European Space Agency Business Incubation Centre Estonia (ESA BIC Estonia) had three new start-ups join the incubation program focusing on ground-based application of space technologies.

ESA BIC Estonia, opened end of last year, held a successful second round with six applicants. In March 22nd, an official evaluation board was held with representatives form ESA and ESA BIC Estonia’s consortia partners, choosing three start-ups to join ESA BIC Estonia.
Andrus Kurvits, member of board of Tartu Science Park and ESA BIC Estonia said, that the first two calls for start-ups show that Estonia is a Space Nation and thanks to programs like ESTCUBE we have lots of people and companies interested in natural sciences and engineering, developing innovative products and services. “We count the second round a great success and it seems that we have a lot of teams and start-ups with high potential, who could potentially take part in next rounds to come. The companies that were chosen to the incubation program are all related to ground-based application of space technologies. The next round for new teams will be in November 2018,” said Kurvits.

The head of Tehnopol Startup Incubator Martin Goroško encourages start-ups to think about the space. „Often entrepreneurs do not think that their activities could be related to space at all. Two companies, that joined the incubator in the last round, are not classical space businesses. But at the same time the technology that they use is space related and together with European Space Agency and cities of Tallinn and Tartu we can offer them 50 000 euros to support their development and offer top expert guidance to boost the development of their companies,“ said Goroško.

Hepta Airborne is focusing on unmanned aerial vehicles and data analysis based on power line control system development. This technology helps the companies which manage power grids to increase safety, quality and frequency of inspections while lowering significantly their expenses.

Powerup Energy Technologies is developing new generation of hydrogen fuel cells. Company’s purpose is to bring the space-based hydrogen fuel cell-based power generator technology for maritime vehicles, because it is more energy efficient, ecological, portable and maintenance free.

KappaZeta spin-off company from Tartu Observatory, using earth observation data to monitor grass meadows and to develop smart farming applications. The deadline to apply for the third round is 8th of November 2018 and further information is available here: https://www.esabic.ee/

ESA BIC Estonia – creating new business opportunities

European Space Agency Estonian business incubator (ESA BIC Estonia) is the first of its kind in the Baltic States. The main goal of the ESA BIC Estonia is to create new jobs and to develop local economy. ESA BIC is European-wide network of incubators, with 17 space incubators from 15 countries, supporting the growth of 140 new companies yearly. The incubator has its premises in Tartu and Tallinn with main focus on helping 20 Estonian start-ups into the national market within five years, offering them 50 000 euros to develop their product or service with the support of ESA and an active mentor program.
The lead partner of ESA BIC Estonia is Tartu Science Park, offering incubation services in cooperation with Tallinn Science Park Tehnopol in Tallinn and Tartu.
The consortium of ESA BIC Estonia has eight partners: Tartu Science Park, Tallinn Science Park Tehnopol, City of Tartu, City of Tallinn, University of Tartu, Tallinn University of Technology, Tartu Observatory and Kredex.

European Space Agency Estonian Business Incubator (ESA BIC Estonia) which was opened in autumn last year, is waiting for novel space related startups to apply for 50 000 € grant.

Head of Startup Incubator in Tallinn Science Park Tehnopol, Martin Goroško, said that every company whose product or service relates to space is welcomed to apply. “Many companies don’t realize today that their product is related to space or it could be related with little effort. Applications using Satellite Navigation or earth observation data, novel materials or technologies – these are only few examples of services and applications that we are looking for,” explained Goroško

ESA BIC Estonia Manager Andrus Kurvits said that 50 000 € grant helps teams to take the next step in product development. “Our first call showed that Estonia is indeed an amazing space country and we have people and companies that develop novel space related applications. Last year we gave out first grants which were co-financed by our consortium partners, cities of Tartu and Tallinn, and were meant for product and IPR development. We are hoping for great achievements in international market from companies that got development grant. We plan to take two more companies in to our Incubation programme in spring call that is already open, “said Kurvits optimistically.

Application deadline for next call is 8th of March 2018!  For further information about applying look at https://www.esabic.ee/

Incubation Programme helps to develop space related business ideas by offering technical support and business advice via mentoring and consulting. European wide ESA incubation network supports 140 start-ups every year at its 18 centres in 15 countries

ESA BIC Estonia is first of its kind in Baltic States. Its goal is to help 20 companies reach international market during five year period by providing them 50 000 € seed money and industry specific mentorship.

ESA BIC Estonia offers incubation services in Tartu and in Tallinn respectively in Tartu Science Park and in Tallinn Science Park Tehnopol.

ESA BIC Estonia Consortium has eight partners: Tartu Science Park (lead partner), Tallinn Science Park Tehnopol, City of Tartu, City of Tallinn, University of Tartu, Tallinn University of Technology, Tartu Observatory, and Kredex.

First open call of ESA BIC Estonia had five applications to join the incubation programme – four of them were from Estonia and one from abroad. Four teams had a chance to present their space related ideas to a jury of ESA and Local partners, who chose three ideas to join programme

Andrus Kurvits, manager of ESA BIC Estonia said that incubator’s main priority is to motivate and support companies to create and develop novel space related products and services that can be use both on ground and in Newspace. “In that notion our first open call was a success since two incubatees are related to Newspace and one with ground applications, “explained Kurvits.

