Solenix

In June 2017 Solenix was awarded with an ESA Kick-Start Activity. This is a funding scheme launched by ESA Business Applications and particularly designed for SMEs looking for opportunities to develop new ideas for business applications making use of space assets. The Kick-Start Programme is organised in Thematic Calls, which cover interesting markets.

Solenix submitted a proposal for the topic “Outdoor Tourism”. The project was kicked-off at the beginning of June and finished at the end of November. Our idea was “Dively - Dive Safely, Know Your Environment”. Dively is a mobile app designed by divers for divers with the aim of enhancing the diving experience while improving diver's safety. Dively supports the selection of dive sites by providing at a glance the most important indicators on environmental conditions. Dively also provides user-friendly 3D underwater maps that help divers getting familiar with a dive site and plan an itinerary. More information on the project can be found in the ESA Business Applications website.

Last week we presented the results of the activity to representatives of ESA Business Applications and the German national delegation. The event took place over two days in Bonn at DLR Raumfahrtmangement’s headquarters. Under the title “Raumfahrt trifft auf neue Geschäftsideen” (Space meets new business ideas), the four German companies, which were awarded a contract for this thematic call, presented the results of their 6-month project. After the presentations, there was time for further exchange and networking.

On the second day, representatives from ESA and DLR provided short presentations on different funding opportunities to bring forward the business ideas presented on the previous day. The event provided the participants with a good overview of the different programmes available to support new ideas linked with space assets, from German national initiatives, ESA-wide to European programmes.

The event was a success for both the participants to the call and ESA and DLR representatives. This was the first time that such an event was prepared and the feedback was very positive, as it allowed both groups to exchange ideas, find synergies and plan further steps to take promising ideas to reality.

Note: Dively was conducted under a programme of, and co-funded by, the European Space Agency. The view expressed in this article can in no way be taken to reflect the official opinion of the European Space Agency.