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Unmanned aerial vehicle and satellite loyalty programme. ESA BIC space incubator supports four more startups

One of the startups will be incubated in Prague, the other three in Brno

Unmanned aerial vehicle and satellite loyalty programme. ESA BIC space incubator supports four more startups Source: European Space Agency

GroundCom, Mobis0ne, Uneeqly and Zaitra are the four startups that are newly entering the European Space Agency Business Incubation Centre (ESA BIC) in Prague and Brno. The start-ups will receives financial support in the amount of EUR 50,000 and consulting and advisory services from the professionals at CzechInvest and the South Moravian Innovation Centre over a two-year period. The startups thus have an opportunity to significantly further the development of their products, namely ground communication stations, an unmanned aerial vehicle, a loyalty application using satellite data and an application for forest management.

Uneeqly is undergoing incubation at ESA BIC in Prague under the leadership of CzechInvest. The startup is developing an easy-to-use mobile platform for small and medium-sized enterprises that will enable them to target their offers without using personal data, which it replaces with satellite navigation data. “Our platform will enable particularly smaller businesses and operations to promote their current discounts and other offers in real time. Based on the location and preferences, owners of restaurants, cafés, confectionaries, small retail shops, fitness centres and beauty salons can address their potential customers on Uneeqly. They will also be able to offer their customers long-term benefits without the necessity of registration,” Ctibor Duda, founder of Uneeqly. While at ESA BIC, the company wants to improve its use of geolocation services and start conducting business.

The other three companies – GroundCom, Mobis0ne and Zaitra – will be incubated in Brno. Jakub Lajmon’s GroundCom is focused on small satellites. The company wants to create a global network of ground stations and thus ensure communication with Earth and improve the control of received data. With assistance from ESA BIC, the startup plans to bring its product to a stage where it will be actively used by companies that operate small satellites.

Another recipient of support is Mobis0ne of Kunovice, which was founded by French engineer and experienced aerodynamics expert Etienne Vandame, who has focused on designing drones and aircraft for over twenty years. The ESA BIC incubator will help the startup develop a complete unmanned aerial vehicle, including a docking station. The aircraft is expected to be energy efficient and offer low operating costs.

The last startup newly entering the incubator is Zaitra, whose establishment was spurred by participation in the Copernicus Hackathon in 2019. The company’s objective is to develop, on the basis of satellite data, a tool that will help owners and managers of forests and other types of vegetation to forestall the effects of forest pests and drought.

“The incubator still has five places available, which we will fill by the middle of next year at the latest. We now have another selection round ahead of us. We are doing well in in the Czech Republic and our startups are finding success. Production for space is demanding, but it has tremendous value added and potential,” says Michal Kuneš of ESA BIC Prague.

An overview of the startups currently being incubated at ESA BIC Prague and Brno is available here.

About ESA BIC Prague and Brno
The ESA BIC Prague space incubator was established in May 2016 as part of the European Space Agency’s network of Business Incubation Centres. These centres provide facilities and support for innovative technology start-ups that work with, develop and seek commercial uses for space technologies. CzechInvest is the operator of ESA BIC Prague. The City of Prague, Ministry of Transportation and Ministry of Industry and Trade are also involved in the project. The incubator is housed in Palác Adria in Prague. The Brno branch of ESA BIC was established in the South Moravian Innovation Centre in March 2018 and is also supported by the Region of South Moravia. More information is available at www.esa-bic.cz.

About CzechInvest
CzechInvest plays a key role in the area of comprehensive support for business and investments. The agency’s unique combination of regional, central and international operations ensures the integrity of its services and its ability to connect global trends with the regional conditions in the Czech Republic. One of CzechInvest’s primary objectives is the transformation of the Czech Republic into an innovation leader of Europe. CzechInvest is a state contributory organisation subordinate to the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic. The agency was established in 1992.

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