ESA launches a space startup incubator in Turin. Here are the first 8 selected

There is the one who invented an electrostatic membrane to manipulate objects of any shape, on Earth as in Space. Or the one that has devised a particular type of flexible printed circuits, very useful for a variety of deployable space systems such as antennas, solar panels and housing modules. Still, serre innovative for future lunar and possibly Martian vegetable crops, aluminum ion batteries and satellite tracking solutions. And then logistics, oceanssecurity in telecommunications.

It’s otto startup selected in the first round of the Esa Business Incubation Center Turin incubation program, the center created to support the technological and business development of new innovative companies based on space technologies, with applications to Earth or, indeed, dedicated to exploration.

Who supports Esa Bic Turin

They are called Kurs Orbital, Adaptronics, Astradyne, Volta Structural Energy, Space-V, Synchropal, Mespac and Hipparcos and therefore constitute the first nucleus of Esa Bic Turin, managed by the I3P incubator with the technological support of the Polytechnic of Turin and the Foundation Links in coordination with the European and the Italian Space Agency providing technical and financial support. The new “space incubator” also has the objective of promote the development of a local ecosystem attractive for young and innovative companies capable of encouraging the interaction and involvement of organizations active in the space economy sector.

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What the program consists of

A long path: since the launch of the initiative, the managers have met with more than 35 entrepreneurial teams, 13 startups have applied for the first round of the open call and among these, eight have been selected that have officially entered the incubation program . They will receive a financial contribution of 50 thousand euros (without having to sell equity in exchange) for both product development and intellectual property management.

Of course, there will be no lack of business coaching and mentoring, technological support, accompaniment in finding new funds and resources and in accessing the wide network of partners of Esa BIC Turin and the network of that bic (there are 23, counting the Turin one, throughout Europe, from Norway to Hungary to Spain) around which large companies, investment funds and research institutions gravitate.

On a local scale – Turin is not only one of the main centers for national innovation but specifically for aerospace, just think of the presence of giants in the sector such as Thales Alenia – the program is supported by Piemonte region which will provide part of the contributions to startups, from the Turin Chamber of Commerce and the Compagnia di San Paolo Foundation which will provide financial support for the management of the center. Not enough: San Paolo will also activate innovative investment tools to support technological development and the growth phase of future startups.

“We are truly proud of the group of entrepreneurial and scientific talents gathered for the inaugural edition of our incubation program, which is positioned as a unique opportunity in Italy” explains Giuseppe Scellato, president of I3P and coordinator of Esa Bic Turin. “We are now working with startups to offer collaborations for technical and business development and support their growth and integration in the aerospace sector”

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First call went beyond expectations

The response to the first call – considering the sector, which is particularly complex – actually went beyond expectations: “As an agency we are satisfied with the level of start-ups selected together with partners and we are convinced that the incubator will continue to produce positive effects for the ‘innovation of the territory ”underlines Mauro Piermaria, Head of Innovation and new space economy of ASI. “We are increasingly aware of the need for further development and consolidation of a national ecosystem functional to the growth of new entrepreneurial realities connected to space”.

The incubator never stops and is always looking for new realities to accompany: the selection of startups will in fact continue in the coming months and on the official website there are instructions for accessing the next selection rounds.

The selected startups

These are the startups selected for the incubation process:

• Orbital Course – Italian startup born from a corresponding Ukrainian company with a high technical profile, Kurs Orbital develops a solution for space logistics based on a proprietary technology for the docking of satellites in orbit. In particular, it aims to offer services for the inspection and maintenance of satellites, favoring the extension of their useful life.

• Adaptronics – It is a Bolognese start-up that produces adaptive mechatronic devices for intelligent logistics on Earth and in space. In particular, the company has developed a solution based on a multifunctional electrostatic membrane to allow the gripping and manipulation of objects of any shape. The company, a spin-off of the University of Bologna, won the National Innovation Award in the area of ​​industrial applications in 2021.

• Astradyne – Founded by a team with international experience in the research laboratories of space agencies, it has developed an innovative technology for the production of flexible printed circuits. Solution that can be applied to a variety of deployable space systems such as antennas, housing modules, solar panels. Specifically, the first application developed is an origami-inspired solar panel that aims to solve the limitation of homologs conventionally used in space applications.

• Volta Structural Energy – Start-up focused on the development of structural batteries based on the use of aluminum ions, with the aim of obtaining batteries integrated in the satellite structure, guaranteeing weight reduction and high energy efficiency.

• Space-V – A spin-off company of the University of Genoa, Space-V deals with the development of innovative greenhouses for the cultivation of plants in orbital stations and in future lunar and Martian settlements. The start-up counts among the founding members Franco Malerba, the first Italian astronaut in history, part of the crew of the Space Shuttle Atlantis in 1992.

• Synchropal -It is a start-up that is developing, starting from a proprietary technology, an innovative system (baptized Modo) based on satellite data for the synchronization of time, which guarantees protection against hacker attacks against digital terrestrial infrastructures. In particular, the technology developed by the startup finds applications in the field of telecommunication networks, in the synchronization systems of electricity distribution networks and more generally for all infrastructures that use satellite signals for navigation services.

• Mespac – Turin start-up specialized in the characterization of marine environments for the construction of offshore plants. The metoceanic data provided by the company (i.e. meteorological and oceanic) are obtained by combining satellite data with those detected by surface sensors through the use of proprietary algorithms.

• Hipparcos – Start-up specialized in the development and production of innovative star-trackers, or systems based on sets of cameras installed on board satellites to identify their position in space with high precision based on the relative positioning of the stars.