ESA Space Solutions

🚈 Last week the Very Light Rail National Innovation Centre in Dudley, UK, played host to the European Space Agency - ESA’s ‘Space for Intermodal Transport Workshop'. The one-day session was held in partnership with the Black Country Innovative Manufacturing Organisation (BCIMO) as part of the Clean Futures Catalyst. ESA’s Business Applications and Space Solutions (BASS) programme, Connected Places Catapult, and Coventry University came together with experts from the space, logistics, and transport sectors, along with representatives from technology companies to discover innovative ways to harness satellite data to transform the future of intermodal transport. Liz Barrow, Land Mobility Lead at ESA BASS said: “The connections made during the workshop were invaluable, leaving us all feeling very optimistic about the future interactions and partnerships.” Liz also highlighted how everyone in attendance could have a role to play in driving innovation through ESA’s new 'Space for Intermodal Transport' funding opportunity. Read the full report and find out how you can apply for ESA funding to support your intermodal transport project ➡️ https://lnkd.in/gTUcahE7 Paul Bhatia Neil Fulton Naomi Arblaster Rebecca Roberts (EngD) Frank McQuade Nicola Small Andrew Tewkesbury Matthias Gropp EV8 Technologies Coventry City Council Airbus Defence and Space Murphy Geospatial Roberta Mugellesi Dow Enrico Spinelli

💧 From COP26 in 2021 to today, World Water Day 2025, a collaboration between the European Space Agency - ESA and CEO Water Mandate — a partnership between the United Nations Global Compact and the Pacific Institute — has achieved a series of significant milestones in its quest to address the global water crisis. Read the full article 👇 #WorldWaterDay Rita Rinaldo Davide Coppola Cheryl Hicks

🌲 Today, on the International Day of Forests, we’d like to shine a light on 'FORESTER', a service developed by Dutch social enterprise Space4Good to help forest managers combat illegal logging and environmental crime. Following on from a successful Kick-Start activity in 2022 focusing on deforestation, Space4Good worked with the European Space Agency - ESA's Business Applications and Space Solutions (BASS) programme and the Arsari Group to develop the ILDAP (Illegal Logging Detection and Prediction) Demonstration Project. Powered by the ILDAP algorithms, FORESTER offers advanced predictive modelling to identify potential sites for illegal encroachment and logging incidents. During the successful trial, 177 deforestation events were identified and two major encroachments were found and acted upon by local enforcement agencies. By providing a single source of transparent, accurate and up-to-date information for forest managers, local communities, indigenous people and conservation project developers, the FORESTER service facilitates better forest stewardship. Beatrice Barresi, Senior Sustainable Applications Officer for ESA, said “we are very pleased to have supported this important project which has real potential to protect significant areas of valuable forest around the world.” Read the full story ➡️ https://lnkd.in/eyxK6rUf #InternationalDayOfForests

🏥 UK company Apian has become the first to trial drone services in London airspace for the National Health Service (NHS). Supported by ESA’s Business Applications and Space Solutions (BASS) Programme and the UK Space Agency, the drone service offers a fast, cost-effective and sustainable alternative to delivery vans. Currently, the NHS is responsible for 4% of all UK road travel. Adopting drone delivery will help to reduce traffic congestion which causes delivery delays, improve road safety and lower CO2 emissions. With over 300,000 patients having at least one test each day in England and Wales, using drones to deliver medical supplies, pathology samples, and equipment will dramatically increase the turnaround of laboratory results, supporting patient care and optimising inventory by reducing overstocking and waste. Arnaud RUNGE, Technical Officer for the European Space Agency - ESA said: “We are excited to be working with Apian in the development of Apian’s platform through 'Project Dreadnought' and supporting their groundbreaking use of drones in the health service. Their revolutionary service not only increases efficiency for both patient and NHS staff but also reduces costs and the environmental impact of the NHS supply chain.” In 2023, the global healthcare logistics market was valued at $92B, and the success of Project Dreadnought helps place Apian at the forefront of transforming the industry as they scale their service commercially. Read the full story ➡️ https://lnkd.in/dce8YArT

🏙️ Today at 11:30 Rita Rinaldo, Head of Applications Projects and Studies Division, European Space Agency - ESA, will be speaking at the Connected Places Summit as part of the panel discussion: ’The Transformation of Place through Digital Infrastructure and Planning’. The panel will explore new opportunities stemming from planning reform and look at how the built environment sector can leverage standardised digital infrastructure and data-driven decision making to optimise planning, as well as how increased cross-government collaboration and the devolution of funding will impact the future of place shaping. At ESA, Rita is responsible for the initiation and management of space-based applications projects in many vertical sectors, including maritime, energy, mobility and agri-food. She has a wealth of experience working with user communities and establishing partnerships with key players to promote innovation in the sustainable utilisation of space. Rita will explain how space can support digital infrastructure and help drive innovation through the planning sector. ➡️ https://lnkd.in/gs4MQnXD Dr Kavitha Muthu Connected Places Catapult #ConnectedPlacesSummit

