The road ahead: Challenges and opportunities

Upstream: building the future of space

Upstream space companies, focused on developing and manufacturing space infrastructure and technology, must tackle:

• High capital investment – Launching space solutions requires significant funding, making smart financial planning crucial.
• Technological complexity – Advanced engineering and rigorous testing are essential for mission success.
• Regulatory hurdles – Navigating licensing and compliance frameworks is time-consuming but necessary for market entry.

Downstream: unlocking the power of space data

Downstream space companies, focused on utilizing space data and technologies for terrestrial applications, must overcome:

• Market adoption – Educating customers about the value of space-driven solutions is key to scaling.
• Data accessibility – Processing vast amounts of satellite data requires robust infrastructure and expertise.
• Intensifying competition – Standing out in the fast-growing space-tech sector means demonstrating clear, tangible value.

Meet the Batch 4 start-ups

These 20 visionary start-ups, supported by the CASSINI business acceleration program, are tackling these challenges head-on with bold solutions:

• 2NDSPACE (Italy) – Offering a Satellite-as-a-Service model to make high-tech satellite access more flexible.
• Aistech Space (Spain) – Deploying a satellite constellation for high-resolution thermal imaging and environmental monitoring.
• Applied Aerial Technology (Ireland) – Leveraging Earth Observation for forestry and environmental sustainability.
• B2SPACE (Spain) – Pioneering Near Space Testing and high-altitude platform missions.
• Dronetag (Czech Republic) – Enhancing drone visibility and airspace safety with real-time tracking technology.
• embedded ocean (Germany) – Boosting industrial efficiency with smart software solutions.
• German Orbital Systems (Germany) – Providing CubeSat solutions for a range of space applications.
• Hightek (Italy) – Developing advanced aerial vision systems for disaster response.
• Hydra Space Systems (Spain) – Creating efficient satellite communications for remote sensor networks.
• Infinite Orbits (France) – Extending satellite lifespans through GEO in-orbit services.
• ION-X (France) – Innovating in electric propulsion for small satellites.
• Kermap (France) – Using AI and satellite data to support regenerative agriculture and urban planning.
• Oledcomm (France) – Leading in optical wireless communication for space and defense.
• Revolv Space (Italy) – Advancing mechanisms and power systems for next-gen satellites.
• Sensar (Netherlands) – Using satellite insights to monitor soil, surface, and infrastructure risks.
• Space Composite Structures Denmark (Denmark) – A one-stop shop for designing, manufacturing, and testing space hardware.
• SpaceLocker (France) – Simplifying in-orbit sensor deployment with shared space missions.
• Sternula (Denmark) – Providing affordable satellite-based maritime connectivity.
• TALOS (Germany) – Creating an “Internet of Animals” for wildlife monitoring via CubeSats.
• WeavAir (Poland) – Transforming ESG assessments using AI-driven satellite analytics.

The CASSINI formula for start-up success

With the CASSINI Business Accelerator, we don’t just ‘accelerate’ companies, we equip them for success. Through expert mentorship, tailored training, and unparalleled networking opportunities, the program helps founders:

Refine their business strategies – Defining target markets, strengthening value propositions, and navigating industry complexities.
Secure investment – Gaining access to funding opportunities and building investor confidence.
Forge strategic partnerships – Connecting with industry leaders, customers, and research institutions.
Gain market traction – Developing go-to-market strategies and increasing visibility in the European space ecosystem.

The CASSINI Business Accelerator Batch 4 journey begins

As Batch 4 embarks on this journey, we’re excited to see their breakthrough innovations take flight. With bold ideas, relentless ambition, and the power of collaboration, these start-ups are set to redefine the future of space. Through our thematic business acceleration programs, we empower a dynamic ecosystem for growth, ensuring that visionary entrepreneurs have the support they need to thrive. Welcome to the CASSINI Business Accelerator, Batch 4! The adventure begins now.

Do you want to be part of the next batch? Applications for Batch 5 close this Friday, March 7! Apply now and accelerate your space venture.

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Space challenges that drive defense innovation

The harsh realities of space demand resilience, precision, and advanced problem-solving—qualities that are just as crucial in defense. The overlap between space exploration and defense operations is striking, with technology developed for orbit now playing a vital role in military strategy and global safety.

Here’s how space tech is making an impact:

• Surveillance and reconnaissance: Satellites provide an unmatched vantage point, delivering high-resolution imagery and data to track threats, monitor borders, and support disaster response.
• Communication and navigation: GPS and satellite-based communication ensure secure, real-time coordination for military operations, enabling precise positioning and seamless connectivity in any environment.
• Cybersecurity: Space systems face constant cyber threats, leading to the development of cutting-edge security protocols that can be adapted to protect critical infrastructure on Earth.
• Threat detection and early warning: Space-based sensors detect missile launches, nuclear activity, and other threats in real time, allowing for rapid response and strategic decision-making.

