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Taking place in Prague, from 28 to 30 November 2022, the 2022 SME Assembly is the most significant event for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Europe. The conference is held once a year during the European SME Week. Together with the network of SME envoys, the assembly creates the governance structure of the Small Business Act.

This year’s SME Assembly included discussions and workshops about how the EU Space Programme enables companies to improve their operations, level-up and increase their return on investment.

The delegates of the Assembly enjoyed an exciting visit to our EUSPA headquarters where they were welcomed by the Executive Director, Rodrigo da Costa. Market Development and Innovation professionals familiarised themselves with the funding opportunities that the agency offers.

"The true impact of space data and services is felt with downstream, and SMEs and start-ups are at the heart of the EU economy. At EUSPA, our role is to provide to non-traditionally space companies the means to innovate by using Galileo/EGNOS, Copernicus and in the future satellite communications’’ says Fiammetta Diani, Head of MDI at EUSPA.

EUSPA’s support of the European SMES’ ecosystem goes beyond funding to include GNSS and Earth Observation market intelligence, mentoring and knowledge sharing through the CASSINI activities for instance and other platforms like the EUSPA Space Academy.

With the promotion of Copernicus on board since 2021, the agency’s efforts also focus on engaging with new commercial and private bodies, research, and education organisations charities. SMEs are central part of this new strategy for Earth Observation which is why over the past EUSPA launched a call for new Copernicus demonstrators for Mobility, Emergency and Infrastructures, among others.

SMEs to clean up the ocean using space!

Of the 300 million tonnes of plastic produced every year, an estimated 26 million eventually ends up in the ocean. As a result, some estimates suggest there are now 5.25 trillion pieces of plastic in our oceans and seas.

The Maritime CASSINI Prize for Digital Space Apps is looking for innovative commercial solutions that leverage the EU Space Programme to detect, monitor and remove plastics, microplastics and other litter from our oceans and waterways. With a total prize purse of EUR 2.85 million, the top three proposals are eligible to win EUR 0.95 million each, which can be used to help further develop and commercialise your solution.  

Because the contest aims to create a new ecosystem of entrepreneurs, applications are only open to SMEs. All proposed solutions must be close-to-market and be able to prove their effectiveness in a real-world demonstration.

The prize is foreseen as part of the Horizon Europe Work Programme.

More information can be found here.

Media note: This feature can be republished without charge provided the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) is acknowledged as the source at the top or the bottom of the story. You must request permission before you use any of the photographs on the site. If you republish, we would be grateful if you could link back to the EUSPA website (http://www.euspa.europa.eu).

Taking place in Prague, from 28 to 30 November 2022, the 2022 SME Assembly is the most significant event for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Europe. The conference is held once a year during the European SME Week. Together with the network of SME envoys, the assembly creates the governance structure of the Small Business Act.

This year’s SME Assembly included discussions and workshops about how the EU Space Programme enables companies to improve their operations, level-up and increase their return on investment.

The delegates of the Assembly enjoyed an exciting visit to our EUSPA headquarters where they were welcomed by the Executive Director, Rodrigo da Costa. Market Development and Innovation professionals familiarised themselves with the funding opportunities that the agency offers.

"The true impact of space data and services is felt with downstream, and SMEs and start-ups are at the heart of the EU economy. At EUSPA, our role is to provide to non-traditionally space companies the means to innovate by using Galileo/EGNOS, Copernicus and in the future satellite communications’’ says Fiammetta Diani, Head of MDI at EUSPA.

EUSPA’s support of the European SMES’ ecosystem goes beyond funding to include GNSS and Earth Observation market intelligence, mentoring and knowledge sharing through the CASSINI activities for instance and other platforms like the EUSPA Space Academy.

With the promotion of Copernicus on board since 2021, the agency’s efforts also focus on engaging with new commercial and private bodies, research, and education organisations charities. SMEs are central part of this new strategy for Earth Observation which is why over the past EUSPA launched a call for new Copernicus demonstrators for Mobility, Emergency and Infrastructures, among others.

