The SpaceUp project aims at giving Europe’s innovative start-ups in the space sector every opportunity to become world-leading companies. SpaceUp promotes technology transfer, networking, dissemination, matchmaking with business angels, crowd funders, investors, human resource specialists and, CEOs from corporates, culminating in six European SPACE ACADEMIES. Exposure to strategic corporate investors is being increased by engaging actively with relevant high-tech industries via cross-fertilization and cross-clustering.
Before and during the Academies, SpaceUp experts offer advice on how to best profit from the opportunities represented by the EC Public Funds (H2020/SME Instrument, EIB and EIF) the European Space Agency and through crowd funding. Promising tech start-ups – space and non-space-related – are being guided through already existing services offered (esp. ESA-BICs, EEN and NCPs).
SpaceUp builds on activities carried out by ESA’s Technology Transfer Programme Office (TTPO) and ESA BICs and fosters the uptake of space data and services by non-space industrial and service players for further commercial applications. SpaceUp thus reinforces the spin-out efforts of ESA in the cross-fertilization through enhancing connection and networking with non-space technology experts, e.g. in maritime, logistics, land-use and security sectors. It also fosters spin-in activities from these sectors into the space sector.
Start-ups are being invited to attend the six SPACE ACADEMIES, taking place across Europe incl. the widening countries and apply for the individual in-depth SpaceUp coaching services. 10 start-ups will each time be selected by the SpaceUp evaluation committee, on the basis of the most advanced and viable cases (business, products and/or services, TRL 6 or above) and mentored immediately. Whereas the large group gets training in a workshop format on six relevant topics, the 10 selected start-ups are offered access to all partners’ services and to customized one-to-one coaching within areas of expertise they need, to reach their next commercial stages. On the second day the 10 will pitch in front of a diverse audience, including investors and sectoral industry representatives. At the end, recommendations on best practice and lessons learnt will be established for start-ups, SMEs and existing BICs and the sustainability of offering future SPACE ACADEMIES will be explored.
Europe’s space sector has been a “closed” agency-driven shop and was lacking public attention due to missing marketing activities for many decades. Accessing the potential for new product and service ideas through training and wider dissemination marketing of space products and their potential for non-space sectors and vice versa, strongly supported through the SpaceUp Common & Support Action project, has not only a great potential for innovation in several sectors but will also increase the success rate of space start-ups. As a result, more space-related innovations will enter the market successfully and provide the basis for a viable future spin-in/spin-out space sector.
Virtual Space Academy will take place in Paris the 08th – 09th March 2021 Held in conjunction with Paris Space Week
We would like to inform you, on behalf of the SpaceUp project, that a next Virtual Space Academy will take place in Paris the 08th – 09th March 2021 Held in conjunction with Paris Space Week.
This exciting event will provide a unique environment for any one attending the Space Academy, setting the stage for a Space Academy surrounded by all things space and essential networking. During this Space Academy, experts will be offering insights on key topics for space entrepreneurs, and one-to-one sessions allowing 10 selected startups to benefit from tailored advice and suggestions. The Space Academies are not just about the event itself, it is about the ongoing support and services that startups receive from the SpaceUp experts. This is invaluable for anyone interested in scaling up, looking for investment or requiring advice on the next steps. The Call is now open, with the deadline 07h January 2021. It is free to apply, and selected startups will received customised services Do also note that although this has a space focus, other entrepreneurs and startups are invited to apply for the Space Academy as well. For more details and to apply see https://apply.space-academy.eu/calls/space-academy-paris/
For any specific queries or to apply for future Space Academies, please contact info@space-academy.eu
We would like to inform you, on behalf of the SpaceUp project, that a Space Academy will take place in Rome the 09th – 11th December 2020, hosted by Fondazione E. Amaldi (located at the headquarters of the Italian Space Agency), within the framework of the Primavera dell’ Innovazione 2020 : Space & Technology Transfer, a free to attend conference and exhibition for anyone interested in space tech, business and innovation.
This exciting event will provide a unique environment for any one attending the Space Academy, setting the stage for a Space Academy surrounded by all things space and essential networking. During this Space Academy, experts will be offering insights on key topics for space entrepreneurs, and one-to-one sessions allowing 10 selected startups to benefit from tailored advice and suggestions.
The Space Academies are not just about the event itself, it is about the ongoing support and services that startups receive from the SpaceUp experts. This is invaluable for anyone interested in scaling up, looking for investment or requiring advice on the next steps. The Call is now open, with the deadline 30th September 2020.
It is free to apply, and selected startups not only will received customised services but will also receive financial support for travel/accommodation costs to attend the event. Do also note that although this has a space focus, other entrepreneurs and startups are invited to apply for the Space Academy as well. For more details and to apply see: https://www.space-academy.eu/spaceupacademiesrome.html
18th September 2020 (POSTPONED, new dates tbc) – SpaceUp webinar ‘Life as a space-tech entrepreneur’
A fireside chat with two space-tech entrepreneurs who joined our space academies. We will talk about challenges, experiences and take-aways for entrepreneurs.
