The ESA Technology Transfer Programme (TTP) aims to stimulate the beneficial and commercial uses of space technologies for non-space applications. This includes the transfer of software, hardware, know-how and the application of satellite systems on Earth.

The TTP operations can be divided into two lines of business. Firstly, TTP identifies technology transfer opportunities and performs feasibility studies. Secondly support is provided for the commercial development of the technology transfer through new venturing.

Transfer of Technology Services and Applications
A network of technology brokers, operating throughout ESA Member States and Canada, conducts most of the actual technology transfers. This Technology Transfer Network (TTN) is managed by MST Aerospace GmbH and matches technology requests from the non-space industry to technologies developed within European space programmes. The TTN operates a virtual market place to offer organisations the ability to search for technologies and to submit their market demands. At present more than 300 technologies available for transfer and licensing are stored in a database and more than 450 requests from European non-space companies are included. There is also the opportunity to submit technology transfer proposals directly to the ESA TTP office through a permanent open call for proposals.

New Venture Support
In addition to the TTN TTP also provides support specifically for entrepreneurs who seek to adapt space technology for a non-space market through ESA Business Incubation. There are three incubators at ESTEC (Noordwijk, The Netherlands), ESOC (Darmstadt, Germany) and ESRIN (Frascati, Italy). All three incubators offer start-up companies operational services, easy access to ESA’s technical specialists and seed funding opportunities. These incubators are also linked to ESINET, a European network of 36 business incubators specialising in both space and non-space applications, which is managed by the European Business and Innovation Centre Network (EBN). Further to this ESA has taken the initiative to promote the establishment of a venture capital fund. The focus of the fund will be on investing in start-up and early stage companies using space-related technologies or satellite applications in non-space applications.

www.esa.int/ttp