As the curtains fall on the final edition of the Network & Drinks for Space Community for 2023, we thank everyone who joined us. Your participation and engagement continue to drive the success of these gatherings, fostering innovation and collaboration within the space industry. In this recap, we’ll take a closer look at the highlights of the evening, including the two captivating pitches and the announcement of the winners of the ‘Space for Energy Competition’.
Highlights from the Pitch Presentations
During the Networking and Drinks event, attendees had the opportunity to witness two presentations that showcased the intersection of technology with space and earth sciences.
SUSTAINABLE MINING ADVANCES: TERRAPRISMA BY THOMAS KAAKEH
Thomas Kaakeh introduced us to Terraprisma, a project that stands out for its innovative approach in the mining sector. By integrating advanced satellite technology, data analysis and machine learning, Terraprisma aims to bring new levels of transparency and sustainability to mining. The platform provides a detailed system for scoring environmental, social, and governance aspects (ESG), offers real-time monitoring of mining sites, and supplies a rich array of data. This data helps stakeholders make well-informed decisions.
BRIDGING SPACE AND EARTH: EUROSPACEHUB & LUNEX BY FATEMAH FAZEL
Fatemah Fazel presented EuroSpaceHub and Lunex, focusing on the impressive capabilities of Machine Learning (ML) for space exploration and Earth observation. This project delves into how ML can be used in various areas, such as tracking climate change, improving farming methods, managing forests, and overseeing water resources. With a tour after the pitch, you could experience Lunex in real life. If you could not join the tour during the Network&Drinks, we invite you to visit us at SBIC Noordwijk, and you can see the real-life research for yourself!
CELEBRATING THE WINNERS OF THE “SPACE FOR ENERGY” COMPETITION
This year marked the second annual competition organised by the ESA Technology Broker NL, challenging bright minds to creatively apply space technology for Earth’s benefit. Echoing the success of last year’s winner, HDES, who repurposed space-designed cool gas generators for medical use, the 2023 theme centred around “Space for Energy.” This challenge brought many ideas to the forefront, all competing for a generous prize pool. From a total of 15 submissions, the following three emerged victorious:
1ST PRIZE Metalot – “Welcome to The New Iron Age: The Green Energy Revolution with Iron Powder” – Prize: 20,000 EUR
2ND PRIZE ZemQuest – “AluAirZero: Lightweight Mobile Energy – ‘Swap, Don’t Charge!'” – Prize: 10,000 EUR
3RD PRIZE Solidflow BV – “Hydrogen Cool Gas Generators as an Emergency Power Supply” – Prize: 5,000 EUR
Congratulations to the winners, and we eagerly anticipate the innovative ideas the next competition will bring.
STAY CONNECTED WITH US
As we close the chapter on the successful 2023 Network & Drinks event, we look forward to 2024. The next edition of Network & Drinks will occur on the last Thursday of February. Keep an eye on our event calendar or stay updated by registering for our monthly community updates.
