil & gas and mining sectors and to develop and implement test-bed projects that apply selected space technologies to demonstrate improved operating efficiencies, lowered risks and enhanced safety. These projects typically involve one or more partners from industries in Canada and Europe, and additional sources of funding that exceed the ESA contribution.

Commercialisation of the space technologies is a key objective. Accordingly, C-CORE and its partners have developed selection criteria that have ensured that only projects with high potential for commercialisation and quick technology transfer (involving the exchange of funds between the space-technology supplier and the end-user) would go ahead.