ESA Funding for Space Technology Gadgets

Two companies that created a communication handset and a computer game that use space technology, are the first to receive funds from ESA's Open Sky Technologies Fund.

One of them is a German company that created the TakWak GmbH, a three-in-one communication device that includes a mobile phone, satellite navigation and walkie-talkie functions for people that enjoy hiking, kayaking and skiing.

“Their unique multifunctional, dedicated outdoor sports device is based on cutting-edge technologies to provide a radical new user experience,” said Dr Bernd Geiger, from Triangle Venture Capital Group.

“With its rugged design and unique features, TakWak responds perfectly to outdoor enthusiasts preferring dedicated devices to converged solutions such as a smart phone with integrated navigation features,” he adds.

Triangle is the group that manages the ESA fund and it sustains business opportunities and ideas that are based on space technologies and satellite applications, for terrestrial use.

The TakWak project received €2.5 million from thr Fund and other venture-capital funds.

The other company that impressed ESA is Dutch–German iOpener Media, inventors of the next generation of online gaming.

iOpener created a game that allows players to compete in real time against cars in real races, thanks to “live” Satnav data.

“iOpener’s proposition goes far beyond racing,” says Triangle's Uli Fricke.

“The virtual-world participants add another dimension to every real-world competition.

“Just imagine the increase in the target audience of traditional sports events, it is the missing link between the old and the new world.”

The Open Sky Technologies Fund and other Triangle funds awarded iOpener €900.000 for the development of its next phase - the hardware for the racing cars and the tracks, and the launch worldwide of their gaming platform.

The ESA Investment Forum on October 5th is organized by ESA's Technology Transfer Program Office with Europe Unlimited and the Chamber of Commerce of Milan, and supported by IBAN, EBAN, KIS4SAT, NAVSAT and EC’s Enterprise Europe Network.