Collaboration between the space sector and industry is key to ensuring that space-based technology delivers real-world benefits. To strengthen this connection, the European Space Agency’s Business Applications and Space Solutions (BASS) programme has recently hosted a secondee from DNV as part of a new bilateral exchange initiative. The arrangement enables professionals to work across the two organisations, sharing expertise and exploring how space-based technologies can solve real-world challenges. An ESA secondee to DNV is also planned as a next step in the collaboration.
Haakon Molvig from DNV was the first secondee within ESA’s BASS programme, and he used his time at ESA to explore how satellite data can enhance navigation, safety and efficiency for Arctic transportation, as well as regulatory compliance in one of the world’s most extreme environments. He also explored how space data could support compliance with environmental regulations, particularly in tracking emissions and reducing pollution in the Arctic.
Haakon's work at ESA explored the benefits of using satellite data to help vessels plan safer and more efficient routes, reducing fuel consumption and the risk of accidents caused by unpredictable ice movement. Current ice charts are updated daily but cannot capture sudden changes in ice conditions. Satellites however can provide low latency data, allowing vessels to navigate more safely and efficiently. Increased connectivity in the Arctic could further enhance these capabilities, enabling continuous access to vital navigation and environmental data.
His findings reinforced the need for faster, more responsive ice navigation tools, as well as the role of satellite connectivity in improving operational efficiency. With data from satellites, Arctic shipping operators could reduce risks to personnel and vessels with the introduction of space-based technology. Haakon's secondment also provided ESA with valuable industry insights into Arctic shipping, while DNV explored new applications of space technology for maritime safety and sustainability.
Bringing industry into the BASS programme helps bridge the gap between space technology and key commercial sectors, providing a structured way for external experts to contribute their knowledge and gain valuable insight into space applications and helping to define use cases for space applications. Importantly, this type of secondment is not intended for seasoned experts, but for early-career professionals with strong potential. The goal is to develop new competences and broaden understanding—both of space-based applications and the needs of industry sectors like maritime.
Haakon Molvig had the opportunity to attend conferences and events while on secondment at ESA
"Working at ESA was eye-opening to the opportunities space offers across industries,” said Haakon. “Satellite services are embedded in our everyday lives, but we rarely ever think about them. It was especially insightful working with Nil and other ESA professionals to map out the satellites and constellations that could enable future services in Arctic shipping: services we may one day take for granted in the same way. This experience has been invaluable and will stay with me as I analyse new business opportunities."
The bilateral exchange enhances collaboration between space and industry. Future secondees could explore how space-based solutions can address sector-specific challenges, helping businesses adopt satellite technology while giving ESA valuable industry insights.
"Haakon’s secondment demonstrated the value of bringing industry expertise into ESA, showing how space-based solutions can address sector-specific challenges,” commented Nil Angli, Business Application and Partnerships Officer at ESA. “This framework is designed to foster exactly these kinds of collaborations, where industry experts to work alongside ESA teams to develop innovative applications for space technology.”
Haakon's secondment is an example of how targeted industry engagement can support innovation and help translate space capabilities into practical solutions on Earth. By connecting early-career professionals with ESA teams, the initiative accelerates knowledge exchange and ensures ESA continues to develop technologies with real-world impact.
Collaboration between the space sector and industry is key to ensuring that space-based technology delivers real-world benefits. To strengthen this connection, the European Space Agency’s Business Applications and Space Solutions (BASS) programme has recently hosted a secondee from DNV as part of a new bilateral exchange initiative. The arrangement enables professionals to work across the two organisations, sharing expertise and exploring how space-based technologies can solve real-world challenges. An ESA secondee to DNV is also planned as a next step in the collaboration.
In colder climates, more than 50% of the water used for hydropower production can be stored as snow during the winter. Estimating the Snow Water Equivalent (SWE) stored in this way is challenging, but it is crucial for hydropower producers to plan and optimise their energy production and resources.
Responding to this need, EDInsights developed an effective method using Earth Observation data to measure snow storage. Its accuracy and functionality have now been tested and fine-tuned with PowerEdge, a two-year pilot project with several hydropower producers in Norway, with the support of ESA’s Business Applications and Space Solutions (BASS) programme and the Norwegian Space Agency.
Electricity generation through hydropower is a highly valuable renewable energy source, thanks to its relatively low impact on the environment and its on-demand production capability.
In Nordic countries, a significant proportion of the water resource in hydropower basins is stored as snow through the winter. This creates a challenge for hydropower producers, as measuring snow storage is technically very difficult and expensive, as well as often not very accurate. Yet, as this snow is the supply of water available for future energy production, it is crucial to be able to measure SWE as effectively as possible to help manage risks of flooding and drought, and for power price forecasting and analysis.
By using satellite L-band radar measurements, PowerEdge showed that it is possible to retrieve physical measurements of the snow storage in an entire hydropower basin, at a specific point in time. No physical presence in the basin is needed and updates can be made multiple times a year.
The results and experiences from the PowerEdge project also confirmed that there is a need and a market for accurate snow storage measurements due to not only the challenges with physical snow measurements, but also those involving modelling of SWE using temperature and precipitation data.