SMEs to clean up the ocean using space!

Of the 300 million tonnes of plastic produced every year, an estimated 26 million eventually ends up in the ocean. As a result, some estimates suggest there are now 5.25 trillion pieces of plastic in our oceans and seas.

The Maritime CASSINI Prize for Digital Space Apps is looking for innovative commercial solutions that leverage the EU Space Programme to detect, monitor and remove plastics, microplastics and other litter from our oceans and waterways. With a total prize purse of EUR 2.85 million, the top three proposals are eligible to win EUR 0.95 million each, which can be used to help further develop and commercialise your solution.  

Because the contest aims to create a new ecosystem of entrepreneurs, applications are only open to SMEs. All proposed solutions must be close-to-market and be able to prove their effectiveness in a real-world demonstration.

The prize is foreseen as part of the Horizon Europe Work Programme.

More information can be found here.

Media note: This feature can be republished without charge provided the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) is acknowledged as the source at the top or the bottom of the story. You must request permission before you use any of the photographs on the site. If you republish, we would be grateful if you could link back to the EUSPA website (http://www.euspa.europa.eu).

The days are getting shorter, the temperatures colder – making it the perfect time to come inside and learn about the EU Space Programme. So, on 9 – 10 December, take one of Prague’s Galileo-enabled trams and make your way over to EUSPA Headquarters for our annual Open Days! 

“After two years of virtual and outdoor events, we are thrilled to be able to once again open our doors to the public,” says EUSPA Executive Director Rodrigo da Costa. “A highlight on our agenda, the Open Days event is a unique opportunity for EU citizens to explore the Agency, learn about our mission and discover the many benefits of the EU Space Programme.”

With the theme ‘See, Navigate, Communicate’, this year’s edition shines the spotlight on how Galileo, EGNOS, Copernicus, GOVSATCOM and Space Situational Awareness all bring added value to our everyday lives. “Put these programmes together as one EU Space Programme and you unleash an array of synergies and possibilities, all of which have a powerful impact on society and the planet,” adds da Costa. 

Coming on the heels of the United Nations Climate Change Conference, Open Days will have a particular focus on how EU Space contributes to fighting climate change and achieving such European goals as the Green Deal. During the event visitors can learn how EGNSS and Earth Observation support everything from selecting the best location for building renewable energy infrastructure, implementing the most fuel-efficient flight paths, monitoring CO2 emissions, designing efficient and autonomous transportation networks and increasing agricultural yields to sustainably feed a growing population.

Immersive experiences and virtual reality games

As EUSPA works to reduce its own footprint by limiting paper use and waste, the event will present information largely through digital exhibits. Our immersive Copernicus experience invites visitors to walk through a collage of colourful Earth Observation images taken from around the world. 

The two-day event will also feature fun learning opportunities, exciting seminars, a hands-on space workshop and special activities for children, along with a number of competitions and prizes. And did we mention space simulators and virtual reality games? 

“Whether it be determining how to achieve the world’s climate goals, respond to natural disasters, or build the smart cities and mobility systems of tomorrow, as these exhibits and presentations make clear, the answer can often be found in space,” says da Costa.

For those interested in learning about a possible career in space or about EUSPA’s various funding and support initiatives for entrepreneurs and businesses, be sure mark your calendar for 9-10 December. EUSPA experts will be giving talks and be available to answer your questions throughout the day.  

A lot to celebrate! 

This year’s event coincides with the Czech Presidency of the Council of the European Union and the 10th anniversary of EUSPA headquarters calling Prague home. In the decade since its move to Prague, EUSPA has provided significant funding to start-ups, SMEs, enterprises and research projects, many of which are making substantial contributions to the EU’s robust space economy.

Open Days 2022 will take place Friday and Saturday, 9 – 10 December, from 09:00 to 18:00 at EUSPA Headquarters, located at Janovského 438/2, 170 00 Praha 7-Holešovice. 

