The 22@Network BCN association supports the European Space Agency on an Announcement of Opportunity (AO), which invites companies to study, design, and/or develop and demonstrate space-enabled solutions with the goal of digitalising supply chains.

Barcelona, July 2022 – In the aftermath of severe disruption from the COVID-19 pandemic, enterprises have started to plan their supply chain strategies to become more resilient, collaborative, and networked with customers, suppliers, and other stakeholders. Addressing these challenges would set the groundwork for a new era of supply chain management, leveraging on space and digital technologies to provide end-to-end visibility, traceability, responsiveness, and agility with the potential for digitally transforming the state-of-the-art of supply chain management. Successful applicants to the Announcement of Opportunity will be offered co-funding and further support for the implementation of their idea with ESA and partner support.

22@Network BCN is an enterprise and institution association that gathers the major organisations of the 22@ district, the innovation district of Barcelona. It gathers large companies, institutions, universities, research centres, and a large network of SMEs and startups with activity in the 22@ district, the first innovation district of the world.

Since 2004, 22@Network BCN has been the association of the innovative, technological, and creative sector of the city of Barcelona. With 219 associates, we are responsible for the consolidation of the 22@ District as a dynamic, transformative, and an advanced technological space. The 22@Network BCN promotes the innovation in between their associates and facilitates the integration of entrepreneurial organisations and professionals to the dynamics of 22@ by facilitating the networking and interaction between the associates.

Within the scope of this initiative, the 22@Network BCN association has offered to support solutions targeting drone deliveries, digital supply chain and air mobility solutions within the district in close collaboration with their associate companies. In that direction, the 22@Network association plans to support prospective companies with access to such collaborators. As an example, Westfield shopping centres offered to collaborate on pilot demonstrations, connections with retailers interested in such solutions, and support in navigating the regulatory environment associated with testing the given services, where necessary.

This collaboration is particularly relevant for the 22@, as it allows the district to consolidate its position as the world’s leading innovation district. Enric Urreta, President of the 22@Network BCN, emphasises the relevance of this collaboration, which “shows the innovative potential of the 22@ by bringing new opportunities to the district”.

In addition, Isabel Sabadí, Director of the 22@Network BCN, states that “this collaboration is exactly in line with the mission of the association, whose aim is to work on the promotion of innovation among its members while facilitating the integration of businesses and professionals into the dynamics of the district”.

As set out in ESA’s vision for European space activities, the Agency is stepping up its efforts to accelerate the use of space. Through its ARTES (Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems) programme, ESA is forging strong links between institutions, industries, and business to leverage the capabilities of space to drive digital services.

The ESA Space Solutions department supports businesses in investigating and ultimately bringing-to-market innovative space-enabled services utilising satellite earth observation, satellite communications and/or satellite-derived positioning, navigation and timing.

If you are interested in applying to this initiative and transforming logistics and supply chains, then details on the full scope of the initiative can be found at Digital Supply Chain | ESA Business Applications.

Link: The 22@Network BCN Association Collaborates with the European Space Agency - TechRound