To increase knowledge valorisation, the European Space Agency (ESA) has established a network of Technology Brokers across the EU that facilitates the transfer of space technologies to non-space industries and vice versa.
Description
The space industry holds immense strategic and economic value, delivering advanced services and top-class science. The ESA Technology Brokers encourage the entry of participants to the space industry exploiting knowledge and technological innovations from other markets and sectors. The brokers employ a combination of technology push and market pull to achieve the optimum results. The brokers also use a bi-directional approach to technology transfer supporting both spin-off and spin-in activities.
In Czechia, the ESA Technology Broker is operated by the Technology Centre Prague, a key national institution providing information and consulting services about the Horizon Europe programme, facilitating technology transfer, and supporting national policies through analytical studies and R&D evaluation reports. Activities are primarily focused on technology scouting and transfer, mediating the introduction of potential technologies, intensifying collaboration among business partners and supporting “Space-to-Earth” and “Earth-to-Space” technology transfer and development of relevant applications.
The ESA Technology Broker also provides business support and coaching, namely in the form of technical feasibility and market analyses, specific market approaches for B2B, B2C and B2G sectors and information support on funding opportunities.
In addition, small, medium and large companies with innovative potential can participate in the ESA SPARK programme, from which they can receive a financial contribution of €75,000, which they can use for a pilot technology transfer between space and terrestrial applications or vice versa.
Achievements & learning
ESA Technology Brokers in Czechia contribute significantly to cross-sectoral knowledge valorisation. Specifically, they have helped dozens of innovative companies from the Czech Republic transfer their know-how and technologies between different industries, with an emphasis on use in space related activities. Many of them are small and medium-sized enterprises or start-ups.
Partners/sponsors
European Space Agency (ESA)