Schools and universities interested in organising class visits on 9 December can still reserve a timeslot here. 

Learn more at: https://www.euspa.europa.eu/euspa-open-days-2022 

Media note: This feature can be republished without charge provided the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) is acknowledged as the source at the top or the bottom of the story. You must request permission before you use any of the photographs on the site. If you republish, we would be grateful if you could link back to the EUSPA website (http://www.euspa.europa.eu).

From 1982 to 2022, 40 years of lives saved by Cospas-Sarsat

Amidst the celebration of the 40th anniversary of the first use of satellite technologies by Search and Rescue (SAR) forces earmarked on 10 September 1982 as well as the 40th anniversary of uninterrupted SAR operations of the French Mission Control Center (FMCC), the SAR/Galileo is enlarging its contribution to the Cospas-Sarsat (C/S) system of international SAR efforts cooperation with a fourth MEOLUT (Medium Earth Orbit Local User Terminals) facility deployed in the Indian ocean La Reunion island.

SAR/Galileo Services were designed to support the Cospas-Sarsat (C/S) in the context of the MEOSAR system (Medium Earth Orbit Search And Rescue) providing uninterrupted Search and Rescue services globally which account for more than 2,000 lives saved a year. 

Galileo is already the largest ground (in terms of MEOLUTs) and space segment (L-band SAR payloads) provider within C/S in addition to being the only offering exclusively the Return Link Service (RLS).

Galileo SAR MEOLUTs Key Components of the SAR Ground Segment 

La Reunion/ EU MEOLUT facility has been installed in an Orange Site at Rivière-Des-Pluies in the French La Reunion island in close vicinity of a combined Uplink Station (ULS) and Ground Sensor Station (GSS) existing Galileo remote site. The new MEOLUT successfully passed the required C/s commissioning tests and started providing operational alert data to the French Mission Control Center (FMCC) in a coverage area equivalent to a circle of a radius of 2,500 km for the first-generation C/S beacons and ELT(DT) detection coverage area of a radius of 6,000 km.

Further to the commissioning activities already performed, the MEOLUT is soon to undergo a dedicated SAR/Galileo service validation phase before fully being an integral part of the SAR/Galileo Ground Segment and becoming the fourth EU MEOLUT joining the three already operational located in Larnaca (Cyprus), Maspalomas (Spain) and Spitsbergen (Norway).

Galileo instrumental to achieve Cospas-Sarsat global Coverage including ELT(DT) beacon detection and distribution. 

The Galileo SAR Programme continue to strive in providing world-class Search and Rescue services, the addition of the fourth MEOLUT facility in the Indian Ocean will underpin the efforts to achieve the Cospas-Sarsat MEOSAR global coverage but also ensure that C/S meets the ICAO deadline for the provision of a Global Aviation Distress and Safety System (GADSS) Automatic Distress Tracking capabilities in aircraft through ELT(DT) beacons.

The following figure illustrates the contribution of the SAR/Galileo la Réunion MEOLUT, represented in a yellow dot while the blue colour represents detection compliance status.

La Réunion EU MEOLUT Service Coverage Area

The case in point: First Return Link Distress Alert under the Coverage of the new SAR Galileo MEOLUT

As we commemorate the anniversaries of C/S, FMCC and the new SAR/Galileo MEOLUT, the 1st Return Link Service distress alert was recorded by Galileo coincidentally within the area of coverage of the newly inaugurated SAR/Galileo MEOLUT.

On 18 November, the Asteria, an 11m sailing boat captained by Helsinki life-long skipper Tapio Lehtinen, competing in the Golden Globerace noticed a strong unidentified water intake from astern. Tapio had only time to put on his survival suit, grab the grab-bag and jump into open seas with the liferaft, where at 8h 44min 44sec activated his SAR/Galileo Return Link PLB and saluted the Asteria for the last time as she was sinking.

