ESA BIC Portugal and some of the incubatees on the Portuguese news, featuring Connect Robotics, Findster, SpaceLayer Technologies e Bluecover. Read out more at http://observador.pt/especiais/estas-startups-portuguesas-dao-a-mao-ao-espaco-com-os-pes-na-terra/

The ACTTiVAte Call for Proposals is currently OPEN and will close on september 5th 2017. ACTTiVAte is addressed to innovative SMEs and aims to enable the emergence of new cross-border and cross-sectoral value chains through fostering technology transfer within four sectors with strong synergies: Aerospace, Agri-food, Health and ICT, allocating 85% of the project budget. The selected SMEs will receive direct funding of up to EUR 46.000 to develop their projects and will also benefit from additional business support services such as technology commercialization training workshops, mentoring, brokerage events, mobility exchange programs, investment forums and investment readiness trainings to ensure the innovative projects develop a marketable product. You may contact IPN as ESA technology broker to help you with de call, specifically in the Aerospace sector, through space@ipn.pt. For more information: http://acttivate.eu/call-for-proposals

As part of efforts to promote the use of space technologies in ESA Member States, an Open Call for Technology Transfer Proposals (“Technology Transfer Demonstrator Competition 2017”, hereinafter called “Demonstrator Call”) has been opened. 7 projects of both space and non-space organizations or individuals will be granted t allow the development of technology transfer demonstrators. This call is open for all ESA member states! Through this Call, VERHAERT, as ESA Prime broker, invites applicants to request funding up to 38.000€ to develop a demonstrator regarding the transfer of a space technology into a non-space application. The projects should be executed in maximum 6 months. In order to apply for this call, please send your submission towards spacetechnology@verhaert.com, by August 11th (12:00 pm CET) More information available here: http://spacetechnology.be/open-call-2017/ or contact the Portuguese ESA broker, IPN by email (space@ipn.pt) or phone 239 700 922.

"We, the Deutsche Bahn (DB) AG, Europe’s leading mobility company, would like to invite you to actively design and shape the future of railway. To this end, we initiated the DB Innovation Challenge, Deutsche Bahn’s open-innovation competition for major companies, small and medium enterprises, start-ups, and R&D institutions. Do you and your organization have an innovative solution that can potentially revolutionize the world of rail? Then join us, be part of our Innovation Challenge, and get unique insights into Deutsche Bahn. We are looking for innovative ideas and products addressing one of the following six DB innovation topics: - Improving train surface coatings and cleaning processes - Non-destructive testing of fibre compound components - Managing and customising work shifts for train crew via smartphone app - Reducing maintenance and inspection workloads at stations - ECO tuning for diesel locomotives (shunting and main-line) - Using laser point clouds to create 3D infrastructure models You have the chance to present your ideas, concepts, and products for DB‘s six innovation topics. You can submit your contributions via MovingIDEAS, the innovation platform of DB. After a first screening process, selected participants enter the development phase in which they draft detailed proposals including business cases and prototypes. The winners will be chosen and presented to the public at the InnoTrans 2016, the international trade fair for transport technology, in September 2016. The participants of the DB Innovation Challenge can expect a financial contribution of up to EUR 20,000 for each selected idea throughout the course of the development phase, as well as a prize money of EUR 50,000 for each winner in the competition‘s three categories (major companies & SMEs, small businesses & start-ups, R&D institutes). During the competition, participants are not only in close contact with the relevant departments of the DB Group but they are also offered the opportunity to interact and collaborate with other industrial companies, R&D institutes, and start-ups from the logistics and mobility sector, thereby having the opportunity to share knowledge and extend their network. For further information and detailed descriptions of the innovation topics, please refer to our brochure or visit us online on www.Moving-IDEAS.net. Join us in shaping the rail system of tomorrow!" Details of the challenge: http://www.adlittle.com/fileadmin/editorial/newsletter/2015_DB_Innovation_Challenge/DB_InnovationChallenge_en.pdf

"A spacecraft tool is now improving car safety by stress-testing many of the internal computer systems to be sure they work well when the car is on the road. Designed to test how computers on spacecraft react to cosmic radiation, the Xception software used by ESA proved to be the right tool to check the tiny computer controlling a car dashboard display." Full article: http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Engineering_Technology/TTP2/Space_for_safer_cars

