Open innovation project in space

The European Science Foundation (ESF) has set up a new initiative to pinpoint technologies that will promote the industrialisation of Europe’s space sector.

Techbreak aims to pull in expertise from sectors ranging from photonics and nanotechnology to energy, nuclear propulsion and robotics, which are fast moving and could make a contribution to the development of the space sector.

According to the ESF, space-related companies and organisations are not aware of these fast-emerging technologies and how they could be applied to promote the development of Europe’s space industry. Similarly, those involved in these fields are not aware of the space sector’s needs.

Alberto Tobias of the European Space Agency (ESA) said space shares its technology and industrial base with other sectors and open innovation is the rule. “In some domains technology advances faster in terrestrial sectors, and if space enters the game it can become a lead user. Bringing the two domains together offers many benefits: better products and lower costs for space; and increased innovation for terrestrial industries, driven by space research.”

The ESA says that over the last few decades space research has tended to be cautious about using technology that is not fully-proven. The result is that in a rapidly developing field, ESA can be faced with dealing with obsolete technology, sacrificing competitiveness and leadership.

Techbreak, launched this week, aims to combine a forward view of space sciences with a forward view of technology coming from non-space areas. It will be using a classification of non-space disciplines under the broad headings of 'Key Enabling Technologies' which were identified in 2009 by the European Commission as being likely to be the driving forces behind future European developments.