From 15:00 on 18 November to 15:00 the next day, 66 participants gathered at PLNT Leiden to join the ActInSpace global hackathon. During an invigorating 24 hours, 10 teams formed to take on one of the numerous challenges listed under different categories ranging from everyday life business to flying to the Moon and beyond. The Dutch edition was organised by team SBIC, together with PLNT, and ended with the announcement of the heat’s winners!
ActInSpace the Netherlands
Initiated by the French Space Agency (CNES) and supported by the European Space Agency (ESA) and the ESA Business Incubation Centres network, ActInSpace offers participants worldwide the unique opportunity to work with space technologies, patents and satellite data. The hackathon has become a real global event, taking place across 5 continents in more than 30 countries. Designed for students but open to everyone, participants bring their best game to tackle challenges with a high potential for commercial applications. The objective is to foster entrepreneurship, encourage start-up creation and promote the use of space technologies and spaceborne data to improve life on Earth.
After two successful editions in 2016 and 2018, the Netherlands is once again part of world’s largest space application hackathon. Home to ESA’s largest R&D facility, ESTEC, it has a long history in high tech development and astronomy research. It was also the first country in Europe to set up an ESA Business Incubation Centre (in Noordwijk), where startup companies are supported in creating a successful business from space-based technologies and satellite data. Located in the direct vicinity of this vibrant space hub lies the city of Leiden where the hackathon was held.
Ready for lift-off
Participants were given a warm welcome at PLNT Leiden, a start-up facility that houses innovation, entrepreneurship and education. As co-organiser of the hackathon along with SBIC Noordwijk, PLNT provided the perfect setting for 2 days of hacking. After collecting their goodie bags and cosmic sweets from the “Elon Musk” room, the hackathon’s launch base, participants were ready to start.
Teamwork makes the dream work
Once the teams formed and selected their challenge, the group was introduced to the mentors. With the help of a pool of experts offering advice and guidance round-the-clock, the teams propelled towards the first checkpoint and established the foundation for their solutions. In the afternoon, workshops on stakeholder mapping and problem definition followed to advance the business models of each team.
Making progress
After an intense day of brainstorming and coaching sessions, and with the sugar rush worn off, the participants were up for a well-deserved pizza. With renewed focus and filled stomachs, the teams reached for the second checkpoint. Before calling it a night, they reported on their progress and needs for the next few steps.
Preparing for touchdown
Day 2 started out with a breakfast and an energiser session to set the tone for another busy day during which the teams put the final touches on their projects and prepared to pitch their results. In the afternoon it all culminated in the presentations in front of a panel of judges.
Eyes on the prize
It was a tough decision, but after intense deliberations the jury announced the winners during the evening awards ceremony. The team of “Safe Space” won the third prize with their tracking solution to protect endangered wildlife and habitats in southern Africa. Runner-up “Gemini Analytics” took on the challenge “Fighting for climate change” with a model to build digital twin analogues of urban environments. Finally, with a solution for autonomous collision avoidance in space, “Ecosmic” was awarded the first prize. The team will get a spot in SBIC Noordwijk’s Ignition Programme, a month-long pre-incubation programme during which they can tweak their business idea and enhance their applications for the ESA BIC Noordwijk incubation programme.
The event ended in style with some drinks and networking. Congratulations to all the participants and best of luck to “Ecosmic” for the international ActInSpace final in Cannes on 14 February 2023!
PARTICIPATING TEAMS
Astro Hackers, DARees, Ecosmic, Gemini Analytics, Intergalactic Llamas, Re-Cyclops, Space Revolvers, Space Impact, Safe Space, Terra Ba
WINNERS
🌟 1st prize
Team: Ecosmic
Project: Intelligent Satellites
Challenge: Sopra Steria 1 “Satellite alert! Incoming debris”
✨ 2nd prize
Team: Gemini Analytics
Project: Twin Cities
Challenge: Airbus no.5 “Fighting for climate change”
⭐ 3rd prize
Team: Safe Space
Project: Wildlife Matters
Challenge: Peace Parks Foundation “Save endangered wildlife and habitats in southern Africa”
JUDGES
Barbara ten Berge, drs., BA, HE Space Operations
Erik van der Heide, SBIC
Bastiaan de Roo, PLNT Leiden
Raoul Voeten, NL Space Campus
MENTORS
Eduardo Soares de Araújo
Pierre Blanchet
Sebastiaan (P.B.) den Boer
Max Ghiglione, Maarten Haneveer
Ewa Kadziolka
Martijn Leinweber
Lidia E. Lewczuk
Dieter Vleugels
DUTCH HEAT SPONSORS
ANWB
ESA Space Solutions
HE Space Operations
NSO – Netherlands Space Office
Nederlandse Vereniging voor Ruimtevaart
NL Space Campus
Rabobank
Zuits
