The European Space Agency has launched a funding call seeking applicants who are developing services relating to ‘Blue Natural Capital’.
Funding will be provided by the European Space Agency (ESA) for 6-month studies called ‘Kick-Starts’, which can lead to larger scale Demonstration Projects. Under the ESA’s Kick-Starts initiative, awarded projects are 75% funded by ESA up to a maximum of €60K per contract. Proposed services must use satellite data or space-based technologies.
The challenge
Blue natural capital ecosystems provide valuable resources and livelihoods to local communities including:
- tradeable products
- an abundance of seafood
- tourism revenue
They also:
- improve water quality
- act as a buffer to storm surges
- are efficient at removing carbon from the atmosphere
- are vital refuges for biodiversity
- form an essential component for a healthy ocean
The scope of the proposed Kick-start theme call is to support companies to investigate the technical feasibility and the economic viability of services which will address challenges related to blue natural capital monitoring, preservation, and sustainable growth. The call aims to promote the use of satellite technologies, in combination with digital technologies such as IoT, AI/ML, and blockchain to bring about innovative solutions for sustainable services and funding streams to support the blue natural capital sector.
See the ESA’s Blue Capital Kick Start Funding page here for more detailed information and to apply.
(Closing date for applications is 14th June 2024)
