Out of this world: 5 Swiss startups get ready to leave their mark in space
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Five Swiss startups were chosen to be part of the eighth cohort of new ESA BIC Switzerland startups. The promising companies were officially introduced to the program—with a digital kick-off. As a next step, the startups will enter Phase 1 and can receive up to 200k Euro in non-dilutive funding during the overall program.
The ESA Business Incubation Centre (ESA BIC) Switzerland provides promising Swiss startups that have a connection to space with funding, business and technical support, a network, and a community of peers and experts. ESA BIC Switzerland is a nationwide initiative that opened in 2016, powered by the European Space Agency (ESA) and ETH Zurich, and supports entrepreneurs who exploit space systems or technologies to develop their non-space business or who use terrestrial technology for an application related to space.
In March 2020, the jury picked the latest cohort. The five startups develop a wide variety of solutions that include materials, data mining, nanotechnology, and robotics.
Congratulations to the startups of the eighth ESA BIC Switzerland cohort!
BOTA Systems: Giving machines the sense of touch
Bota Systems provides solutions that improve how robotic systems interact with humans: The startup’s innovative plug-and-play force-sensing solution makes robots sense the interaction force with their environment and can be integrated into any robotic system, including robotic arms, construction robots, exoskeletons or prosthetic devices, force plates, robotic surgery platforms, and underwater force sensing. Bota Systems was a Venture Kick winner in 2020.
CompPair: Healable and sustainable composites to improve circularity
CompPair extends the lifetime of composite structures, which are widely used in the aerospace, automotive, windmill, and sports industries. Composites are sensitive to damage and costly and time-consuming to repair. CompPair provides smart prepregs (pre-impregnated textiles) that are compatible with existing production lines and deliver an efficient smart and bio-inspired solution for extending the lifetime of composite structures. CompPair was a Venture Kick winner in 2019.
MicroR Systems: Compact and ultra-precise lasers for measurement applications
MicroR’s technology improves the performance of lasers in terms of color purity and size, which enables more precise distance measurements, timekeeping, and long-distance telecommunication for a range of applications and industries—from space to defense to automotive.
Miraex: Data-driven maintenance decisions
Miraex solutions detect system anomalies in advance and allow data-driven maintenance decisions that help reduce costs and optimize productivity. Miraex’s photonic and quantum full-stack solutions can be found in industrial applications; aerospace, security and defense; and quantum networking and computing. Miraex was a Venture Kick winner in 2020.
Urban Data Lab: Spatial optimization of real estate investment strategies
Urban Data Lab transforms the real estate investment business by combining geoprocessing, big data, and machine learning to evaluate millions of locations on their spatial structure and user-centered potential. With this innovative methodology for spatial data mining and behavioral modeling, Urban Data Lab assists the real estate industry in scaling their business to new markets.
Apply for your space
If your startup has a connection to outer space and is ready to launch a gravity-defying idea, apply to the next round of the ESA BIC Switzerland program. The application deadline is October 31, 2020.
