WIREDGOV

Got a laptop, sleeping bag and a fantastic business idea that uses space technology to improve the wellbeing of society? If so you could win a six month business support package to help you develop your idea.

The European Space Agency’s Business Incubation Centre at Harwell (ESA BIC Harwell) in Oxfordshire is holding a free two-day Hackathon (17th-19th October) for entrepreneurs and problem solvers who want to develop the ‘next big thing’ by using space technology to improve the wellbeing of our society. Ideas can range across a variety of sectors, such as healthcare, sport, energy or security.

Entrants will spend the two days developing their concept and sharing ideas with like-minded people, before pitching their idea to a panel of experts. A six month business support package will be awarded to the winning team.

The ESA BIC Harwell is geared exclusively towards helping small businesses develop their ideas that apply space technology to non-space fields. It enables start-ups to take full advantage of the scientific excellence and extraordinary opportunities available at the Harwell campus, including access to some of STFC’s world leading research facilities and expertise, alongside valuable business support and networking opportunities.

Michael Norris, Head of Business Incubation at STFC, which manages the ESA BIC Harwell, said: “For any start-up, spin-out or entrepreneur, coming up with a great idea is just the first step. At the ESA BIC Harwell we help innovators and start-ups to meet this challenge and to gain access to the funding, support, skills and facilities they require to transform their ideas using space technology into successful, vibrant, non-space related businesses. It is well established that space technologies can be used to improve our society’s wellbeing and we have a number of incubatees here doing exactly that.”

Ann Kramer, CEO at The Electrospinning Company, talks about joining the ESA BIC Harwell (Credit: STFC)

Recent examples of just that include The Electrospinning Company, the first company to join the ESA BIC Harwell when it opened in 2010, combining equipment designed for use in space programmes with an established process called electrospinning, to produce fibres a thousand times thinner than a human hair to develop materials for the biomedical research industry. It has since become a leading provider of electrospun materials for regenerative medicine and drug discovery. During its incubation period at ESA BIC Harwell, the company took part in the European Re-Liver project to improve the treatment of liver-associated diseases, and it is currently collaborating with the University of Sheffield in an international project to develop and test a new technique that uses stem cell therapy to address loss of vision caused by scarring of the cornea.

Ann Kramer, Chief Executive at The Electrospinning Company said: “Being at the ESA BIC Harwell was invaluable to us, giving us flexible access to state of the art laboratories and networking opportunities. This meant that we could improve our own techniques and equipment and were able to turn our plans into actions and expand our team, whilst working and collaborating with people we might not have met otherwise.”

Prior registration to the Hackathon is required for each individual to take part and teams will be confirmed on the day.

Further Information

• Registration details
• ESA BIC Harwell
• Incubatees explaining their technologies and how we've helped to develop their businesses

Contact

Wendy Ellison
STFC Press Officer
Tel: 01925 603232 / 07919 548012