Media note: This feature can be republished without charge provided the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) is acknowledged as the source at the top or the bottom of the story. You must request permission before you use any of the photographs on the site. If you republish, we would be grateful if you could link back to the EUSPA website (http://www.euspa.europa.eu).

From 1982 to 2022, 40 years of lives saved by Cospas-Sarsat

Amidst the celebration of the 40th anniversary of the first use of satellite technologies by Search and Rescue (SAR) forces earmarked on 10 September 1982 as well as the 40th anniversary of uninterrupted SAR operations of the French Mission Control Center (FMCC), the SAR/Galileo is enlarging its contribution to the Cospas-Sarsat (C/S) system of international SAR efforts cooperation with a fourth MEOLUT (Medium Earth Orbit Local User Terminals) facility deployed in the Indian ocean La Reunion island.

SAR/Galileo Services were designed to support the Cospas-Sarsat (C/S) in the context of the MEOSAR system (Medium Earth Orbit Search And Rescue) providing uninterrupted Search and Rescue services globally which account for more than 2,000 lives saved a year. 

Galileo is already the largest ground (in terms of MEOLUTs) and space segment (L-band SAR payloads) provider within C/S in addition to being the only offering exclusively the Return Link Service (RLS).

Galileo SAR MEOLUTs Key Components of the SAR Ground Segment 

La Reunion/ EU MEOLUT facility has been installed in an Orange Site at Rivière-Des-Pluies in the French La Reunion island in close vicinity of a combined Uplink Station (ULS) and Ground Sensor Station (GSS) existing Galileo remote site. The new MEOLUT successfully passed the required C/s commissioning tests and started providing operational alert data to the French Mission Control Center (FMCC) in a coverage area equivalent to a circle of a radius of 2,500 km for the first-generation C/S beacons and ELT(DT) detection coverage area of a radius of 6,000 km.

Further to the commissioning activities already performed, the MEOLUT is soon to undergo a dedicated SAR/Galileo service validation phase before fully being an integral part of the SAR/Galileo Ground Segment and becoming the fourth EU MEOLUT joining the three already operational located in Larnaca (Cyprus), Maspalomas (Spain) and Spitsbergen (Norway).

Galileo instrumental to achieve Cospas-Sarsat global Coverage including ELT(DT) beacon detection and distribution. 

The Galileo SAR Programme continue to strive in providing world-class Search and Rescue services, the addition of the fourth MEOLUT facility in the Indian Ocean will underpin the efforts to achieve the Cospas-Sarsat MEOSAR global coverage but also ensure that C/S meets the ICAO deadline for the provision of a Global Aviation Distress and Safety System (GADSS) Automatic Distress Tracking capabilities in aircraft through ELT(DT) beacons.

The following figure illustrates the contribution of the SAR/Galileo la Réunion MEOLUT, represented in a yellow dot while the blue colour represents detection compliance status.

La Réunion EU MEOLUT Service Coverage Area

The case in point: First Return Link Distress Alert under the Coverage of the new SAR Galileo MEOLUT

As we commemorate the anniversaries of C/S, FMCC and the new SAR/Galileo MEOLUT, the 1st Return Link Service distress alert was recorded by Galileo coincidentally within the area of coverage of the newly inaugurated SAR/Galileo MEOLUT.

On 18 November, the Asteria, an 11m sailing boat captained by Helsinki life-long skipper Tapio Lehtinen, competing in the Golden Globerace noticed a strong unidentified water intake from astern. Tapio had only time to put on his survival suit, grab the grab-bag and jump into open seas with the liferaft, where at 8h 44min 44sec activated his SAR/Galileo Return Link PLB and saluted the Asteria for the last time as she was sinking.

Media note: This feature can be republished without charge provided the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) is acknowledged as the source at the top or the bottom of the story. You must request permission before you use any of the photographs on the site. If you republish, we would be grateful if you could link back to the EUSPA website (http://www.euspa.europa.eu).