ESA reports record 3,100 visitors at Industry Space Days

On 16 and 17 September, around 1,500 companies came together with investors and representatives of the space agency at ESA’s technical centre, ESTEC, in the Netherlands. During the Industry Space Days, they discussed potential contracts and collaboration. According to ESA, the event attracted 3,100 visitors, more than at any previous edition. The agency does not provide comparative figures for previous years. [1]

ESA reports nearly 10,000 meetings and describes both pre-arranged and informal discussions. It is unclear whether all those informal contacts were included in the total. The account gives no figures for contracts signed or collaborations established.

Alongside the business discussions, there were more than 100 presentations on ESA’s short- and long-term plans and the procurement needs within its programmes. The exhibition hall had around 240 exhibitors, including start-ups from the network of ESA business incubators. A new feature was a technology tent where companies with completed ESA technology projects could present their technical solutions. ESA also opened its laboratories. [1]

Jens Kauffmann, head of ESA’s SME department, sees the high turnout as a sign that companies need direct contact about ESA programmes, procurement information and new business partners. According to him, the event was intended to offer practical opportunities for collaboration, with particular attention to small and medium-sized enterprises.