Applications open until June 30, 2018 for the Copernicus Masters competition. This challenge rewards breakthrough applications and concepts that leverage Copernicus satellite data to solve pressing market and societal problems. Compete across 16 distinct challenges. Winners receive cash prizes, satellite data packages, business and technical support from competition partners, plus numerous valuable products and services.
Copernicus generates 10 Petabytes of Earth observation data annually—all distributed free of charge. This massive data stream enables near real-time global monitoring services that drive sustainable environmental management. Data sources include the Sentinel satellite family, contributing missions (commercial and public satellites), and extensive ground-based sensors. This space-generated big data offers enormous potential for developing solutions across many non-space sectors. As these ideas evolve into commercially viable products, their economic impact multiplies.
Copernicus Masters 2018—Europe's premier Earth observation innovation competition—seeks exactly these kinds of exceptional ideas, applications, and business concepts from forward-thinking SMEs, startups, universities, and individuals in business, research, and higher education. Now in its eighth year, the competition is organized by Germany's Anwendungszentrum GmbH Oberpfaffenhofen (AZO).
From April 1 through June 30, participants can submit innovative EO ideas across 16 challenges featuring the largest roster of world-class partners in competition history. Partners for 2018 include the European Space Agency (ESA), German Aerospace Center (DLR), CGI, Planet Inc., BayWa AG, Stevenson Astrosat Ltd., Airbus, Satellite Applications Catapult Ltd., and Germany's Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure (BMVI).
"Copernicus Masters has become a major driver of innovation in Earth observation. Solutions entered into this competition not only benefit citizens but also deliver significant socio-economic advantages across diverse economic sectors," states Josef Aschbacher, Director of ESA Earth Observation Programmes. ESA has been a founding partner of Copernicus Masters, organizing annual challenges since 2011.
Participants can demonstrate innovative uses of Earth observation data across a broad spectrum of challenge topics including Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence, machine learning, energy, health, sustainable living, smart agriculture, digital transport, and smart cities. For the second consecutive year, the European Commission (EC) offers six additional European challenges covering sustainable development, governance, data access, B2B applications, land monitoring, and crisis management. Participants also have unique opportunities to build solutions using additional data sources from new competition partners.
Winners receive not only monetary prizes but also access to an international network of leading Earth observation organizations, substantial satellite data volumes, crowdfunding investment platforms, and business development support totaling over 600,000 EUR. The overall winner receives a VIP trip worth 10,000 EUR to witness a satellite launch in Kourou. "We take pride in the active role Copernicus Masters plays in commercializing Earth observation services," adds Thorsten Rudolph, Managing Director of AZO. "Since 2011, we've selected 87 competition winners from more than 2700 participants from 73 countries who submitted over 1100 cutting-edge business ideas. This perfectly demonstrates the innovation competition's role in channeling entrepreneurial momentum for Earth observation."
Copernicus Masters also complements the Copernicus Accelerator, which supports transformation of excellent ideas into commercially viable solutions through tailored 12-month business coaching services. All eligible Copernicus Masters 2018 winners gain access to the Copernicus Accelerator.