Great success for the finals of the 5th edition of ActInSpace®, the international competition dedicated to space applications
The awards ceremonies for ActInSpace 2022®, the major international hackathon aimed at imagining the products and solutions of tomorrow using space data and technology, took place on 13 and 14 February, at the Palais des festivals in Cannes, France, in partnership with the Cannes Pays de Lérins urban community.
Launched by CNES in 2014, co-organised by ESA since 2016 and operated by Aerospace Valley, ActInSpace® aims at developing entrepreneurship, especially among young people, by fostering the creation of start-ups offering services based on space technologies, for the benefit of citizens, employment and our planet.
For its 5th edition, the competition gathered this year 1,700 participants in 65 towns over 34 countries on the 5 continents, showcasing 410 projects for start-ups using space technology, data and infrastructures.
ActInSpace® 2022 was supported by 9 international sponsors: Airbus, AirZeroG (VIP Sponsors), Air Liquide, Eban Space (European Business Angels Network), ESSP (European Satellite Services Provider), EUSPA (EU Agency for the Space Programme), OVHcloud and Sopra Steria. Thales Alenia Space was the official partner for the international finals.
The international Final and the France Final designated 2 winning teams, for the quality of their projects. The 2 prizes this year were awarded by CNES and all the partners of ActInSpace®:
- The ActInSpace® International Grand Prize, a zero-gravity flight in the A310 ZERO-G aircraft, was awarded to NEXUS AZERBAIDJAN, for its project aimed at optimising aircraft routes to reduce fuel consumption and emissions.
- The ActInSpace® France Grand Prize, the chance to attend a space launch at the Guyane Space Center, was awarded to TREE FOR LIFE KOUROU, a project aiming at combating soil erosion.
In addition to the 2 winning teams, all participating teams will have the possibility to be supported for the launch of their start-up, by the Connect by CNES service and the partner incubators, especially the ESA BICs and Tech The Moon.
Since the 1rst edition of ActInSpace®, over 30 start-ups have been launched, in various host countries, included several great success-stories such as Panda Insight UG (Germany, winner 2018 – a smartphone app for a tailored health routine), Kermap (France, winner 2016 – a satellite analysis of ground occupation) or O’sol (France – deployable solar generator).
For all useful information, visit www.actinspace.org
About ACTINSPACE®:
ActInSpace® is the major international competition dedicated to space applications, launched by CNES (French government space agency) in 2014 and co-organised with ESA since 2016. Aerospace Valley has been designated for the operational organisation of the contest, being the representative of the ESA BIC Sud France, member of the ESA BIC (Business Incubation Centres) network. Open to people from all backgrounds, ActInSpace® aims at developing entrepreneurship and creating links between space professionals and citizens, by proposing challenges that participating teams must solve by using space technologies and databases, patented by CNES and its partners.
During 24 hours and simultaneously over the world, teams gather to work on everyday life issues, supported by business coaches and technical experts, to imagine and design products and services for tomorrow, from space data. For further information: www.actinspace.org
About CNES:
CNES (Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales) is the public establishment in charge of proposing the French space policy to the Government and implementing it in Europe. Its designs and launches satellites and invents the space systems of tomorrow; it fosters the emergence of new services that are useful in everyday life. CNES, created in 1961, initiates major space projects, launchers and satellites, and is the natural partner of the industry for pushing innovation. CNES employs some 2,400 employees, men and women who are passionate about space, which opens up infinite, innovative fields of application, in five areas: the Ariane launcher, scientific research, observation, telecommunications and defence. CNES is a major player in technological innovation, economic development and industrial policy in France. It also establishes scientific partnerships and is involved in numerous international projects. France, represented by CNES, is one of the main contributors to the European Space Agency (ESA). More info at: www.cnes.fr
About ESA:
The European Space Agency is an intergovernmental organisation of 22 member states dedicated to the exploration of space and to supporting the development of the European capability in the space sector. ESA’s “Business Applications” and “Space Solutions” programmes co-fund projects while offering technical and business support to companies that seek to deliver rapid innovation and raise private investment. Overall, ESA spends €400 million a year on strengthening the competitiveness of European and Canadian companies in the global markets, not only for satellite communications but also for downstream applications. ESA’s patent portfolio consists of around 500 granted patents and about 60 applications in progress. This patent portfolio is available for licensing by European companies for space and terrestrial applications. More info at: www.esa.int | www.business.esa.int
About Aerospace Valley:
Based in France, Aerospace Valley is Europe’s first aerospace cluster, the only community in the world federating all the actors of the value chain for all aeronautics and space segments, in the Occitanie and Nouvelle-Aquitaine regions. Supporting the strategic sectors of Aeronautics, Space and Drones and thanks to its 5 Excellency Ecosystems – Embedded and Communicating Systems, Structures and Mechanical Systems, Propulsion and Embedded Energy, Data and Artificial Intelligence, Products and Services for the Industry – Aerospace Valley drives a supportive, competitive and attractive community, aimed at fostering innovation in view of growth.
Ranking among the world top three clusters for the performance of its cooperative R&T projects (among which 739 have already been financed since the cluster was launched in 2005, for a total amount of € 1.7 Billion invested and €712 Million public aid), Aerospace Valley is in charge of animating a dynamic network of international reputation, composed of 860 members (companies, research laboratories, training centres, universities and schools, local authorities, economic development structures), including 600 SMEs. More info on: www.aerospace-valley.com
cp012-2023_-_actinspace2022_laureats_va.pdf (pdf - 742.13 KB)
