The European Space Agency (ESA) invites 20 committed developers, artificial intelligence and machine learning specialists to attend its free virtual Space App Camp, scheduled for 11-21 September 2020.
Oberpfaffenhofen, 30 June 2020 – For the first time, the ESA Space App Camp is offering a virtual workspace to 20 dedicated developers: a comprehensive preparation phase and an 11-day online Space App Camp, supported by Earth Observation, Artificial Intelligence and business experts. The winners will be rewarded with cash prizes, a unique Earth Observation support package to facilitate the continuation of the work on their winning App idea, exclusive work opportunities and insights at ESA.
The aim of the ESA Space App Camp is to make Earth Observation data and services accessible to a wide range of citizens. Space App Camp participants get introduced to Copernicus and learn about the many ways in which big data from space can enrich mobile apps using a dedicated API for EO data. Those who attend will be tasked with devising innovative apps and feasible business models in one of five subject areas: Smart Green Cities; Food Security; Health; Tourism and Coastal monitoring. This year, an additional topic on Agriculture in honour of former ESA employee Luigi Fusco can also be addressed. During the ESA Space App Camp, attendees will make contacts with like-minded participants from all over Europe and gain insights into how ESA operates.
Lars Berg-Jensen, part of the 2019 winning team called Vake | Catch on the App Camp: “We knew ESA and the Copernicus programme, […] meeting key people at ESA was a great new opportunity.” His teammate Adrian Tofting adds: “Copernicus Data is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity because it has never been this open and free before.”
ESA invites 20 developers, artificial intelligence and machine learning specialists from across Europe to exchange new ideas with fellow developers and tackle some of the world’s greatest challenges from 11-21 September 2020. Interested students, researchers, developers and economists are able to register online as individuals or teams (of up to four people) at www.app-camp.eu/apply from 30 June until 14 August 2020.
The winner or winning team will receive:
- EUR 2,500 cash prize
- Technical coaching from ESA’s Φ-lab on Artificial Intelligence for Earth Observation plus free computing
- One-week visit to the Φ-lab in 2021 at ESA’s Centre for Earth Observation (ESRIN) in Frascati near Rome/Italy including travel and accommodation
- Earth Observation support package worth approx. EUR 3,500 (including: technical EO data consultancy, 8 hours of Software Engineering services, access to a global network of EO experts in applied and technical fields, support from professional ESA business developers, e.g. to find launching customers, 4 seats for an online EO business development course)
In addition to that, the winner of the Agriculture topic in honour of former ESA employee Luigi Fusco will receive:
- EUR 600.00 cash prize
Moreover, the winners have the opportunity to apply for further incubation at one of the ESA Business Incubation Centres (BICs).
Since the Space App Camp’s inception nine years ago, around 460 developers from 30 countries have applied to participate and more than 55 applications have been developed. Some of these have already found their way into commercially viable applications.
An array of Earth observation satellites, including the Sentinels involved in Europe’s Copernicus programme, collect untold amounts of data as they circle our planet. This big data from space, including information on our planet’s atmosphere, land, and water, offers countless opportunities in connection with mobile apps. Thanks to new developments in big data, cloud computing, artificial intelligence and machine learning, commercial products – and mobile apps in particular – are growing more and more proficient at handling huge quantities of information.
Watch the ESA Space App Camp 2019 recap and get inspired! Click here.
About AZO
AZO Anwendungszentrum GmbH Oberpfaffenhofen is an international networking and branding company initiating the most important space-related innovation competitions with more than 15,000 participants, over 200 industrial & public stakeholders, and 400 international stakeholders. The Masters Series, presented by AZO, consists of the Galileo Masters, Copernicus Masters, and INNOspace Masters. Additionally, AZO organises the Space App Camp by ESA and the Copernicus Hackathons by the European Commission. AZO runs a very successful business angel network which invested more than EUR 50 million of Venture Capital in 2018. AZO also manages its ESA Business Incubation Centre (BIC) Bavaria & Northern Germany. It promotes companies with disruptive products and digital businesses in areas such as robotics, mobile, mobility, automotive, aviation, satellites, etc. Since 2004, AZO with its ESA BIC Bavaria has so far supported more than 175 startups with an annual turnover of around EUR 150 million in 2019, creating more than 3,000 high-tech jobs in Bavaria and involving more than EUR 465 million of venture capital between 2016 – 2019. In addition, the first IPO of an ESA BIC alumnus took place in 2017 and ESA BIC Bavaria gained its first Unicorn two weeks ago. ESA BIC Bavaria & Northern Germany is one of the most successful incubation programmes in Europe. For more information, please visit https://www.azo-space.com.