Tuesday 30th October 2018 at UKSA, Swindon

An expanded network of five new Regional Ambassadors for ESA Business Applications is now established across the UK, in response to an increase in demand for ‘Ambassadorial’ support services.

Since the inception of ESA Business Applications ten years ago, the UK has maintained an “Ambassador Platform” to promote engagement by industry and research organisations.  This has proved so effective that the network is being expanded to include five Regional Ambassadors in the UK, with an overall coordinator based at ESA’s UK site in Harwell (ECSAT), supported by a dedicated Business Developer.

Applications that use space data and services are one of the most exciting areas of the space ecosystem. Many of the companies are Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) that have seen the opportunities space data and services bring to enhance their products and deliver something that makes them stand out from the crowd.  The UK is the largest contributor to this element of ESA’s programme of Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems (ARTES). The Ambassadors are working with companies and individuals to develop their business ideas using space data and services, and to support their initial application into the programme.

Increased demand for this support has prompted the decision to greatly expand the team. Five regional ambassadors, each with a geographical area of responsibility, will be coordinated by long-standing Ambassador Ian Downey, working in collaboration with a Business Developer who will provide support to companies developing their business case. This team of experts has considerable experience of working in the UK Space Sector and with different business sectors. As a result they are ideally positioned to support the creation of new space-powered business applications across the country.

The launch of the new-look UK Ambassador Network was announced at the UK Space Agency offices in Swindon on 30th October 2018, on the occasion of the inaugural meeting of the UKSA Satellite Applications Industry Advisory Group. 

To contact your UK Regional Ambassadors and see how you can benefit from the #ApplicationOfSpace click here.

On 16^th of October, ESA hosted a presentation & workshop session for the ten start-ups that are part of the Space Camp’s Second Accelerator programme. 

Backed by the world’s only SpaceTech Venture Fund, Seraphim Capital’s Space Camp programme is dedicated to the rapidly growing SpaceTech start-up sector. Following a first successful cohort, ten new start-ups were chosen for the nine-week intensive programme, to accelerate the commercial viability of their project and validate their technology readiness.

With a focus on preparing their final pitches, the companies spent last Tuesday visiting ESA and the Satellite Applications Catapult at Harwell Campus. The day was kicked off by Jason Maroothynaden, Business Broker at ESA, and was followed by talks from key speakers from ESA and UK Space Agency covering such topics as:   

• ESA’s role in bringing space technology down to Earth; the current state of the Space Industry; future trends in space; ESA’s programme of Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems (ARTES); and
• How to collaborate with the UK Space Agency.

The day continued with 1:1 sessions where the start-ups got the chance to speak in-depth about how they might be able to work with, and be supported by, ESA and the UK Space Agency.

In the afternoon, the companies made their way across the campus to the Satellite Applications Catapult where they had the opportunity of seeing demonstrations of the kind of applications that the organisation supports, followed by further sessions delving into potential collaborations with the Catapult. 

What’s next? 

On 20^th of November 2018, the Space Camp start-ups have been invited to Inmarsat’s Headquarters in London for their Investor Day, to mark the end of the nine-week programme. The pitching sessions will be a great opportunity to connect with a wider network of investors and corporate partners including ESA, Dentons, Rolls-Royce, Cyient, Inmarsat, Airbus, SSTL, Telespazio, UK Space Agency, Capital Enterprise and the Satellite Applications Catapult. 

If you are a Space Camp Partner, a potential investor or a member of the press and would like to register for the event, click here. 

About Seraphim Capital

Seraphim Space is a £70m venture fund launched in 2016 focused on the fusion of terrestrial technology and space applications. It is backed by smart capital from leading space companies, with support from ESA and the UK Space Agency.

The fund invests in both downstream & upstream opportunities, along with technologies that rely on satellite data such as drones and the Internet of Things, or which have potential space applications such as artificial intelligence, robotics and nanomaterials. 

About ESA Business Applications