"Space for new ideas – Big opportunities for small entrepreneurs"

Paris, 10 Dec 2002

Access to innovative solutions and increased competitiveness thanks to space technology - this is the theme of a workshop to be held at ESA/ESRIN in Frascati on 16 December (see attached programme), organised by the Technology Transfer Programme of the European Space Agency.

The most advanced European space technologies are being made available to non-space industry through the ESA Technology Transfer Programme, which has brought about over 150 transfers in its 12-year existence. The cumulative turnover generated is in the order of €25 million for the space companies involved, and €150 million for the non-space companies; 2500 jobs have been created, and 25 new companies have been established.

This meeting in Frascati - the third in a series - is an annual showcase of recent results and future prospects for space spin-offs. It is co-organised by D'Appolonia, the Italian technology broker, a member of the Technology Transfer Programme network. Representatives from the European Commission will be taking an active part in this event.

An important contribution to the workshop comes from ESINET, the Network of European Space Incubators jointly established by ESA and the EC. Today, thirty organisations are members of this network, which fosters start-ups and assists SMEs in gaining access to financing schemes. ESA is creating other opportunities through commercial utilisation of the International Space Station, making ISS microgravity laboratories available for the development of new materials and biotechnology, health, environmental and food applications.

And a fashion note: in the course of the day the winners of the Space2Tex clothing design competition will be announced. Clothes that can be ironed with a hairdryer, cooling jackets, smart baby pyjamas that can alert doctors are just a few examples of how space technologies can contribute to the creation of new products, and new business. The competition, launched by ESA and D'Appolonia, has proved a considerable success: more than 160 contestants worldwide have proposed ideas for uses of space technologies in the areas of ready-to-wear, high fashion, sports and leisure, work and health care. The winners will be immediately projected into new orbits: the Italian company Grado Zero Espace will manufacture the winning ideas and present them at major trade fairs.

Media representatives wishing to attend the Workshop are kindly requested to complete the attached registration form and fax it back to ESA/ESRIN.

For further information, please contact:

Pierre Brisson

Technology Transfer and Promotion Office

ESA/ESTEC, Noordwijk, the Netherlands

Tel: +31(0)71.565.49.29

For more information about the ESA Technology Transfer Programme:www.esa.int/ttp

PROGRAMME

9.30 - Registration of Participants

Chair: Silvia Rosa Brusin, TG Leonardo – RAI

10.00 - Welcome and Opening

Antonio Rodotà, Director General of the European Space Agency

Sergio Vetrella, President of the Italian Space Agency

Mario Tassone, Deputy Minister for Infrastructures and Transport

Xabier Goenaga, DG Research, European Commission

Franco Malerba, President of the High-Level Advisory Board of ESINET

11.15 - Working session:

How to create business with technology transfer - Pierre Brisson, Head of Technology Transfer and Promotion Office, ESA

ESA support and funding for entrepreneurs and SMEs - Bruno Naulais, European Space Incubator Manager, ESA

How ESINET can help space SMEs - Andrea Barbagelata, President of T4Tech and Industry Division Manager of D'Appolonia

Space Research in the Sixth Framework Programme - Luc Tytgat, Head of Space Research – Policy and Co-ordination Unit, DG Research, European Commission

The Framework Programme and SMEs - Xabier Goenaga, Head of Research and SMEs Unit, DG Research, European Commission

How to access funding for SMEs in the Sixth Framework Programme - Annalisa Ceccarelli, National Contact Point at the Italian Ministry of Research, APRE

13.00 - Conclusions

Learco Saporito, Italian Ministry for the Civil Service

13.30 - Buffet

Chair: Franco Malerba

14.15 - International Space Station: huge potential for business - Maurizio Belingheri, Head of ISS Commercialisation Division, ESA

14.30 - Technological innovation in the textile sector - Stefano Carosio, Technology Transfer Area Manager, D'Appolonia -Antonio Giallorenzo, Grado Zero Espace

14.45 - Announcement of Space2Tex Design Contest winners - David Raitt, Technology Transfer and Promotion Office, ESA

15.15 - Closure - Andrea Barbagelata

"Space for new ideas - Big opportunities for small entrepreneurs"

Workshop at ESA/ESRIN

Via Galileo Galilei - Frascati (Italy)

Monday 16 December 2002

First name: _________________ Surname: _____________________

Media: _____________________________________________________

Address: __________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

Tel.:_______________________ Fax: __________________________

Mobile:_____________________ E-mail: _______________________

[ ] I will be attending the Workshop

[ ] I will not be attending

Please fax this form to:

Franca Morgia

ESA/ESRIN

Tel: +39(0)6.9418.0951

Fax: +39(0)6.9418.0952

Further information:

ESA, Bureau des Relations avec les Médias
Tel: +33(0)1.53.69.7155
Fax: +33(0)1.53.69.7690

European Space Agency
http://www.esa.int/export/esaCP/index.ht ml