On July 17th, at the Corallia facilities of the Athena Research Center, a networking event of the ESA Business Incubation Center in Greece, ESA BIC Greece, was organized. The event was a meeting point for over 40 representatives of companies and organizations within the Greek space ecosystem. Innovative startups developed in the incubator or having successfully completed the incubation program played a central role in the event.

The event was addressed by the Minister of Digital Governance, Mr. Dimitris Papastergiou, the Deputy Minister of Digital Governance, Mr. Konstantinos Kyranakis, the General Secretary of Telecommunications and Post, Mr. Konstantinos Karantzalos, the Director of the pan-European ESA BICs program, Mr. Niels Elderling, the ESA BIC Country Manager for Greece, Ms. Ines Placido, and the board member of the Space Technologies and Applications Cluster and the Industrial Union EBIDITE, Mr. Stelios Bollanos.

ESA BIC Greece is implemented in Greece by Corallia, with the support of the Ministry of Digital Governance and coordination by the European Space Agency and over 80 other organizations that have designated the Incubator as a key driver for the development of the Greek Space Industry.

Dr. Jorge-A. Sanchez-P., Director of the Incubator, referred to the ambitious goals of ESA BIC Greece. Specifically, the incubator aims to strengthen the Greek space ecosystem by introducing and supporting five new successful space-related startups each year. This action is expected to grow the Greek space ecosystem by 25% by mid-2026, with a corresponding economic impact and job availability. A parallel goal of ESA BIC Greece is to encourage the further adoption of space-based services and support technology transfer to and from the space sector.

Dr. Sanchez-P. stated: “Our effort is to create a sustainable and dynamic environment for space startups in Greece, offering the necessary support, guidance, and networking for their development and success.”

The Minister of Digital Governance, Dimitris Papastergiou, among other things, said: “I am truly happy and optimistic! I consider the space sector a field with tremendous prospects, capabilities, and great interest, and I am pleased that so many Greek businesses are successfully involved in it. The synergies developed around space technologies can leave a significant footprint on the Greek economy and sustain a strong and viable ecosystem. We are at your disposal as the Ministry of Digital Governance for any discussion.”

The Deputy Minister of Digital Governance, Konstantinos Kyranakis, added: “Congratulations on the work being done here at Corallia. With the help of the entire ecosystem, we have clarified what exactly the country is trying to achieve regarding Space. In the coming years, the pillars we have built with competitions and programs like ESA BIC Greece pave the way for development that will yield the maximum benefits for both Greek businesses and Greek citizens.”

Mr. Stelios Bollanos, a board member of EBIDITE, stated: “The result of ESA BIC Greece is the new blood of the space ecosystem. All of you here enrich our ecosystem and make it more dynamic and competitive to meet the challenges of the wider Space market.”

To date, the program has graduated 8 companies (which were awarded by the Minister during the event), another 7 are currently supported by the Incubator, and another 2 will start their incubation in September.

These companies are active in strategic sectors for the country, such as Telecommunications, Environmental and Natural Resources Monitoring, Shipping, and Transport and Logistics Chains, as well as cutting-edge sectors with particular business and scientific interest related to Technology Transfer to and from space sectors, as well as Space Exploration.

Of particular interest is the contribution of these new companies to the established Greek space ecosystem. This contribution is multiplicative, providing the opportunity not only for new bilateral collaborations between companies but also for the creation of entire value chains that can start from the construction of new satellite systems placed in orbit for collecting Earth data and end in the collection, processing, analysis, and exploitation of data for terrestrial applications.

Also noteworthy is the background of the teams. Indicatively, 30% of them come from the regions, 10% are the result of the repatriation of promising scientists from abroad, and 30% were created because of ESA BIC Greece.

An achievement is the creation of strong teams with an average of over 5 members in each startup, with excellent internal structure and staff development. These results are comparatively superior to any other ESA BIC accelerator. Support for the teams through the incubator has so far translated into the creation of 23 new highly specialized jobs and an increase in the companies’ turnover to €2,000,000, with additional attraction of private and public investments.

