Robotic grippers for satellite maintenance in orbit, foldable and ultra-lightweight photovoltaic panels, high-tech suits for athletes and astronauts. These are the innovative projects developed by start-ups AdapTronics, Astradyne and REA Space which, together with three other Italian innovative companies, will be funded by ESA Spark Funding, a program established by the European Space Agency (ESA) in collaboration with the Italian Space Agency (ASI) to finance feasibility studies and demonstration projects aimed at testing new technological solutions and promoting technology transfer between space and non-space sectors, and vice versa.
The fund, launched in Italy in 2024 with a budget of €1.35 million, is managed by STAM, a Genoa-based technology company with offices in Rome, Bari, Cagliari, and Padua. STAM operates as the Technology Broker for Italy on behalf of ESA, in collaboration with ASI. Founded in 1997, today STAM has a team of 100 employees and a long experience in space projects. Collaboration with leading Italian industries has generated spillovers in a wide range of industries, contributing to business diversification and corporate growth.
AdapTronics, Astradyne and REA Space are innovative start-ups united by having completed the ESA BIC Turin incubation program, run by I3P in collaboration with Politecnico di Torino, LINKS Foundation and the Italian Space Agency.
Supporting technology transfer
"The selection of the six project proposals involved a team from ESA, ASI, and STAM, who evaluated over twenty applications," said Stefano Carosio, Executive Director of STAM. "Over the next 12 months, we will work closely with these companies to support them in developing new products and business models, with the goal of facilitating technology transfer, strengthening the Italian space sector, and fostering its connections with other industries."
"We are very pleased with the level of participation from Italian companies in this first Open Call of ESA Spark Funding," stated Aude de Clercq, Head of the Innovative Services Section at ESA. "The six technology transfer projects have just begun and will be closely monitored in the coming months by STAM, in its role as ESA Tech Broker for Italy, to maximize their impact in collaboration with ESA and ASI teams."
"ESA's technology brokerage activities provide significant support to initiatives carried out by the Italian Space Agency aimed at enhancing space activities, fostering economic growth, and boosting the country’s competitiveness," confirmed Augusto Cramarossa, Head of Strategic Coordination at ASI, which supports ESA in these activities. "To maximize impact, an integrated approach between research, industry, and policy support is essential, encouraging collaboration between the public and private sectors. This program promotes new business models, startups, and partnerships between research and industry, with impacts on key sectors such as energy, healthcare, and transportation. This process accelerates the commercialization of advanced technologies, contributes to the growth of the space economy, and generates increasing economic and social benefits."
The funded projects
With the SolarDrape project, Astradyne will develop an innovative, foldable, and ultra-lightweight photovoltaic panel. This system aims to combine high efficiency, extreme lightness, and structural robustness, providing an advanced solution for renewable energy generation in critical environments. SolarDrape is designed for applications such as disaster relief operations and off-grid communities.
REA Space developed EMSi, the first intravehicular suit capable of interacting with postural muscles to counteract the effects of microgravity on the human body. Through the Ercole project, the company will develop a sensorized system for monitoring athletes' muscle activity and biomechanics, enhancing performance and preventing injuries by leveraging technology transfer to the sports sector.
The project of AdapTronics, based on Electro Active Adhesive Layer (EAAL) technology, aims to the development and commercialization of an innovative electrostatic-based robotic gripping device enabling in-orbit satellite maintenance and active space debris removal, regardless of the material or configuration of the target object. Adapted from industrial automation applications, this solution is currently being developed for the space sector, with further validation tests planned as part of the ESA Spark-funded project.