Sociror seeks for an innovative solution that allows the transport of plates of marble, limestone and other, into a container in a safe and efficient manner There is a 5k€ prize for the solution chosen by Sociror, but remember the implementation of the winning solution is done under an agreement set by the two parties under negotiated terms. For more information: space@ipn.pt / +351 239 700 922 or visit https://inocrowd.com/Ic_Presentation/Challenges.aspx (2nd page of challenges)

Practical Challenge: It is intended, through a GIS (geographic information solution), to explore the existing ERP (Enterprise resource planning) potential on the support of technical activities and to increase the company's global management system efficiency. The solution to be developed will work as a support tool to a faster decision-making, whose added value will be based on the functional areas information integration. Award € 5.000,00 Deadline 2015-07-29 More details contact: space@ipn.pt

Practical Challenge: Amorim Cork Composites’ (ACC) purpose is to identify the kind of change that has to be made in a forming machine, in order to obtain a homogeneous roll throughout all the width of the agglomerate cork roll. Award € 5.000,00 Deadline 2015-07-31 More details contact: space@ipn.pt

In order to improve the production of complex parts Indra is looking for: alternative manufacturing processes to lost wax smelting OR alternative lost wax smelting suppliers anywhere around the world. More information: http://www.ennomotive.com/

AWARD: $10,000 USD DEADLINE: 23/04/2015 "The Seeker for this Challenge is looking for new manufacturing processes inside and outside the food industry that can be used to create entirely new and differentiated categories of foods and snacks. The new process(es) should allow for the modulation of properties – such as texture, density, appearance, or shape – that enable the creation of new foods and snacks. Due to the nature of the challenge, the Seeker welcomes ideas from a variety of disciplines and industries, e.g. food & beverage industry, paint & ink industry, bulk and fine chemicals industry, pharmaceutical industry, cosmetics industry, aerospace or electronics industries. This is an Ideation Challenge with a guaranteed award for at least one submitted solution." For more information: https://www.innocentive.com/ar/challenge/9933665

http://www.ennomotive.com/2015/03/new-challenge-protecting-cars-against-hail

ESA Brokers are looking for space technologies with potential in telecommunications applications! A meeting with several big telecom companies will take place in March and this is the occasion to present some of the technologies developed for space that may make a difference in the telecommmunications sector. For more information: space@ipn.pt

http://innovate.statoil.com/challenges/Pages/default.aspx

Through the network of ESA Technology Brokers, a big Norwegian oil & gas company identified a few technology needs your organisation may be able to address. General situation: - There is a decline in extraction of oil & gas, and less access to the reservoirs. - It is an increasingly difficult environment to work with, as the distance from the mainland increases. - Autonomy is an important trend, and there is increased need for unmanned operations and robots. - The regulatory regime is getting stricter, and there is an increasing demand for testing before operations. - Mistakes are expensive. Technology areas of interest: 1. Hard face coating 2. HIL - hardware in loop testing. Simulation of parts and entire systems. 3D simulation of technologies. 3. Robotics is of general interest, but not necessarily robot arms and force feedback. 4. Leakage detection of hydrocarbons. 5. Power to control systems, actuators for 2-10 kW. For startup and shutdown of processes. 6. Flywheel technology 7. Materials for high (200 degrees) temperature fluctuations, low expansion, corrosion resistant. Low weight, high strength. Bearings is of general high interest. Steel most interesting, as composites were tested but weren't successful. 8. Heat transfer. Components need cooling, don’t want to use cooling fans. Have not looked into heat pipe technology, might be of interest. 9. Autonomous underwater vehicle - early phase exploration of possibilities. The company has a general interest to engage in partnerships with companies who are not in the subsea sector. Do contact us at: space@ipn.pt | http://space.ipn.pt More information on - ESA Technology Brokers: http://www.esa-tec.eu/ - ESA Technology Transfer activities: http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Technology/TTP2

