The South West SpaceTech Challenge will support innovative entrepreneurs using space-enabled technologies to grow their business, and connect with commercial opportunities in the Offshore Wind and Climate & Nature resilience spaces. As part of the SpaceWest programme, it will push forward our ambition to build a leading space ecosystem across our region.
What is the Innovation Challenge
The South West SpaceTech Challenge is a competition inviting innovators using space-enabled technologies to provide solutions to real world problems in offshore wind. It is led by the Space West and supported by Deloitte.
This is a unique opportunity for innovators to work with an important growing sector and gain a deeper understanding of specific industry challenges. The package of support will help innovators develop solutions with the potential to scale up for the global market.
The Challenge aims to deliver three key objectives:
- Supercharge the growth of SpaceTech businesses in the South West region
- Help organisations associated with Offshore Renewable Energy and Climate & Nature Resilience (the Challenge Group) to lift-the-lid on the applications of SpaceTech for their industry
- Connect SpaceTech businesses with the Challenge Group organisations to encourage collaboration and commercial opportunity
Why Apply?
Taking part in the South West SpaceTech Challenge will give you an opportunity to:
- understand product market fit by applying your space-enabled technology to specific real-world business problems
- build your network with large organisations seeking external innovation
- learn best practises on how to grow your business.
By participating in this program, you will get access to:
- in-person networking and pitch events, where you will receive tailored feedback from our judging panel
- four virtual, interactive workshops on the topics of product roadmap, fundraising, pitching and proposal writing
- access to a mentor pool of both Innovation and Space subject matter experts
- 1-1 Collaboration sessions with the Challenge Group to ensure your solutions align to their business challenges.
The Challenge Statements
STATEMENT 1
Offshore Wind: How can using space-enabled technologies have a positive impact on businesses operating within the Offshore Wind value chain?
STATEMENT 2
Climate & Nature Resilience: How can using space-enabled technologies help organizations and individuals understand, evaluate, or mitigate their climate and nature related risks?
Innovators can apply to either of the above Challenge Statements and showcase how their space-enabled technology can be leveraged in these areas.
Further, more specific challenges briefs have been developed by the Challenge Group, and innovators are invited to apply to showcase how their technology can provide solutions for these current, real world problems end users are facing today.
The Challenge Group
The Challenge briefs have been developed by a group of organisations growing the offshore wind industry in the Celtic Sea and those developing UK Climate & Nature Resilience.