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TO SPACE: Estonia is eager to join European Space Agency. How the business works? (VIDEO)
5 Nov 2009
Estonia has big-time ambition to enter the space industry and open new business opportunities for the Estonian entrepreneurs.
Tiny e-nation wants to become full member of European Space Agency by 2016. Preparations are conducted by Enterprise Estonia. “Let’s see!” people say.
This is the kick-off post in series of other upcoming ones, dedicated to Estonian race for space.
In the first TigerPrises.com space-video representative from giant space-related consulting, outsourcing and solutions company Logica, Rob Postema talks about the opportunities he sees for newcomers.
Some space facts regarding Estonia for appetizer:
- Estonian scientists designed and built several scientific instruments for space studies during Soviet time (1960′s – 1980′s).
- For example in mid 1980′s a FAZA telespectrometer was constructed in Estonia for the Soviet orbital space station Mir.
- Space food chef’s of Põltsamaa Agricultural Factory lay the table for Soviet cosmonauts.
- Later, since the beginning of 1990′s Estonian scientists were involved in collaboration with the European Space Agency’s Gaia programme. And Estonian company Vertex built a large antenna reflector structure for ESA.
- Accession talks between ESA and Estonia started in 2005, currently the companies and public sector institutions get themselves acquainted with opportunities rising from earth observation, satellite navigation etc.
- There are about 15-20 technology companies in Estonia believed to have realistic business opportunities in ESA programmes. TigerPrises.com will bring these companies more into focus in upcoming space posts. Stay tuned!
The post was published in cooperation with Invent Baltics.
Logica: Business opportunities from space?! from Toivo Tänavsuu on Vimeo.
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3 Responses to TO SPACE: Estonia is eager to join European Space Agency. How the business works? (VIDEO)
Артём Курапов
November 5th, 2009 at 12:28 pm
I don’t mean to be pessimistic or anything, but here is some criticism about interview..
1. Lots of water (talking about being responsable in the market.. thats basic for any market)
2. Not ground-based. I mean watching after crops on a field from space (this was done in France) is good if you need it (meaning you have agriculture) – Estonia doesn’t, everything comes from Iowa (US).
Obviously right now Estonia needs 2 things – atomic energy (not part of this talk) and being integrated more closely in EU.. last part can be somehow tied to space. For example military purposes.
Since Estonia doesn’t have Japan’s economy it will probably struggle for 10-30 years more for minor subcontracts in this field (making parts of sattelites, writing software)
Toivo Tänavsuu
November 5th, 2009 at 12:41 pm
Good points, Artjom.
Bottom line here is that by ESA membership Estonia’s aim is not to exit from the current economic recession. There are only about 15-20 companies that could ideally sell something to ESA in foreseeable future.
It’s more of a quality mark for Estonia. PR one might say. ESA membership is another argument for taking Estonia’s innovative economy seriously. I wrote an article about that in today’s Eesti Ekspress as well.
Luca G. Bochese
January 19th, 2010 at 7:20 pm
Our company has a very good record on designing special cutting tools for aerospace and defense, we have Beretta, Airmacchi Agusta, Oto Melara, Breda as customers.
We also have good records in power generation, as we delivered special reamers for a project in high energy R&D in CERN Genève in Switzerland.
We were included in the database of Estonian aerospace companies. We were, … as after our participation to Russian defense show VTTVOmsk.ru (as the only company from Estonia) and the winning of a gold medal prize for R&D by Russian Ministry of Commerce , the cooperation with the Tank Engineering Centre for gearbox measurement, the involvement in the SU-MK30I engine shaft manufacturing in HAL India, …our listing has been removed.
The new project with China on laser measurement in high altitude-low pressure environment will take place in China and will be, as all our R&D projects, 100% self financed.
Was it a political reason? I do not know and I also do not care.
I think that Estonia needs a more pragmatical and less ideological approach.
Then, welcome to ESA, but I feel it is not profitable to turn our back to the Eastern countries.
It is not a shame for us to be active and cooperate with Russian and Chinese Space Agencies. We are proud of it, and we want to have happy customers both in the West and in the East.
Luca G. Bochese
Feanor CEO