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Hackathon – using sattelite data to monitor world’s phenomena

Charles University is organizing a hackathon within the Copernicus Academy project focused on the use of Earth Observation (EO) and Geographic Information System (GIS) for the development of applications for the assessment of significant events related to security or environmental risks. Using GIS and EO data, participants will think together and find solutions to challenges related to the risk of some of the world’s phenomena – armed conflicts, climatic events, droughts, fires, etc.

The ESA Technology Broker will take part in the evaluation of the results of the competition and will offer participants the opportunity to develop their technological cooperation with ESA and private companies in the field of EO. Collaboration on the development of cutting-edge EO technologies will enable objective information to be gathered and analysed in the future. Quality information and its effective use are then a prerequisite for eliminating the risks arising from these global threats.

For more information about the hackathon (in Czech), see here.

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Czech company will use space technology to capture CO2 in buildings

One of the key challenges in space exploration is sustaining life on long-term manned space missions. An initiative of the European Space Agency, the Micro-Ecological Life Support System Alternative (MELiSSA), is exploring the technologies needed for long-term human survival in space.

ESA Technology Broker presented the possibility of using these technologies in terrestrial applications during the Space for Cities seminar. The seminar initiated a discussion between technology companies and local government representatives about technological potential of these technologies for sustainable cities and architecture.

Following this discussion, AG Data City, which is a company dealing with air, weather and microclimate monitoring, prepared a collaborative project with Airbus. This involves the terrestrial use of technology capturing atmospheric CO2 from the space station environment. CO2 can be reused for plant growing.

AG Data City will offer this technology adapted for buildings to architects and building and facility managers. The benefits will be a healthier indoor environment, improved sense of well-being and improved cognitive function for residents. In addition, pilot projects can receive funding through cooperation with the City of Prague.

Is the project interesting for you or want to observe its development? You can leave your feedback to AG Data City using the questionnaire here (Czech only).

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Info-Day of ESA support for innovation and business development

ESA Business Incubation Centre, ESA Technology Broker and ESA Business Applications Ambassador are organising a joint information day to present programmes to support technology transfer between space applications and the terrestrial sector. The ESA BIC, ESA Spark Funding and ESA BASS programmes will be presented. The aim of the seminar is to raise awareness of the potential of space innovation and to encourage new applicants to apply with their innovation projects.

During the morning, the three programmes will be introduced and their differences will be described. During a short afternoon session, potential applicants can consult their intentions in specific programmes and share their experiences in space innovation with other participants. Finally, individual consultations will take place where possible.

The information day is suitable for entities with ideas for any-directional technology transfer between space and terrestrial applications – this can include individual innovators, start-ups, SMEs as well as large companies or universities. Registration is possible using this form. The whole event will be held online, in Czech language, with the possibility of individual consultations in English.

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A database of space-tech with potential for terrestrial applications

AI's vision of cooperation between the Earth and Space sector

The European Space Agency is preparing a database of space technologies with potential applications in the terrestrial technology sectors.

The purpose is:

  • to highlight the possibility of solving technological issues in terrestrial applications by using space know-how,
  • to offer a portfolio of specific space technology solutions,
  • and to accelerate cooperation between the space sector and the non-space industry.

ESA Technology Broker CZ invites companies that offer technological solutions for the space sector and are interested in offering them through the upcoming database to participate in an

online information meeting on 25.01.2024 10:00 – 11:00.

The meeting will present the benefits that the database will bring to space companies and the requirements for proposing their technology for entry in the database. Participating companies will be given the opportunity to arrange individual consultations aimed at entering specific technologies into the database.

For more information and to register for the information session, please contact Albert Bouchal via email bouchal@tc.cz.

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Get Space Inspired Winners Announcement

The second edition of the competition for the best technology transfer of space technologies to terrestrial applications, Get Space Inspired 2023, was closed with a ceremony at the Czech Space Week space innovation fair.

The competition, announced by the Technology Centre Prague in cooperation with the European Space Agency (ESA), brought a number of new ideas for the use of technologies developed for space applications. A large part of the transferred space technologies came from the database of patents offered by ESA for further use and commercialisation. The areas of proposed terrestrial applications ranged from aeronautics, energy and environmental protection to medical technology and data processing.

The main prize of the competition carried with it a financial support of EUR 20.000 for further development of the project and went to Zuzana Snížková with her project YUKI Filter. The project describes a new way of using a patented fluid filter used in fuel systems in space missions. The idea of producing the filter using metal 3D printing and its application in the chemical industry also impressed the evaluators with its sophisticated business plan.

Second place and the award of EUR 10.000 went to Petr Kouřil with his project FLY IS FUN. The project again uses the ESA patent. The patented know-how is an algorithm for machine learning and position refinement calculated using GNSS network signals. The proposed use is in the field of navigation for sport pilots. The more accurate calculation of the vertical position of the aircraft will allow the use of a digital application as an alternative to instrument landing system (ILS) using radio beacons.

The project SATPLANNER by Daniel Paluba, a researcher at the Department of Applied Geoinformatics and Cartography, Faculty of Science, Charles University, was supported with EUR 5.000 for his project. The SATPLANNER project integrates a patented system for analysing Earth observation data using time series into a mobile application. The app will offer the results of the analysed data to travel agencies, event organisers and other companies which will use the current and predicted data to plan their activities in different geographical areas. In this way, they will avoid potential risks and create optimised business plans when designing their activities.