Crystalspace is a spin-off company of University of Tartu and ESTcube-1, which main area is developing hardware for satellites. During the incubation period they will fully develop and market miniature portable vacuum chamber camera, that handles gasless environment and has low energy consumption

Spaceit main area is developing software for satellites. During the incubation period they develop universal cloud based Mission Control System for satellites, that runs as a service and uses worldwide network of ground stations. Spaceit competitive advantage is its security, quality and better cost-efficiency

Golbriak Space is a start-up company that develops optical communication for satellites and have cloes ties to FSSCat team, who won Copernicus Masters ESA main award. During the incubation period the hope to perfect their technology and product to get step closer market-readiness.
ESA BIC Estonia launched on 7th of November during the European Space Week. It’s a European wide space network that has 18 business incubators. ESA BIC Estonia’s goal is to help 20 companies during five years to reach international market, providing them 50 000 € start-up money and area specific mentorship. ESA BIC Estonia Consortium consists of eight partners: Tartu Science Park, Tallinn Science Park Tehnopol, City of Tartu, City of Tallinn, University of Tartu, Tallinn University of Technology, Tartu Observatory, and Kredex.

Estonian winner of ESNC Jana Šubitidze is developing a mobile application that eases up communication between Local Government and citizen. The main idea of application is if citizen sees a problem that he/she wants to inform Local Government then he/she can do it instantly via mobile application

“Most of people have their smartphone with them everywhere for taking picture etc. That picture has its location and GNSS coordinates. Sending a picture of problem with short description it arrives to Local Governments database from where the problem can be dealt with” says the winner.

According to Šubitidze it was a surprise that she won. Prize money of 6000€ will be used for further development of the idea.

Martin Goroško the head of Startup Incubator has said that space and satellite navigation feel like something really far and complex for most people, so they cannot think of how space technologies and data could be used for solutions on the ground. “We started space themed business incubator with Tartu Science Park and ESA in this autumn to find more interesting space themed ideas and help them develop further, “explained Goroško

The European Space Agency´s Business Incubation Centre (ESA BIC) Estonia is the 17th to be opened and the first one in the Baltics, joining the European-wide network which has fostered the creation of more than 140 startups across the Europe.

The ESA Business Incubation Centre´s goal is to create jobs and develop regional economies via the ESA BICs programme. The incubation programme turns space-connected business ideas into commercial companies and provides technical expertise and business-development support.

“Through our Technology Transfer Programme with its Business Incubation Centres we have already helped to create over 500 new companies with many new jobs in Europe, by spinning off Europe’s investments in space research and development and making them available to entrepreneurs. We promote progress and growth across Europe by making our knowledge and technology available to be used beyond space, and we are happy that Estonia joins with this new centre. Estonian companies have been cooperating with ESA for 5 years, and have demonstrated excellent space capabilities and potential for developing services and applications from space-related technologies,” said Johann-Dietrich Wörner, ESA Director General.

“From the first Estonian Satellite project – ESTCube-1, nearly 10 years ago, the Estonian Space sector has always moved forward fast. The opening of ESA BIC Estonia is the next big milestone for us. As Estonia is known for start-ups and a digital society, ESA BIC Estonia will combine space technologies with our already existing digital society to create more value on both sides. Combining our existing e-services with Earth observation data and satellite navigation services is the next step forward. Also it will be a platform where engineers and scientists can create novel products or services using space technologies, “ said Urve Palo, Estonian Minister of Entrepreneurship and Information Technology.

Andrus Kurvits, Manager of ESA BIC Estonia, pointed out that the opening of ESA Business Incubation Centre Estonia is one small step for ESA, but a giant leap for Estonia and for Estonian startup scene. “We expect the craziest solutions and most creative teams and start-ups,” said Kurvits.

The implementation and the ongoing management of ESA BIC Estonia will be led by Tartu Science Park in cooperation with Tallinn Science Park Tehnopol and the activities will be in both
cities.

“Each year we are helping around 45 tech companies to reach a sustainable income or first private funding. More and more we see companies who are developing space related technologies and together with ESA we can offer them incentive funding of up to 50,000 EURO for product development and specific know how and mentoring, so 20 Estonian startups over 5 years can also reach the international arena. Today we are launching the first permanent open call for the incubation programme in Estonia, so all space-related amazing ideas could come to life,“ said Tehnopol´s Startup Incubator Manager Martin Goroško.

In 2009 Estonia started cooperation with ESA, so Estonian companies and research institutions could participate in ESA´s projects for the first time. In 2015 Estonia became a full member of ESA, which provided completely new opportunities for the Estonian space sector. Several studies and technology audits have demonstrated Estonia’s excellentspace capabilities and potential for developing services and applications from space-related technologies.

The BIC Estonia Consortium consists of eight partners: Tartu Science Park, Tallinn Science Park Tehnopol, City of Tartu, City of Tallinn, University of Tartu, Tallinn University of Technology, Tartu Observatory, and Kredex.

More information on ESA BIC Estonia: https://www.esabic.ee/

European Space Week will take place in Tallinn – Estonia – from 3 to 9 November 2017. It will foster interaction between the space and digital community and will provide visibility to the rapidly changing space sector, its applications and the European Union Space Programmes Copernicus and Galileo. The main aim is to bring together the most important European space stakeholders, companies, partners and visionaries pushing the topic of space in Europe and beyond.

Find out more: http://www.eusw2017.eu/