Through the network of ESA Technology Brokers, partners in Oil & Gas identified technology needs that your organisation may be able to address: Strong robotics needs in Oil & Gas: - Autonomous underwater roving vehicles for (a) pipeline/assets inspections and surveillance; and (2) ocean bottom seismic. Example 1: Pipeline leak detection systems under 7 m of sand in trenches, allowing for 30 yr monitoring and inspection Example 2: technologies that quickly pinpoint potential leaks or natural seepages in deepwater and Arctic (ice) environments. - Aerial ‘drones’ for (1) inspection and surveillance; and (2) hydrocarbon detection: example: Iraq, Nigeria - Maintenance robots: cleaning and inspection - Technologies & concepts that allow for normally unmanned operations (offshore or arctic assets): HSE and $$ savings - Automated/robotic drilling for offshore and unconventional O&G. E.g. robotic joining and welding techniques for pipelines and drillstrings Strong sensing needs in Oil & Gas: - fibre-optic sensors relay digital information on temperature, pressure and other field conditions to control centers. This information can help make quick extraction decisions and increase the total amount of oil recovered from a field by 10%. - Micro fluidic sensors: links into smart wells, EOR and water platforms. Use cheap, small sensors in fluid or gas flow to detect its composition. Technology exists in other industries, needs right packaging and amending to detect our chemicals. - Smart sensors that detect lubricant quality (“how much life is left?”) - Miniaturization of in-field diagnostics and testing methodologies for lubes and/or fuel quality, consumption, etc Do contact us at: space@ipn.pt | http://space.ipn.pt Information on - ESA Technology Brokers: http://www.esa-tec.eu/ - ESA Technology Transfer activities: http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Technology/TTP2

A highly specialised supplier to racing car manufacturers, requires: • A radio module capable of operating in temperatures above 125°C and transmitting over a high bandwidth (4-5 data channels at more than 1000Hz) in a open frequency band. Size about 20x20mm, energy consumption as low as possible. • As an alternative: a rechargeable battery (operating in temperatures above 125°C) which constantly delivers 100mA at 3,6V. Capacity should be 500-800mA. Size: +/-15 mm diameter, 40-50mm long (Size is somewhat flexible).

A Belgian provider of monitoring services of hazardous goods in unpowered transport units is looking to detect and identify serious accidents. The accidents like collision and falls should create an alarm or trigger a registration in the monitoring system. The challenge is to distinguish serious accidents from normal transport behavior by train, road, boat or airplane.

Electricity in Norway is almost exclusively from hydro power, and the amount of snow in the mountains have huge economic impacts. A Norwegian company is developing drones for snow measurement and is interested in sensors to quantify the amount (thickness) and quality (density, water content) of snow. The weight and footprint of the sensor system should be as small as possible, preferably under 5 kg and 10x10x30 cm and obviously have to handle low temperatures. Please note that these are not absolute numbers, and bigger airframes can be used if necessary. The system should be able to detect and calculate the volume and density of the snow body covering the landscape, with a snow thicknesses in the range of 0 to 10 meters and an average of 2-3 meters. Their original technology of choice is no longer viable and thus they are using the ESA Technology Transfer Broker Network (and the space companies’ offers in each of the Brokers countries) to search for space technologies to cover this need. So far the most relevant technology they have come across is Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), although size, functionality and accuracy have not been investigated. Snow measurements from earth observation satellites can also be of interest, depending on the accuracy of the data produced.

VERHAERT Masters in Innovation – as the Belgian broker in ESA’s Technology Transfer Network (TTN) - has opened the applications for an Open Call. This call accepts “proposals for demonstrators regarding the transfer of space technology to a non-space application”. Whether it is hardware, software, know-how, procedures, processes, methodologies, systems and services, this Open Call for space technology transfer will allow participants to get funding up to 34.120 €, to develop a technology transfer demonstrators. Both space, non-space organizations or individuals are invited to apply. In the end, the three best proposals will be selected and awarded with funding. Applications are open until the September 26th, 2014. To submit an application, please download the application template here (http://www.spacetechnology.be/open-call/#sthash.Dir0FA3h.dpbs) and send it by email to sam.waes@verhaert.com.

"This Cool Gas Genarator (CGG) is a direct descendant of the CGG’s that have been flying in space on board the Proba 2 satellite for 7 years. A terrestrial version of this CGG was developed for safety applications and is now being used in fire extinguishing applications. This type of cool gas generator has been through extensive testing by different aerospace and safety programmes. These tests prove that the guaranteed life time of cool gas generators units is 10 years, and presumably even longer (more than 15 years). One of the main applications is to pressurize tanks containing fire extinguishing fluids. CGG’s allow the manufacture of compact and maintenance free fire extinguishers." By CGG Technologies For more information, please contact vci@ipn.pt and visit the website: www.cgg-technologies.com

"Drawing on their experience building complex software for simulating spaceflight, Portuguese scientists have created a 21st-century way of detecting banking fraud here on Earth. " Full article: http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Technology/TTP2/Bank_on_it

