Why your company should apply to the Global Space Markets Challenge
The Global Space Markets Challenge is a competition launched by ESA with the support of Eurisy. The Challenge aims at giving visibility to European SMEs which have internationalisation ambitions and are developing products and/or services for the upstream or downstream space sector.
The competition offers SMEs a novel opportunity to present their plans to introduce their space products and/or services to identified target markets. The selected applicants will benefit from awards and support to help them reach new potential users, customers, investors and partners.
If you are working for a space company in an ESA Member States, Associate State or Canada, then this will be of interest to you. The Challenge’s benefits are designed for both the upstream and downstream space sector. Completing the application process only requires a few steps, so there is still time to apply before the end of June!
Competition awards will be available in two categories: upstream and downstream.
Downstream space companies
The Challenge’s downstream category encompasses daily operations of space infrastructure and “down-to-earth” activities that directly rely on the provision of a space capacity (satellite technology, signals or data) to exist and function.
ESA will design, with the assistance of each of the category’s winners, a prospective ESA mentoring programme, addressing the specific needs of each winner to their internationalisation plans (1st place: EUR 15,000; 2nd place EUR 10,000; 3rd place EUR 5,000).
A total of six applicants from downstream companies will also be offered by Eurisy the opportunity to have the presentation of their products and/or services embedded in a Virtual Reality tool and in a video, to be presented at ESA or Eurisy roadshows and booths and international events and fairs. The video will also feature on an associated 3D web platform. The VR tool and 3D web platform have been designed to overcome some of the major obstacles in the integration and adoption of satellite-based services. Avoiding technical jargon, and with a strong focus on the use and benefits, these will become effective marketing tools.
The downstream winners will also be given the opportunity to attend a prestigious third-party event (currently foreseen is the International Astronautical Congress of October 2021 in Dubai), where each winner will have the opportunity to present their company as well as their products or services to potential customers.
Upstream space companies
The Challenge’s upstream category encompasses scientific and technological foundations of space programmes, as well as manufacturing and production of space systems.
ESA will design, with the assistance of each of the category’s winners, a prospective ESA mentoring programme, addressing the specific needs of each winner to their internationalisation plans (1st place: EUR 15,000; 2nd place EUR 10,000; 3rd place EUR 5,000).
The winners of the upstream category will be given the opportunity to attend an event organised by ESA (currently foreseen is the next edition of the ESA Industry Space Days). They will also be given the opportunity to attend a prestigious third-party event (currently foreseen is the International Astronautical Congress of October 2021 in Dubai), where each winner will have the opportunity to present their company as well as their products or services to potential customers.
For more information, visit the official Challenge page and apply by 30 June 2021!
