The document outlines ESA Business Applications' funding opportunities for innovative services that combine space assets with artificial intelligence, offering zero-equity funding ranging from €60,000 to €500,000. It describes various kick-start activities occurring from May to November 2019, targeting sectors such as consumer goods, social impact, infrastructure, and environmental resources, each featuring specific case studies. The presentation aims to support companies in developing commercial products and services using space technology and AI.

1. Welcome to the
ESA Space Drink
Enjoy a drink or some snacks!

2. Space for AI
A short introduction
28/05/2019
Nicolas Helssen

3. Goal of this talk:
Explore the current funding
opportunities launched by ESA
Business Applications for Space
and AI
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4. Let’s start with what ESA Business
Applications does
User-driven funding programme that
focuses on the commercial development
of innovative services that integrate
space assets.

5. What ESA Business Applications offers

6. What ESA Business Applications offers
From €60.000 up
to €500.000
zero-equity
funding

7. Space for AI Kick-Start
4 AI Calls from May until November
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8. Kick-Start Activity – Space for AI
▰ ESA is offering technical support and funding to companies
developing innovative and commercial products and services
combining Artificial Intelligence with space technology
▰ €60.000 (75% of 80.000 Project)
▰ Accelerated Application Process
▰ 6 months duration feasibility study
▰ Evolve to demonstration project with up to €500.000 funding
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9. Kick-Start Activity – Space for AI
▰ Consumer goods, business and industrial services
○ (13th May 2019 - 21st June).
▰ Social Impact
○ (25th June 2019 - 30th August).
▰ Infrastructure
○ (2nd September 2019 - 11th October).
▰ Environment and natural resources
○ (14th October 2019 - 29th November).
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10. Kick-Start Activity – Space for AI
▰ Consumer goods, business and industrial services (13th May 2019 - 21st June).
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Retail Finance Hospitality Law
Media, Advertising, marketing and E-commerce, Customer services,
Telecom & IT, Household, Human Resources, etc.

11. Kick-Start Activity – Space for AI
▰ Consumer goods, business and industrial services (13th May 2019 - 21st June).
Case: Track the health of major retailers by
analysing car groupings in parking lots using
satellite imagery.
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12. Kick-Start Activity – Space for AI
▰ Consumer goods, business and industrial services (13th May 2019 - 21st June).
Case: Track the health of major retailers by
analysing car groupings in parking lots using
satellite imagery.
By cross-referencing this data with poverty
indicators (unemployment figures, roof material,
night time lights, building density, etc.), predictions
on retail failure can be generated.
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13. Kick-Start Activity – Space for AI
▰ Social Impact (25th June 2019 - 30th August).
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Environment Healthcare Sanitation Education
Other topics related to Sustainable Development Goals

14. Kick-Start Activity – Space for AI
▰ Social Impact (25th June 2019 - 30th August).
Case: Detect illegal waste sites using satellite
imagery and change detection techniques.
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15. Kick-Start Activity – Space for AI
▰ Social Impact (25th June 2019 - 30th August).
Case: Detect illegal waste sites using satellite
imagery and change detection techniques.
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16. Kick-Start Activity – Space for AI
▰ Social Impact (25th June 2019 - 30th August).
Case: Detect illegal waste sites using satellite
imagery and change detection techniques.
Combine data from GPS-outfitted seagull
detectives with remote sensing data to hunt
down illegal landfills.
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17. Kick-Start Activity – Space for AI
▰ Infrastructure (2nd September 2019 - 11th October).
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Utilities Logistics Aviation Security
Other topics related to infrastructure industry

18. Kick-Start Activity – Space for AI
▰ Infrastructure (2nd September 2019 - 11th October).
Case: Protect critical infrastructure from volcanoes
and earthquakes by tracking animal behaviour with
GPS collars
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19. Kick-Start Activity – Space for AI
▰ Infrastructure (2nd September 2019 - 11th October).
Case: Protect critical infrastructure from volcanoes
and earthquakes by tracking animal behaviour with
GPS collars
Combine data from goats with measurements
from in-situ infrasound monitoring stations to
enable early-warning system
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20. Kick-Start Activity – Space for AI
▰ Environment and natural resources (14th October 2019 - 29th November).
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Agriculture Oil & Gas Renewables Climate
Others related to environment and natural resources

21. ▰ Environment and natural resources (14th October 2019 - 29th November).
Case: Use GPS-IR to measure snow cover in
remote areas to produce water run-off forecasts
(relay data through SatCom)
Kick-Start Activity – Space for AI
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22. ▰ Environment and natural resources (14th October 2019 - 29th November).
Case: Use GPS-IR to measure snow cover in
remote areas to produce water run-off forecasts
(relay data through SatCom)
Kick-Start Activity – Space for AI
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23. ▰ Environment and natural resources (14th October 2019 - 29th November).
Case: Use GPS-IR to measure snow cover in
remote areas to produce water run-off forecasts
(relay data through SatCom)
Combine data with Sentinel-1 imagery to validate
complete model of Snow Water Equivalent (SWE)
for flood prediction and hydro-power forecasts
Kick-Start Activity – Space for AI
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24. ▰ Environment and natural resources (14th October 2019 - 29th November).
Case: Use GPS-IR to measure snow cover in
remote areas to produce water run-off forecasts
(relay data through SatCom)
Combine data with Sentinel-1 imagery to validate
complete model of Snow Water Equivalent (SWE)
for flood prediction and hydro-power forecasts
Kick-Start Activity – Space for AI
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25. Kick-Start Activity – Space for AI
▰ Consumer goods, business and industrial services
○ (13th May 2019 - 21st June).
▰ Social Impact
○ (25th June 2019 - 30th August).
▰ Infrastructure
○ (2nd September 2019 - 11th October).
▰ Environment and natural resources
○ (14th October 2019 - 29th November).
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26. Thank you!
Questions? Do get in touch!
Nicolas.Helssen@belspo.be
+32 487 355 345
https://spacesolutions.be
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Enjoy your
drink!