21st– 25th September 2020 – Space, Satellites + Sustainability (S3) Digital Forum 2020
Organised by the University of Edinburgh and SPIE, this interdisciplinary meeting will highlight newly operational satellite systems providing new sensors supporting sustainability. Advances in the processing of big satellite data will be presented alongside novel analytics, including those producing actionable sustainability intelligence. Register here
24th September 2020 – Smart Port. The merged sea & space network – conference.
This conference is organised by the BSSC (Baltic Sea & Space Cluster) and it will be held in Gdynia, Poland. Topics which will be discussed include space exploration, harbour management, smart port Gdynia solutions and more. Register here
28th September – 2nd October – ESA’s Φ-Week event
This virtual event will focus on innovation in Earth observation and showcase the latest achievements in Earth observation science, technology and applications. Register here
30th September (application deadline) – Space Academy Rome
This 3-day event will offer services, advice and networking opportunities to space start-ups. Some of the available opportunities include coaching, presenting pitches, customised feasibility studies and financial advice. See the agenda for the last academy here and apply for this academy here.
2nd – 4th October – NASA International Space Apps Challenge
Space Apps is an international hackathon for coders, scientists, designers, storytellers, makers, builders, technologists, and others in cities around the world, where teams engage with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s free and open data to address real-world problems on Earth and in space. Register here
12th – 17th October – International Space University (ISU) Executive Space Course
Taught from an international perspective, the course allows participants to gain an understanding of the differences as well as the common approaches to space strategy across the globe. The course explains core engineering and technical concepts in a simple, understandable manner, allowing participants to develop their knowledge of space-related activities and terminology. Register here
19th-23rd October 2020 – Astropreneurs Bootcamp
Gain access to know-how and mentors tailored to the needs of early stage space start-ups. The bootcamp will provide a wide spread of sessions across all domains, like business, tech, finance and marketing. Register here
9th – 11th November – 24th Summit for Satellite Financing
The Summit for Satellite Financing is the must-attend executive conference for the global satellite communications and connectivity sector, where business leaders come together to gain market insight, strike partnerships and conclude major deals. Register here
The project started with the kick off-meeting in Bremen in June 2018. It was the first contacts among the partners, including the ones participating in the project Astropreneurs, which started in January 2018.
In terms of communication all General Assemblies were conducted in the course of the project. The consortium also held regular telephone conferences with the full consortium every 8 weeks and smaller group calls, whenever necessary.
During the project 5 Space Academies where held successfully, whereby the Space Academy Rome hosted 20 finalists, because it was merged with SA Sevilla.
Further work has been done in parallel in WP 2, including scouting of potential applicants, positioning of the project within the space ecosystem and a cluster analysis for the regions in which the six Academies have been planned, including cross-clustering options (Helsinki/Finland, Bremen/Germany, Rome/Italy, Warsaw or Krakow/Poland, Seville/Spain and Brussels/Belgium). Also the scouting and positioning was updated.
IBS and EBAN – respectively leader of WP 3 and 4 – worked together in setting up a timeline as well as developing pre-selection and evaluation criteria for all Space Academies. The content for all frontal and one-to-one modules, and the concepts for generating individual feasibility studies, was determined by the contributions of the participating partners, and a draft agenda was put together by EBAN. After every Space Academy, Internal Evaluation Reports were produced by Fraunhofer IPK. The feedback was mostly positive and helped to improve the concept of the Space Academy.
WP 6 main task in the second half of the project was the development of sustainability assessment of the action, including the development of a Business Plan to assess the sustainability of the service. Moreover, it supported the scouting activities from WP 2.
WP 7 has been very active on the dissemination and communication strategy, producing internal and external document templates, slide shows, videos, roll-ups, postcards, newsletter and a flyer to communicate about the project and disseminate information. It is also collecting evidence of the communication and dissemination activities of all partners, several of which have been attending important space-related events like the IAC, Space Info Days, the Space Week, to name but a few. Also in 2019 and 2021 the whole consortium attended the NSE Exo Forum in 2019 in person in Rome and in 2021 digital to promote the project.
The principal dissemination elements of SpaceUp are:
1. Promotion and support of the Space Academies (via webtools, social media and videos etc).
2. Regular newsletters to key target stakeholders and other targeted promotion materials such as a roll-up and flyer
3. The Space Academy handbook
The main communication elements are
1. Print material, project videos ( project presentation and project impact) social media accounts (Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube)
2. A visually attractive website (www.space-academy.eu)
3. Promotional videos from Space Academies (Helsinki, Bremen, Rome, Paris and Europe)