ESA title

Atlantic Area Kick-Start

  • ESA-STAR REFERENCE AO8872
  • Activity Kick-start Activity
  • Opening date 06-06-2018
  • Closing date 18-07-2018

ATLANTIC AREA

From renewable ocean energy from tides and waves, to marine aquaculture, seabed mining and e-navigation. We're looking for business cases related to the Atlantic Area and powered by Space.  The European Space Agency’s Atlantic Area Kick-start Activity offers support and funding to companies looking to develop space empowered services to support the Atlantic Area’s economic and environmental development.

KEY FOCUS AREA

The Atlantic Area and its resources are increasingly recognized as being essential for addressing the multiple challenges that will be faced in the decades to come: it is a key source of food, energy, minerals, jobs and transport upon which hundreds of millions of people depend.

The maritime industry landscape is undergoing a transition from traditional shipping and fishing practices, into new activities which reshape and diversify the industry. Moreover, the Atlantic Area economy is expanding rapidly driven by a large number of factors: the increase in world population, global economic growth, increased trade, sustainability etc. In this new context, emerging industries are characterised in particular by the key roles played by their operations utilising cutting-edge science and technologies, moving increasingly towards high levels of automation.

  • Renewable ocean energy from tides and waves
  • Marine aquaculture
  • Seabed mining
  • E-navigation
  • Multi-use platforms
  • AI for marine ecosystem
  • Offshore
  • More information is available in the tender documentation.

WEBINAR

Webinars for this call have already taken place. Please find the presentation slides at the bottom of this page.

HOW TO APPLY

  1. Register by completing online questionnaire on ESA-STAR Registration (minimum ‘light registration’)
  2. Download the official tender documentation (Invitation to Tender) and create ‘Bidder Restricted Area’ via EMITS ‘AO 8872’ from 6th June 2018
  3. write your proposal and obtain Letter of Support from National Delegation, if needed (see above)
  4. Submit your proposal via ESA-STAR Tendering by the 18th July 2018.

WHAT ARE WE LOOKING FOR?

We’re looking for teams that have identified a market opportunity that’s attractive and has real potential for engaging customers. Motivation, business experience and domain expertise are key.

But most importantly of all, we want to hear business ideas that are commercially viable, technically possible and involve either space tech or data; such as satellite Earth observation, satellite navigation, satellite communications, spaceflight technologies.

WHAT WE OFFER

We offer funding and support to companies for business case assessment, as well as the development of new space enabled products and services focussed on the Atlantic Area's economic and environmental development.

  • Zero-equity funding up to €60K per activity
  • A personalised ESA consultant.
  • Technical & commercial guidance.
  • Access to our network of partners.
  • Credibility of the ESA brand.

THE VALUE OF SPACE FOR THE ATLANTIC AREA

Space assets integrated with terrestrial technologies are instrumental to address the needs of the above identified economic sectors and user communities.

Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) are the main source of geo referenced locations data and essential to support the sea navigation of leisure boats, commercial vessels, and Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) regulated ships. Each maritime application will take advantage of the features offered by GNSS  ugmentation: increased accuracy and integrity, certified services and high availability. GNSS can be used in every phase of marine navigation: ocean, coastal, port approach and port manoeuvres, under all weather conditions. In particular, the COSPAS-SARSAT service and Galileo Initial MEO Services can support Search and Rescue and emergency response operations.

Satellite Earth Observation can provide valuable information for several maritime applications, for example in maritime surveillance (fisheries,  efence, natural environment monitoring), satellite derived bathymetry, and disaster response. Earth Observation derived data can be used to obtain detailed meteorological data such as wind speed and direction, humidity, and others demanded to be taken into account into the models for services related for example to habitat mapping and fisheries.

Satellite Communications provide a means to communicate with the coordinating centre to and from remote locations where there is no terrestrial network. In case of network failures or cyber-attacks targeting terrestrial communication, SatCom may  be used to increase communication network robustness and resilience.

AUTHORISATION OF FUNDING

For the competitive tender on "Atlantic Area", the following ESA Member States have made funding available: Ireland, Germany, Norway and the UK.

If your company/organisation resides in another country participating to the programme, who has not made funding available, you must request a Letter of Support from your National Delegation.