Wallonia Space Logistics (WSL) Managing Director Florence Ghiron says WSL and other space ‘incubators’ in the ESINET network are providing valuable resources, helping SMEs and larger companies to use space technologies or space systems.
Europe’s recent efforts have made it possible to create a solid and highly competitive industrial and technological base within the space sector. The benefits of these achievements are increasingly being felt by a variety of companies and enterprises.
According to Florence Ghiron, “The mission of WSL is to help new companies that want to make use of space-related technologies. We do this in two ways. First, we help entrepreneurs with their start-up projects, which may include market studies, elaboration of business plans, raising capital, forming multidisciplinary supervisory teams, and so on. Second, we accompany the newly created companies in their first year of existence.” This could involve honing management skills in relation to intellectual property strategies, marketing, tax policy and accounting.
ESINET – creating economic opportunities
As the first ever space-related incubator, created in 1999, WSL was the founding member of ESINET, a network of 28 such incubators all over Europe. The objective of ESINET is to create links between national and regional space incubators in EU countries and candidate countries.
ESINET is a cornerstone of transnational partnership among the various incubators, serving as a link between space-related SMES all over Europe. ESINET also enhances the visibility of SMEs in the sector vis-à-vis European space and financial organisations.
“ESINET is convinced that Space means far more than scientific curiosity and international prestige for Europe,” says Ghiron. “Europe’s space developments represent an untapped opportunity for technical and scientific innovations. Not only can new space technologies be transferred to other industries to increase their competitiveness, but also new services can be created, using space systems to meet real market demands. This can include satellite application-based services for communication, travel and transportation, environmental monitoring, location-based services, and many others.”
Real business success
In Wallonia, University-based researchers have amassed an impressive amount of space expertise in the areas of simulation, optics, remote sensing, micro-mechanics and electromagnetic compatibility. The Centre Spatial de Liège (CSL) is one of the two most highly accomplished test facilities in Europe for satellite-based optical instruments.
“This technological mastery combined with a healthy entrepreneurial spirit,” says Ghiron, “has made space one of the most promising sectors for economic growth in Wallonia. Twelve new companies have been incorporated in the past two years in our region. So far they have been very successful. Six other start-up projects are now in the process of being incorporated.”
WSL and other ESINET incubators are interested in any new space-related idea that might lead to a start-up development. All initiatives coming from individual entrepreneurs, universities, or the space industry will be considered. For more information, see the ESINET website: http://www.esinet.com/ .
