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Paris, 10 December 2002
Press Release
Nø 78-2002

"Space for new ideas - Big opportunities for small entrepreneurs"
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Access to innovative solutions and increased competitiveness thanks to
space technology - this is the theme of a workshop to be held at 
ESA/ESRIN in Frascati on 16 December (see attached programme), 
organised by the Technology Transfer Programme of the European Space 
Agency.

The most advanced European space technologies are being made available 
to non-space industry through the ESA Technology Transfer Programme, 
which has brought about over 150 transfers in its 12-year existence. 
The cumulative turnover generated is in the order of €25 million for 
the space companies involved, and €150 million for the non-space 
companies;  2500 jobs have been created, and 25 new companies have 
been established.

This meeting in Frascati - the third in a series - is an annual 
showcase of recent results and future prospects for space spin-offs. 
It is co-organised by D'Appolonia, the Italian technology broker, a 
member of the Technology Transfer Programme network. Representatives 
from the European Commission will be taking an active part in this 
event.

An important contribution to the workshop comes from ESINET, the 
Network of European Space Incubators jointly established by ESA and 
the  EC.  Today, thirty organisations are members of this network, 
which fosters start-ups and assists SMEs in gaining access to 
financing schemes. ESA is creating other opportunities through 
commercial utilisation of the International Space Station, making ISS 
microgravity laboratories available for the development of new 
materials and biotechnology, health, environmental and food 
applications.

And a fashion note: in the course of the day the winners of the 
Space2Tex clothing design competition will be announced. Clothes that 
can be ironed with a hairdryer, cooling jackets, smart baby pyjamas 
that can alert doctors are just a few examples of how space 
technologies can contribute to the creation of new products, and new 
business. The competition, launched by ESA and D'Appolonia, has proved 
a considerable success: more than 160 contestants worldwide have 
proposed ideas for uses of space technologies in the areas of 
ready-to-wear, high fashion, sports and leisure, work and health care. 
The winners will be immediately projected into new orbits: the Italian 
company Grado Zero Espace will manufacture the winning ideas and 
present them at major trade fairs.

Media representatives wishing to attend the Workshop are kindly 
requested to complete the attached registration form and fax it back 
to ESA/ESRIN.

For further information, please contact:

Pierre Brisson
Technology Transfer and Promotion Office
ESA/ESTEC, Noordwijk, the Netherlands
Tel: +31(0)71.565.49.29


For more information about the ESA Technology Transfer Programme:
www.esa.int/ttp

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PROGRAMME

9.30 - Registration of Participants

Chair: Silvia Rosa Brusin, TG Leonardo - RAI
10.00 - Welcome and Opening
Antonio Rodotà, Director General of the European Space Agency
Sergio Vetrella, President of the Italian Space Agency
Mario Tassone, Deputy Minister for Infrastructures and Transport
Xabier Goenaga, DG Research, European Commission
Franco Malerba, President of the High-Level Advisory Board of ESINET

11.15 - Working session:
How to create business with technology transfer - Pierre Brisson,
 Head of Technology Transfer and Promotion Office, ESA
ESA support and funding for entrepreneurs and SMEs - Bruno Naulais,
 European Space Incubator Manager, ESA
How ESINET can help space SMEs - Andrea Barbagelata, President of
 T4Tech and Industry Division Manager of D'Appolonia
Space Research in the Sixth Framework Programme - Luc Tytgat, Head of
Space Research - Policy and Co-ordination Unit, DG Research, European
 Commission
The Framework Programme and SMEs - Xabier Goenaga, Head of Research
 and SMEs Unit, DG Research, European Commission
How to access funding for SMEs in the Sixth Framework Programme - 
 Annalisa Ceccarelli, National Contact Point at the Italian Ministry
 of Research, APRE

13.00 - Conclusions
Learco Saporito, Italian Ministry for the Civil Service

13.30 - Buffet

Chair: Franco Malerba
14.15 - International Space Station:  huge potential for business -
 Maurizio Belingheri, Head of ISS Commercialisation Division, ESA

14.30 - Technological innovation in the textile sector - Stefano 
 Carosio, Technology Transfer Area Manager, D'Appolonia - Antonio 
 Giallorenzo, Grado Zero Espace

14.45 - Announcement of Space2Tex Design Contest winners - David 
 Raitt, Technology Transfer and Promotion Office, ESA

15.15 - Closure - Andrea Barbagelata
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"Space for new ideas - Big opportunities for small entrepreneurs"
Workshop at ESA/ESRIN
Via Galileo Galilei - Frascati (Italy)
Monday 16 December 2002


First name: _______________________     Surname: ____________________

Media:  _____________________________________________________________


Address: ____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

Tel.:   _____________________________  Fax:__________________________

Mobile:  ____________________________  E-mail: ______________________

( )	I will be attending the Workshop
( )     I will not be attending

Please fax this form to:
Franca Morgia
ESA/ESRIN
Tel: +39(0)6.9418.0951
Fax: +39(0)6.9418.0952

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