The BalticSatApps project aims to advance the development of new solutions and commercial activity that utilize Copernicus earth observation data. The project is co-financed by Interreg Baltic Sea Region Programme 2014–2020 and European Neighbourhood Instrument/financial support of the Russian Federation, and takes place during 10/2017–12/2020.

New business opportunities from satellite data

In the last 30 years, substantial R&D efforts in the field of Earth observation (EO) have been made globally. At EU level, EO activities are coordinated with the Copernicus programme, which is one of the leading providers of open EO data. However, technical barriers currently prevent users from fully exploiting the data and information that Copernicus delivers. The combination of space data with other data sources and technologies open up many business opportunities for all EU member states. Stronger links with the commercial downstream sector are essential to develop tailor-made applications, reach out to new users and connect the space sector with other sectors.

The BalticSatApps project speeds up innovation creation

BalticSatApps strives to speed up the market uptake of EO satellite data in the Baltic Sea Region by utilising societal challenges and needs along with the developer community as innovation drivers. The project will increase awareness about the data provided by the Copernicus programme, improve access to the data, and stimulate demand and innovation through co-creation and iterative development methodologies. Regional science and technology parks will also be provided with training on how to support SMEs in the emerging EO market by running specialised acceleration programmes.

Tasks in brief

  • Examine the needs of end users for Earth observation (EO) data
  • Stimulate EO demand and related innovation activities through co-creation methodologies and iterative development (e.g. a series of hackathons will be organised in order to discover new solutions utilising open EO data)
  • Organise training for regional science and technology parks, so that they are able to provide EO-utilising businesses with support in the form of tailor-made acceleration programmes
  • Support the activities of ESA BIC business incubation centres
  • Promote the revolution in space business where phenomena such open satellite data, mini-satellites and asteroid mining are gaining wide interest
  • Support aspiring entrepreneurs, start-ups, as well as established companies to leverage open EO data.

Partnership

Estonia: Tartu Observatory of the University of Tartu, Tartu Science Park Foundation

Finland: Finnish Meteorological Institute, Turku Science Park Ltd, University of Turku (Lead partner)

Poland: Cracow University of Technology – Technology Transfer Centre, Institute of Geodesy and Cartography, Krakow Technology Park
Polska strona internetowa projektu BalticSatApps: http://balticsatapps.pl/

Russian Federation: Non-commercial Partnership – European-Russian InnoPartnership, St. Petersburg State Unitary Enterprise – St. Petersburg Information and Analytical Centre

Sweden: Swedish National Space Agency