One sentence space solutions

Space, when combined with innovation and entrepreneurship, leads to growth. On the third day of the European Space Solutions Conference in The Hague, attendees shared their views on business opportunities based on satellite navigation and Earth observation information.

According to Dirk Smit, vice president Exploration Technology & Chief Scientist Geophysics at Shell, spaceborne measurements are of particular interest to the energy industry. 'A crucial question is: can we develop spaceborne sensing systems to monitor energy production operations? If so, policy making would become much easier and more transparent.'

Business professionals talked about ways in which space can improve our daily lives on Earth while providing new business opportunities. In a round table discussion, Robbert Mica, business developer at Vandersat and kick-starter of space start-ups at ATG Fast Forward, admits he sometimes has a hard time explaining the possibilities of satellite data to his audience.

'In the end it comes down to translating the hunch you have as an entrepreneur into examples that make sense after only one sentence. For example: imagine that every irrigation system in the world is driven automatically by space data. We could replace all sensors in the ground by space data, saving a lot of money and resources. Now that is something. And it's possible.'

The ESSC continues untill Friday 3 June. Some of the upcoming program is dedicated to the possibilities space can offer for a sustainable future and developing countries.

ESSC: http://www.european-space-solutions.eu/

ATG Fast Forward: http://www.atgfastforward.com/

Vandersat: http://www.vandersat.com/