📢 INNOspace Masters - submission deadline extended until 31 March. Submit your proposal for the ESA Business Applications challenge as part of INNOSpace Masters 2025: "Accelerating Energy Innovation through Space Solutions". We're looking for ideas for innovative services or applications for the energy sector. Relevant application areas include: 🔸 Infrastructure monitoring and protection 🔸 Grid and storage optimisation 🔸 Heat and urban energy management 🔸 Solar 3.0 advancements This is an opportunity to work with the European Space Agency - ESA's Business Applications and Space Solutions programme to develop a business application or service which uses space technology or data for the benefit of the energy sector. Your application will need to demonstrate a high technological readiness level, utilisation of space technology or data, concept for innovative applications or services in terrestrial markets and confirmed customer need with a clear business case. Apply today ➡️ https://lnkd.in/dr3fi7bA Deutsche Raumfahrtagentur im DLR Anke Freimuth Rita Rinaldo Asimina Syriou

🏃 WEBINAR: ‘Space For Sustainability In Sports and Mass Events’, 30 April, 11:00 CEST. Join us as we introduce a new opportunity for European teams to access European Space Agency - ESA funding for Feasibility Studies and Demonstration Projects that leverage satellite technology to enhance the sustainability of sports and mass events.   Proposals are encouraged to explore innovative ways to reduce the environmental impact of large-scale gatherings, such as sports championships, music festivals, and conferences. Examples of areas where satellite monitoring or data can play a role include: 🔸 Carbon Reduction 🔸 Nature and Biodiversity Protection 🔸 Circular Economy 🔸 Sustainable Infrastructure 🔸 Event Resilience to Environmental Impact Find more detailed examples and register now for the webinar ➡️ https://lnkd.in/eX28QRp7 Antonio Rodenas Davide Coppola

⏰ Last chance to register for our webinar tomorrow: ‘Maritime Decarbonisation: Green Fuels’, 20 March, 10:00 GMT/11:00 CET. 🚢 Nil Angli, Maritime Lead for the European Space Agency - ESA's Business Applications and Space Solutions programme, will present a new opportunity for European teams to develop space-enabled services that support the decarbonisation of the maritime sector, with a specific focus on green fuels and green propulsion systems. Examples of application areas relevant to this funding opportunity include: 🔹 Green Fuels Supply Chain Optimisation 🔹 Regulatory Compliance 🔹 Support for Supply Chain and Bunkering Infrastructure 🔹 Bunker-Specific Smart Routing 🔹 Improving Reliability of Safety-Critical Systems 🔹Carbon Capture Systems 🔹Supply Chain Transparency 🔹Optimisation and Monitoring of Wind-Assisted Propulsion Systems Find full details, application criteria and register for the webinar ➡️ https://lnkd.in/exZzZdSh

🌟 Insightful day at the SET Tech Festival in Berlin – we’ve heard from innovators at the forefront of the energy transition, start-ups shaping future energy solutions, public sector organisations and leaders from across the energy industry. We’ve enjoyed speaking to so many of you about about how innovation acts as a cross-fertiliser between industries and the important role of space in driving that innovation across ESA’s Member States. It was a pleasure to host SolarCleano, VISTA Remote Sensing in Geosciences GmbH and i-EM at the ESA Space Solutions booth, sharing their experiences of developing projects with support from the European Space Agency - ESA’s Business Applications and Space Solutions programme. Thank you to the Start Up Energy Transition team for organising this inspiring event. We look forward to coming back next year! Rita Rinaldo Asimina Syriou German Energy Agency (dena) World Energy Council #SETTF25

✈️🚢 NOW OPEN: ‘Space for Intermodal Transport’ 🚆🚚 We invite proposals for Feasibility Studies and Demonstration Projects from European teams interested in accessing European Space Agency - ESA funding to develop sustainable services and applications for intermodal transport. All proposals must include the use of satellite data or space-based technologies. For freight, intermodal transport can enhance the safe and efficient movement of goods over long distances using multiple transportation modes without handling goods during transfers. For passengers, intermodal solutions require well-designed nodes that facilitate smooth transfers, ensuring comfort and safety. Intermodal transport offers opportunities for freight and urban mobility, but faces challenges such as route planning, data integration, and varied regulations across transport modes. Addressing these challenges requires coordination, standardisation, and collaboration among stakeholders. Advanced technologies, including AI and blockchain, combined with space-based capabilities, can innovate processes and enhance the efficiency of intermodal systems, contributing to the decarbonisation of freight transport and overall supply chain effectiveness. Areas relevant to this funding opportunity include: ▪️ Environmental Sustainability ▪️ Reduction of Road Congestion ▪️ Optimised Transport Choices ▪️ Efficiency and Flexibility ▪️ Safety Find examples of how space can support the future of intermodal transport, along with full application criteria ➡️ https://lnkd.in/gVUJQedf