The Get Space Inspired competition is becoming a regular autumn event in the field of promoting technological innovation, technology transfer and space activities. We can only hope that space technology will inspire us again in 2024.

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White cane with space-proven sensor helps the visually impaired

At the end of October, the Brno-based company Svarovsky, s.r.o. completed a project of a white cane upgraded with an electronic sensor enabling monitoring of the nearby surroundings. The innovation is also the first project supported by the ESA Spark Funding CZ programme for the use of space technologies in Earth-based applications.

Svarovsky, s.r.o. has successfully integrated the Single Photon Avalenche Diodes (SPAD) technology into the handle of the white cane, which allows to emit a photon and measure the time of its reflection from an obstacle. The signal is converted into a vibration of the cane handle and the user receives information about obstacles even outside the physical range of the cane. The technology was originally used in the Czech ELT (European Laser Timing) project, which was part of the international ACES (Atomic Clock Ensemble in Space) experiment. This experiment, dealing with time synchronisation on board the International Space Station (ISS), used a SPAD sensor to capture a laser signal sent from the ground station. With the ability to very accurately record the time of photon impact, the technology allowed for very precise control of the on-board clock and coordination with the ground center.

The new use of SPAD technology in the white cane improves the orientation capabilities of the visually impaired and is a good example of the socio-economic potential of transferring space research results to technological applications on Earth.

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Get Space Inspired 2023 Information meetings

ESA Technology Broker invites those interested in participating in the Get Space Inspired 2023 competition to an information sessions, which will take place online

27.9.2023 15:00 – 16:00

2.10.2023 15:00 – 16:00

9.10.2023 15:00 – 16:00

16.10.2023 15:00 – 16:00

Use the link here to choose the date and register to the meeting.

The competition is open to any entities (companies, universities, research centres, individuals) based in the Czech Republic.

 

We look forward to meeting you! 

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Get Space Inspired in 2023!

This year again, Czech innovation companies, entrepreneurs, research institutes and individual innovators can compete for the best idea for a terrestrial application of space technology.

Get Space Inspired contest aims to support the use of space technologies in non-space industries and to motivate companies to address their technological needs by applying know-how developed primarily for the space sector.

 

Awards

The competition will select and award 3 the best proposals for the adaptation (technology transfer) of space technology in terrestrial applications:

1st place – 20 000 EUR

2nd place – 10 000 EUR

3rd place – 5 000 EUR

 

Who can participate?

Any company, entrepreneur, innovator, university or research institute based in the Czech Republic.

Application deadline: October 31, 2023.

 

How to participate

Get inspired by the know-how used in space applications and submit a project presenting its application in a non-space sector.

Use the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Space Patents Database or The European Space Software Repository (ESSR) as a source of technological innovations in space.

The space innovation used in the project proposal does not have to come from the ESA database, any know-how that has been used in space or has been developed primarily for space applications can be used. The requirement is the novelty of the terrestrial use of space technology.

Use the Get Space Inspired application form below to describe your idea for applying the space technology and submit it to SparkFunding@tc.cz no later than October  31, 2023. There is no required scope of information submitted, the competitor shall submit relevant information to best meet the evaluation criteria.

The application form will be a single document consisting of the cover letter, application form and any attachments. Please apply in English.

Received applications will be evaluated by an expert jury and the results will be announced during the Czech Space Week in November 2023, date to be announced.

 

Terms and conditions

Evaluation criteria for technology transfer projects

The criteria for evaluating technology transfer proposals are following:

  • novelty and innovation of the application
  • technological feasibility
  • economic sustainability
  • socio-economic impact
  • implementation and business plan of the proposer

The organizer of the competition will propose the nominations of the expert jury and announce these nominations at the time of the closing date for competition proposals.

The jury only announces winners of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes and does not announce other rankings or evaluation of individual participants.

Competition rules

Technology transfer projects must be technologically and economically feasible applications of Space technology. The competitor shall describe the terrestrial technological problem and its solution by space technologies application. Provider of the space solution is ESA or any company providing its technology solution in space technology sector. Participation in the competition does not establish any contractual relationship between the competitor and the owner of the space know-how and between competitor and competition organizer either. The competitor is obliged to use only information available in public sources and databases.

Transfer of the prize money will take place within 60 calendar days of the announcement of the competition results.

 

 

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Space For Cities

Space For Cities leaflet

The online workshop will present the use of space technologies for solutions making urban life more efficient. Such applications of space technologies in the “non-space” sector can be supported with € 60,000 by ESA Spark Funding, which will be a subject of the workshop as well. We will leave room for questions and discussion over specific applications at the end.

The online workshop will take place on June 13, 2023 from 9am – 11.30am CET.  

Register here (link for the workshop will be sent shortly before the event).

Space For Cities
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Space for Aviation

Online info session primarily for aviation sector will take place on February 23, 2023, 10am – 12pm CET. The session will present space technology transfer opportunities in the aviation sector along with ESA SPARK FUNDING financial initiative.

Register here. Attendees will receive the event link prior to the event.