“The ESA BASS programme has provided substantial value not only for our company but the entire hydropower industry in Norway and Sweden,” said EDInsights CEO Frano Cetinic. “It has helped us to operationally demonstrate that we can by use of space data efficiently provide snow storage data for 30+ basins. The ESA BASS programme has also enabled collaboration and knowledge sharing between hydropower producers.”
"PowerEdge exemplifies the significant value of utilising space assets to address complex challenges within the hydro energy sector" said Davide Coppola, Head of Space Applications Initiatives at the European Space Agency. “This project demonstrates the effective use of satellite data to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of hydropower producers' planning processes”.
“Utilising clean renewable energy is a priority for Norway, and we are excited to have supported the development of space-based services such as PowerEdge from EDInsights AS through the ESA BASS programme”, states Rune Sandbakken, Head of Satellite Communications at Norwegian Space Agency. “Innovative solutions are necessary to secure reliable access to clean energy moving forward, as well as managing risks of flooding and drought, with increasing challenges due to climate changes. PowerEdge is a clear example of the value satellite data and information brings to society, and how it helps us solve important issues, be it in Norway or other countries.”
The satellite SWE product has now been successfully commercialised to more hydropower producers, with a five-fold increase in the hydropower basins covered in the 2024/5 snow season and across the mountainous regions in Northern Sweden and Southern Norway.
In colder climates, more than 50% of the water used for hydropower production can be stored as snow during the winter. Estimating the Snow Water Equivalent (SWE) stored in this way is challenging, but it is crucial for hydropower producers to plan and optimise their energy production and resources. Responding to this need, EDInsights developed an effective method using Earth Observation data to measure snow storage. Its accuracy and functionality have now been tested and fine-tuned with PowerEdge, a two-year pilot project with several hydropower producers in Norway, with the support of ESA’s Business Applications and Space Solutions (BASS) programme and the Norwegian Space Agency.
The protection and regeneration of biodiversity on Earth are critical elements in combatting climate change and establishing a more sustainable future for generations to come. It is against this backdrop that Finnish company CollectiveCrunch started its journey with ESA’s Business Applications and Solutions (BASS) programme, aiming to use satellite data to improve the management of commercial forests.
With support from ESA, CollectiveCrunch has now developed a new tool to help protect biodiversity in forests more effectively. Today, the company’s ground-breaking offering is breaking 1 million EUR in revenue, and is expanding its operations from Finland to Sweden, the Baltics, Spain and the United States.
Measuring and protecting biodiversity in commercial forests has changed rapidly in recent years from being a nice-to-have to a must-have, led by a strong regulatory drive in Europe. CollectiveCrunch’s Kickstart initiative with ESA BASS uses 18 biodiversity indicators, combining Sentinel-2 satellite imagery with other data to assist forest managers in planning logging while identifying areas needing protection.
These indicators identify areas with higher biodiversity hot spots, including:
Dead wood inventory: This is an important indicator for biodiversity, as dead wood supports the presence of fungus, more bugs, more birds, and other species.
Forest age and volume: the older and denser the forest, the richer the biodiversity
Presence of deciduous trees: forests composed only of spruce or pine are less beneficial for biodiversity
Presence of cliffs, rivers, swamps, boulder fields etc: these provide special habitats for various species
Connectivity to conservation areas and biodiversity-rich areas: larger areas with high natural value are more valuable than smaller similar ones
Any detected endangered species
“Putting all these indicators together helps build a picture of where to log and operate to sustain cash flows from forests without spoiling areas of greatest biodiversity” said CollectiveCrunch CEO Juha Koponen. “There is an increasing regulatory drive, in addition to voluntary schemes such as FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certification, which requires the conservation of a certain percentage of forests. Our practical tool helps forest managers spot the right areas to protect fast and correctly. These are vast areas, and the only way to really do this is with satellite technology and ESA’s support. With our Kickstart activity with ESA we have seen a lot of interest from forestry companies from several countries already – there is nothing like this available to them yet.”
CollectiveCrunch is going from strength to strength, with a revenue of approximately 950.000 EUR in 2024, and some 1.05 million EUR already achieved in orders in 2025 reflecting strong demand from international clients such as Spain’s ENCE, and Finland’s Metsä Group, StoraEnso and Metsähallitus. To support expansion, the company is also working to bring its solution to North America, which offers a great business opportunity for remote sensing-based forestry data products.
“Originally starting in 2019, this is a great example of the long-term support we provide to European businesses, leveraging transformative space-based solutions to address challenges here on Earth,” said Liz Barrow, Business Applications and Partnerships Officer at ESA. "It's great to see CollectiveCrunch succeed in developing innovative forestry solutions. Their work not only hits commercial goals but also helps create a more sustainable and resilient future by improving forest management and conservation."
The protection and regeneration of biodiversity on Earth are critical elements in combatting climate change and establishing a more sustainable future for generations to come. It is against this backdrop that Finnish company CollectiveCrunch started its journey with ESA’s Business Applications and Solutions (BASS) programme, aiming to use satellite data to improve the management of commercial forests.
