ESA Commercialisation Gateway

This edition of the newsletter covers the 50th International Exhibition of Inventions where ESA will be guest of honour, the inauguration of the ESA High Performance Computing environment (Space HPC), events on space transportation, space operations, healthcare and the next CM25 Industry event, latest news and business opportunities and the presentation of two ESA programmes.

Today we present you the FutureNav programme, established at the ESA Council at Ministerial Level 2022. This innovative initiative is designed to keep Europe at the forefront of satellite navigation technology by responding to emerging trends and needs in the positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) market. FutureNav is composed of several missions aimed at providing more ubiquitous, resilient, and reliable PNT services. The programme's first mission involves an initial in-orbit demonstration of a small constellation of Low-Earth-Orbit (LEO) navigation satellites. The second mission, GENESIS, has the aim of mapping the ever-shifting contours of planet Earth with unprecedented accuracy, down to the scale of a single millimeter. FutureNav is a testament to ESA's commitment to innovation and excellence in satellite navigation. By leveraging European expertise in PNT technology, we are paving the way for future use cases such as assisted and automated driving, smart cities, and the internet of things. Discover more on this groundbreaking programme: https://lnkd.in/ex9aQshT #SatelliteNavigation #SpaceInnovation #SpaceTechnology #PNT #SatelliteCommunication

We present you a new invitation to tender to develop a digital twin for on-orbit assembly and manufacturing of antennas up to 30-50 meters in diameter, promoted by ESA Connectivity and Secure Communications. This initiative aims to revolutionise satellite communications and services, as on-orbit manufacturing of large antennas could be a game changer by enabling services like direct-to-handheld communications and modular satcom systems. Read more and apply: https://lnkd.in/dUDBFSFn #SpaceTech #DigitalTwin #SatelliteCommunications #SpaceInnovation

Today we share the journey of StarGrip, an ESA Business Incubation Center Hungary (Design Terminal) start-up revolutionising gesture control technology. Their wearable tech allows users to intuitively control devices using hand gestures, even in challenging environments like space. Thanks to the ESA BIC Hungary programme, StarGrip has expanded their network and connected with key players. Founders Gergely Márton and János Rokai envision their product as a game-changer for space technology, enabling astronauts to manipulate tools despite bulky equipment. With medical and engineering backgrounds, János and Gergely bring an innovative approach to the market with the aim of helping preserve Earth's natural treasures while ensuring human growth. Read more: https://lnkd.in/d2JSHsEs #SpaceInnovation #SpaceTechnology #GestureControl #SpaceExploration

European Space Agency - ESA will soon be issuing an Invitation to Tender for a ‘Support Service for Copernicus Data Quality and the Copernicus Contributing Mission Activity’. This service will ensure the success of the activities by providing hands-on coordination of the end-to-end operations of the CCM Activity and Copernicus Data Quality systems. Join the online information session on 07 April from 10:00 to 12:00 CET to learn more about the procurement and specific tender conditions. https://lnkd.in/d2fyxsgR #Space #SpaceTech #SpaceTechnology #Copernicus #DataQuality

Are you part of a groundbreaking start-up pioneering the development of a sustainable space economy for the betterment of our planet? Then, submit your proposal to the Prix Bulles, a prestigious award now at its third edition aimed at start-ups promoting an ecological space economy. The winning company will receive €25,000 in development assistance. Proposals must include how the space system, service, or technology contributes to Earth's ecosystem and to the ecological economy of the oceans, while also presenting an investment plan for the €25,000 prize. The award ceremony will take place on 06 June, 2025, during the UN Conference on Oceans (UNOC). Read more and submit your proposal by 30 April, 2025: https://lnkd.in/dqvxdfip #SpaceEconomy #SustainableDevelopment #Sustainability #Space #EcologicalEconomy

Today marks a significant milestone for Isar Aerospace as their European commercial rocket, Spectrum, successfully took flight from Andøya Spaceport in Norway. This achievement is a testament to the incredible support and resources provided by European Space Agency - ESA Business Incubation Centre (ESA BICs) programme. Isar Aerospace, a German-based company, has been building their Spectrum launch vehicle in state-of-the-art production facilities relying on in-house manufacturing. The company has received three rounds of co-funding from ESA as part of the Boost! programme, which helps commercial initiatives offering transportation services to space, in space, and returning from space. #SpaceTransportation #SpaceTechnology

The Portuguese Space Agency (Agência Espacial Portuguesa), in collaboration with the European Space Agency - ESA's InCubed programme, has announced a new funding call for innovative Earth Observation projects aimed at modernising Portuguese cities, with a total budget of €1.5 million. The 'EO for Municipalities' initiative encourages local governments to utilise or develop EO data and services, focusing on areas such as urban planning, climate adaptation, air quality monitoring, and biodiversity conservation. The next informative webinar is scheduled on 05 May 2025 and submissions are open for the second cycle of applications. To discover more, register for the webinar and submit your ideas, click here: https://lnkd.in/eqVEDYuW #EarthObservation #SpaceTechnology #SpaceInnovation #ClimateAdaptation #UrbanPlanning

Curious about how ESA is shaping Europe's future in space? Transforming how we travel to, in and back from space, ESA's future space transportation programme, FLPP, is working with industry to develop a unified, interoperable ecosystem that connects every mission, every payload, every destination. Taking space transportation to the next level, companies will be able to connect to the reusable and modular ecosystem and meet their mission’s needs. Discover more and get involved at: https://lnkd.in/dma4vXzb #SpaceTransportation #SpaceTech #SpaceInnovation

European Space Agency - ESA’s Business Incubation Centre (ESA BIC) Network has once again been ranked among Financial Times Europe's leading start-up hubs. After our recent celebration of 20 years of this vibrant ecosystem, this is a welcome recognition of the decades of expertise which powers the network to drive innovation, nurture entrepreneurship, and power the commercialisation of space technology. We would like to extend our gratitude to our startups and alumni who inspire the sector with their creativity, our dedicated team working together to provide guidance, and our partners who believe in the potential of space innovation. Read more: https://lnkd.in/dxxVYJjX #SpaceStartup #SpaceInnovation #ESABICs #SpaceTech