Objectives

The main target was to conduct a feasibility study for the establishment of an incubator for start-up companies offering GALILEO-based applications and services. The aim of this feasibility study was to provide ESA/ESOC and the State of Hessen with an assessment of chances and risks linked with the establishment of a so-called ‘Space-Incubator’ in Darmstadt and to draft a business model to:

• Crosslink existing industry in satellite navigation technology with RTD and business partners through various application platforms: prototyping, transfer, manufacture, marketing, distribution and field services
• Foster transfer of knowledge from research into entrepreneurial activities and start-up companies

Activities

• Provide a concept describing services how to build-up, to run and to promote the centre in the State of Hessen with the objective of making it economically independent until 2009;
• Illustration of the decision making process to coach, mentor and supervise incubates in the centre;
• Description of a mentoring and business planning concept;
• Description of a concept to support acquisition of financiers/investors

Results

In the feasibility study INI-Novation analysed the relevant markets for the establishment of such an incubator (innovation, application and incubator markets), discussed the scope of services, made suggestions for the organisation, strategy, ideal location and the schedule for implementation,  proposed financing models and finally formulated the following recommendations.

• Such a Space-Incubator will offer its services not only to start-up companies but also to SMEs active in the field of GALILEO-based applications. For the starters the incubator will offer the usual incubation services ranging from office space and infrastructure to consulting, coaching, financing, marketing support and networking.
• The so-called GALILEO-Application-Centre will be part of this Space Incubator and address not the starters, but SMEs already active or interested in the market of global satellite positioning, especially GALILEO. The Application-Centre will be an information platform as well as a contact point and networking-agent for companies interested in GALILEO-based applications and for the research community in order to enforce their collaboration in research and development projects.

In the feasibility study INI-Novation analysed the relevant markets for the establishment of such an incubator (innovation, application and incubator markets), discusses the scope of services, made suggestions for the organisation, strategy, ideal location and the schedule for implementation, calculated the costs, proposes financing models and finally formulated recommendations. This study was completed in December 2005.

ESA and the State of Hessen jointly took the decision to establish the centre in the proposed structure as Centre for Satellite Navigation Applications Hessen (CESAH) with the State of Hesse, the City of Darmstadt and other public and private shareholders