More interest than ever as the space conference went online and attracted over 150 stakeholders from industry, academia, policy-making, venture capital and startups to discuss business within satellite data.
”Satellite data is the new gold rush”
The theme for Space Innovation Forum was business opportunities within satellite data, with keynote speakers providing a range of perspectives from product development, to applications and funding new ventures. Each keynote session was followed by a panel discussion hosted by external moderators. Conversations and idea exchange continued during the workshop on the second and final day of the event. The theme and format was widely appreciated by the audience.
”Several of the sustainable development goals outlined in Agenda 2030 cannot be achieved without the democratization of space. As a venture capital firm with a mission to back startups that can create positive impact, startups within space are highly interesting for us” said Alexander Danielsson, investment manager at venture capital firm Norrskenet VC and one of the keynote speakers.
The conference attracted students, academics, industry, startups, venture capital owners and policy-makers.
Josef Aschbacher, European Space Agency, said: ”Space Innovation Forum is a fantastic initative – opportunities to gather the community in this way, keeping them connected and up to date is something we encourage and would like to see more of.”
Space to make life better on Earth
A key take-away from the conference is the need to gain a wider understanding that the real potential of satellite data is actually not in space, but to create services and solutions in our everyday lives. Mining, geodata and agriculture were some example of industries where satellite data is already applied. Meanwhile, Linda Lyckman, SSC – Swedish Space Corporation outlined five trends shaping space innovation: sustainability, digitalization, data value services, access to space and integration of space and ground:
”What we see here is a need for the space sector to integrate more thoroughly with other sectors, with society and economy. All this must be with sustainable solutions and with respect to the global and space situational awareness.”
Designing the ecosystem for innovation
Understanding user needs and creating a system where new innovations can grow (and be tested) fast is a challenge that recurred throughout the day. On day 2 of the programme, LTU Business hosted a workshop inviting stakeholders to contribute with perspectives on what the infrastructure for supporting innovation needs to look like to be efficient.
“Perspectives from 50 relevant and diverse stakeholders are valuable inputs for our continued efforts to support growth and increased capacity for innovation in the space economy”, says Emil Svanberg, LTU Business.
Space Innovation Forum LinkedIn group
A LinkedIn group has been launched to provide a digital channel for participants to network and connect with each other, The group is open to anyone with an interest in the space sector in Northern Sweden and will also serve as a noticeboard for news and tips from and by the Space Innovation Forum community. Sign up now!
Next Space Innovation Forum theme reveal: Financing new space innovations
The RIT2021 project team is excited to announce the theme for the next conference, taking place in early 2021 (dates TBA). Johanna Bergström-Roos, project manager says:
“Securing external investment is key to boost innovation – to grow new business ideas, but also to support the existing processes. We’re thrilled to dedicate the next Space Innovation Forum to such an important issue and hope it will be of interest to our community.”