The invention is based in a phased array system calibration method for space applications, involves updating estimates of invertible functions and individual complex values by removing modified. It relates to a remote calibration scheme for an active phased array system, more particularly for an active phased array antenna used in transmission and reception, and even more particularly for a satellite-borne synthetic aperture radar (SAR) antenna. Since 2005, the European Space Agency is the mayor assignee. The application of the technology involves cost savings in initial hardware development, antenna AIV (assembly, integration and verification) and normal SAR calibration operations. Other applications of the technology could be the following: - radio navigation and radar - finding radio signal direction - microwave radiators for near-field therapeutic - transmission of digital information and wave transmission - multiplex and telephonic communication (circuits for controlling/telephone switching apparatus). For more information, please contact ptti@ipn.pt.

"Software for processing satellite pictures taken from space is now helping medical researchers to establish a simple method for wide-scale screening for Alzheimer’s disease." For the full story, please visit: http://www.esa-tec.eu/success-stories/from-space/identifying-alzheimers-using-space-software/

"Physicians in the Netherlands have turned to expertise from a planet-hunting telescope to steady their surgical microscope and save the sight of people threatened by blindness." For the full story, please visit: http://www.esa-tec.eu/success-stories/from-space/planet-hunter-sharpens-eye-surgery/

Open Sandwich Structure (OSS) is a crossover technology for applications in primary and secondary structures, offering a unique design allowance regarding bi-directional properties, non-flat geometries and integrated functionality. Current application projects are aircraft fuselage structures, rail and naval flooring panel and structural integrated thermal protection systems. The technology was developed by a SME based in Portugal and Germany. Seeks for industrial partners to advance current applications and develop new applications in space and aeronautics domain. For more information, please contact: ptti@ipn.pt

The Portuguese Institute for Plasma and Nuclear Fusion (IPFN) adopted PICMG’s Advanced Telecommunications Computing Architecture (ATCA) industry standard to develop C&DA instrumentation. ATCA is the most promising architecture to substantially enhance the performance and capability of existing standard systems delivering high throughput and high availability, features of greater importance in steady-state operation scenarios. For this offer, IPFN is looking for a licensing agreement, to test new applications of the technology or to transfer the knowledge to a manufacturer for industrial applications. For more information, please contact: ptti@ipn.pt

The company is a private Portuguese Aerospace Engineering company, delivering advanced design solutions and turn-key space SW systems. Building on a solid team of highly motivated and specialized engineers, the company is now a reference player in the European space sector. The company offers the Galileo Code Receiver (GCR) - an advanced GNSS receiver targeting cost effective, high navigation accuracy (down to 20cm) requirements for professional applications. Its high multipath resilience and low tracking noise is ideal for harsh environments (e.g. urban environments, close to tree canopies and other objects), outperforming the existing GPS solutions. The company is opened to set up technology licensing agreements with end users and system integrators (OEM and Value Added Resellers) willing to take advantage of early access to its technology for new applications or improved systems. For more information, please visit: http://www.esa-tec.eu/technologies/from-space/gnss-galileo-code-receiver/

IFAS was developed by a Portuguese research group (CA3) within UNINOVA Research Institute. It is a software implementation of a monitoring and early warning system that can be applied to multiple domains involving multiple sensor data. It is a highly flexible mechanism that can be easily adapted to particular problem and has the capability of dealing with imprecision, allowing the system to issue levels of warnings before an error actually occurs. It extracts data from sensors, and semi-automatically transforms and represents it as linguistic variables - with a flexible reasoning process that can detect different levels of deviations (errors) from nominal behaviours. For more information, please visit: http://www.esa-tec.eu/technologies/from-space/ifas-intelligent-fault-alarm-system/

The solution is provided by an international company offering dependable solutions, services, and software technologies for safety-critical and business-critical information systems, namely embedded control systems in the Aeronautics, Space, Defence, Railway and Automotive segments. The fault injection technology is particularly appropriate for contexts of high availability, reliability, and safety requirements, where failures may lead to the loss of human life, or otherwise result in serious damage to property or cause significant financial losses to businesses. The company is looking for technical / strategic engineering partnerships for further technological developments, testing and roll-out of new applications, and adaptation of the technologies to novel business needs. For more information, please visit: http://www.esa-tec.eu/technologies/from-space/verification-and-validation-of-safety-critical-systems-fault-injection/