ESA BIC Prague Accepts 3 New Participants This Summer: 2 Czech, 1 Swiss
- Start-ups Strafos, Aleego, and ZetJet Technologies begin incubation at ESA BIC Prague during summer 2018
- Swiss firm ZetJet Technologies marks the first foreign participant, collaborating with Czech Technical University
- Start-ups receive approximately 2 years of incubation plus financial support up to 50,000 euros
Booking and management systems for private flights, industrial drone imaging solutions, and electric propulsion units for high-altitude pseudosatellites. These projects belong to three start-ups – two Czech and one Swiss – selected by the European Space Agency (ESA) in June for two-year incubation at Prague's space incubator ESA BIC Prague. Firms Strafos, Aleego, and ZetJet Technologies join seven start-ups already refining their products and services. ESA BIC Prague simultaneously welcomes its first international participant.
Swiss company ZetJet Technologies develops electric propulsion systems for high-altitude pseudosatellites. These aircraft fill the gap between space satellites and drones. ZetJet Technologies works with specialized technology that drastically reduces fuel consumption or electric energy required for aircraft propulsion. Pseudosatellites, priced at 10 to 20 percent of satellite costs, operate on solar power during daytime and battery-stored energy at night.
"ZetJet Technologies chose the Czech Republic for incubation because of the traditionally strong aerospace sector here. Beyond that, Czech Technical University in Prague (CTU) was the only university in Europe able to effectively assist their project," states Marek Aldorf, Head of ESA BIC Prague Division at CzechInvest. "I believe interesting technology companies from abroad will follow."
Company Strafos develops an intelligent system for booking and managing private flights for small and medium-sized operators. The modern cloud platform utilizes satellite technology displaying real-time data on aircraft position and status to crew, operators, and airport staff – wherever the aircraft is located, even in areas without ground receiver coverage. The system efficiently calculates all costs and optimizes time and routes, planning flights to minimize empty transfers. No such system currently exists in commercial aviation for small and medium operators.
Company Aleego operates an online platform where customers, especially industrial firms, can reserve UAV drone missions for imaging purposes. This technology has gained popularity in recent years due to incomparably lower costs and faster delivery times versus traditional aerial photography. The developing system processes data collected during flight into comprehensive reports delivered to customers.
At Prague's space incubator ESA BIC Prague, selected start-ups can draw support up to 50,000 euros to complete products and bring them to market. Besides the European Space Agency (ESA), the City of Prague contributes financially to the program, with nearly 45 million crowns allocated total. At the incubator located in Prague's Palác Adria, start-ups access consulting and advisory services of technological and business character, marketing support, and connections to potential partners and investors. CzechInvest and the Ministry of Industry and Trade provide project infrastructure. ESA BIC Prague partners also include the Ministry of Transport and Komerční Bank. Currently 7 firms incubate at ESA BIC Prague (Festka, NG Aviation, Big Terra, NaviRider, SMUP UQ, Foxworks Aerospace, and Let's Earth), while three start-ups (InsightART, Triphood, Tuddy Tuddy) successfully completed incubation in the first half of 2018.