Conference & Meetings World Issue 106 | Page 30

Advertisement feature Prague’s Space Ambitions Aim High [email protected] www.pragueconvention.cz Prague and the Czech Republic are not new to the science disciplines of space exploration and research. Czechoslovak citizen Vladimír Remek was the first cosmonaut in space from a country other than the Soviet Union or the United States. He flew aboard Soyuz 28 in March 1978. The same year, Magion 1, the first Czechoslovak satellite was launched into orbit. Currently, there are around seventy companies and research centers in the Czech Republic that are involved in space activities. In addition, there are many technologies that only few people commonly associate with the universe such as satellite navigation or satellite telecommunications, thanks to which we can e.g. withdraw money from an ATM. Since 2008, the Czech Republic has been a member of the European Space Agency. During the following 10 years, Czech companies and universities have been working on a total of 350 projects. Eight years after the country joined the agency, ESA Business Incubation Centre (ESA BIC) was opened in Prague. When launched in 2016, it was even the first ever space incubator in the CEE region. 30 / CONFERENCE & MEETINGS WORLD The ESA BIC program aims to support the use of space technologies in everyday life and thus ensure the support of research, development, innovation and monetization of their results. During the five years of its operation, up to 25 Czech start-ups have been able to look for opportunities to apply space technology to everyday life. The package which includes consulting and advisory services in the technological and business areas, financial support of up to 50,000 EUR, marketing support and help with finding partners and potential investors is available to the start-ups accepted to the program. Prague has been also home for The European Global Navigation Satellite Systems Agency (GNSS), and Galileo, global satellite-based navigation system created by the European Union, since 2010. In 2021, the new European Space Agency will be created by extending the existing European GNSS Agency, which employs around 100 people. The new European Union Agency for the Space Program (EUSPA) will employ approximately 700 people. Apart from developing satellite telecommunications / ISSUE 106 it will monitor the nearby surroundings of the Earth and manage Copernicus - European Union’s Earth Observation Programme. Thanks to the long tradition of space research and several institutions, companies and start-ups headquartered in Prague, the city also attracts many events focusing on this field. Czech Space Week was launched in 2018 presenting several events across the Czech Republic dedicated to experts as well as general public and children. Within the Czech Space Week, the conference of ESA BIC was held in Prague in 2019 together with Space for Women discussion with successful women working in space industry. All technology experts and enthusiasts shouldn’t miss the Future Port Prague, annual festival of latest and future technologies, products, and ideas which focuses on space technologies as well. The conference and expo are integral parts of the Future Port presenting VIP speakers.