ESA BIC Greece offers a comprehensive support package of €50,000 in cash, access to benefits worth over €100,000, business mentoring, technical expertise, networking, training, the right to use the ESA BIC logo, access to office spaces and infrastructure, and an extensive network of about 80 supporters. As a result of the effort, the incubator has recorded a Net Promoter Score (NPS) of 65, indicating that the companies are highly satisfied with the services and would recommend it to other interested parties.

ESA BIC Greece is part of the largest space innovation network in the world. This network has a global impact, now supporting 220 startups a year and having already included over 1600 companies in its program. The socio-economic results are equally significant, with 2022 closing with over 5,000 new full-time jobs and investments exceeding €395 million.

The companies presented at the networking event are:

• CIRCUITS INTEGRATED HELLAS: The company revolutionizes the performance and efficiency of antennas using monolithic microwave integrated circuits (MMIC). The company offers a complete solution that minimizes the need for PCB and enhances next-generation phased arrays in telecommunications.
• SOLMEYEA: The company promotes an innovative hybrid vertical microalgae farming technology that can convert industrial carbon dioxide into materials with applications in alternative proteins, cosmetics, and biofuels, promoting a truly environmentally friendly economy. Within the ESA BIC Greece framework, the company is ready to develop exceptional ingredients for space food while providing a negative carbon footprint.
• SOLIDKOSMOS: The team envisions becoming a key supplier in the emerging space sector, offering solutions that “shield” satellite systems from cosmic radiation events that may affect the systems.
• AVISENSE: The company aims to enhance the capabilities of (semi)-autonomous vehicles by providing a comprehensive solution that combines multiple signals and systems from satellite and terrestrial sources. This solution can significantly increase passenger safety and experience, as well as the energy efficiency of the vehicles themselves.
• CLOUD SIGNALS: The company develops a suite of products that enable the utilization of 5G services even in remote areas (mountainous areas, moving ships, and planes, etc.), using satellite systems.
• CDXi: The company, using Artificial Intelligence, offers analytics to support the Green and Digital Transformation in public and industrial ecosystems. The company leverages technologies and data from the Earth Observation and computer vision sectors to provide sustainable, environmentally friendly, and cost-effective solutions.
• BITREZUS: The company focuses on reducing the risk of cyber-attacks against space resources, such as satellite systems. It achieves this by leveraging a combination of H/W technology and blockchain to create an additional layer of security.
• ANGELY: The company aims to market a solution that can remotely detect concealed weapons, respecting citizens’ privacy and allowing the free flow of traffic in frequent gathering places. The company leverages technology derived from space applications measuring systems’ magnetic fields.
• INSIGHIO: The company helps third parties accelerate the adoption of Internet of Things (IoT) technologies with a unique combination of hardware and software. Within the ESA BIC Greece framework, the company has developed IoT solutions that leverage satellite communications.
• CAIUS: The company combines Artificial Intelligence and satellite and geomorphological data to study forest areas, aiming for automated monitoring and discovery of forest trails. The applications provided are aimed at both forest protection agencies and nature enthusiasts visiting them.
• Neuralio.AI: This company also combines Artificial Intelligence and satellite data, but with the ultimate goal of providing information on the environmental impacts of activities, local climate forecasts, and environmental simulations to land planners, energy experts, and investors.
• SPACE MOBILITY: The company extends the range of robotic exploration by developing flexible and energy-efficient robots designed to navigate various terrains such as the Moon, Mars, and Earth. The company’s primary vision is to provide robust transport systems capable of easily accessing hazardous and hard-to-reach locations.
• SPACE INNOVATION SOLUTIONS: The company aims to revolutionize satellite connectivity through a new 3D-printed antenna. The company will offer seamless connection to satellite telecommunication systems.
• ALONGROUTE: The company leverages satellite data and Artificial Intelligence to offer highly accurate and detailed marine weather forecasts. These forecasts can be utilized by other companies to optimize marine transport by providing reliable data on waves, currents, and winds.
• PROMILIST: The company has developed software that mathematically verifies the best possible route for a ship to minimize its emissions. The solution is based on the use of artificial intelligence that minimizes the computation times of the relevant calculations.

The next application evaluation deadline for the Permanent Open Call of ESA BIC Greece is October 14, 2024. Applications can be submitted by legal entities based in Greece (not more than 5 years old) and by individuals residing with a work permit in Greece, with the obligation to establish a legal entity in Greece.