Next-generation defense powered by space technology

Space-derived technologies are revolutionizing modern defense strategies:

• Miniaturized sensors and drones: Originally designed for space missions, small and lightweight sensors, and drones are now enhancing battlefield surveillance, reconnaissance, and intelligence gathering in extreme environments.
• Advanced materials: High-strength, lightweight materials developed for spacecraft are now improving protective gear, armor, and resilient military equipment.
• Artificial intelligence (AI): AI-driven navigation and data analysis from space exploration are boosting threat detection, cybersecurity, and decision-making in military operations.
• Secure communication networks: Space-based systems provide encrypted, interference-resistant communication, essential for military coordination in remote or contested environments.

Navigating the future: challenges and opportunities

As threats evolve within cyber, asymmetric warfare the need for real-time response becomes ever more urgent, and defense strategies must adapt. Space technology provides a powerful advantage in terms of:

• Enhanced situational awareness: Satellite surveillance delivers a real-time, comprehensive view of the battlefield.
• Improved communication and coordination: Reliable, encrypted networks keep operations secure and efficient.
• Advanced threat detection: AI-powered analytics and space-based sensors enable early warnings and proactive defense.
• Resilient infrastructure: Space-driven innovations help protect critical military assets from cyber and physical threats.

Verhaert: harnessing the power of space technology

At Verhaert Strategic Innovation, we facilitate the transfer of cutting-edge space technologies to the security and defense sectors. Through strategic sourcing of innovation, we de-risk and accelerate successful technology adoption, ensuring impactful advancements. We help to define requirements, scout breakthrough technologies, and leverage our extensive network to connect you with the right partners, fast. By bridging the gap between space and terrestrial security needs, we’re able to support the development of innovative defense solutions and the implementation of next-generation technologies—contributing to a safer and more secure world.

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1. Fueling sales growth

Successful accelerators do more than offer advice, they provide start-ups with the tools, strategies, and connections to land real customers. Look at the success of the CASSINI Business Accelerator that Verhaert implements for the European Commission. In just one batch, start-ups generated 4.602 sales leads and closed 127 deals worth €24.4 million! That’s the power of structured sales training, targeted expert mentorship, and meaningful networks that open doors.

2. Unlocking growth capital

Funding is the lifeblood of any start-up to scale. A strong accelerator program actively connects founders with the right investors and guides them through the fundraising process. With CASSINI Business Accelerator, batch 2 start-ups raised an impressive €117 million in equity-based funding and another €20 million in private investment. Standouts like 10Lines, DCUBED, and Unseenlabs secured major funding rounds, proving that the right accelerator is a powerful catalyst for financial growth.

3. Driving job creation

Beyond sales and funding, a thriving accelerator has even broader impacts. At CASSINI, companies created 165 new full-time jobs in batch 2 alone. Beyond growing businesses, accelerators fuel economic growth by helping to create employment opportunities that benefit communities and entire industries.

4. Fostering diversity and inclusion

A truly impactful accelerator ensures that innovation is for everyone. Diversity is a key driver of creativity and success, and at CASSINI, 24% of new hires in batch 2 were women – marking an important step toward more diversity in the space industry. By fostering an inclusive environment, accelerators not only elevate businesses but also contribute to a more equitable innovation ecosystem.

5. Beyond the metrics

Numbers matter, yet, the real value of an accelerator goes deeper. The best programs focus on creating strong, supportive communities, offering lasting mentorship, and providing the foundation start-ups need to scale sustainably. It’s the intangible, long-term value that makes the difference between short-term success and lasting impact.

Business accelerators at their best

A business accelerator is only as good as the result it delivers. We’re talking revenue, investment, and job creation – the hard-hitting indicators of success. Through our partnership with CASSINI, Verhaert has shown that structured, results-driven programs are a game-changer for any start-up.

It’s about more than immediate wins. True success comes from fostering diversity and inclusion and providing long-term support that helps start-ups thrive for the long haul. These elements come together to create stronger, more resilient businesses capable of navigating marketing challenges.

At Verhaert Strategic Innovation, we’re dedicated to creating vibrant ecosystems where innovation can flourish. Where start-ups are empowered with the right tools, guidance, and supportive community they need to unlock their full potential. The goal isn’t just to hit milestones, it’s about shaping a journey that leads to lasting success and meaningful change in the world.

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Everyone agrees that sustainable innovation is the cornerstone to addressing environmental challenges and lasting economic growth. The truth is that making meaningful changes is difficult and sometimes feels like speeding ahead and hitting the brakes at the same time. What’s holding us back? In this track, you’ll dive into the tricky obstacles slowing down progress and shine a light on fresh, forward-thinking approaches that can break the cycle. Check out the presentations from the Innovation Day of 2024 on:

• Design for sustainability, from an incremental toward a more radical strategy
  By Jeroen Wilms, Consultant MechLab at Verhaert Product Innovation
• The search for sustainability impact
  By David Pas, Customer Success Manager at Verhaert Strategic Innovation and Laurien Wolfswinkel, Head of Operations at Beacon Masters in Innovation

View the presentation

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Challenges behind fresh talent

1. Lack of experience

New consultants might lack the level of experience senior team members already have, which can result in a longer learning curve and initial reliance on more seasoned peers within the team. When new professionals join a team they could slow project progress as consultants take time to familiarize themselves with project intricacies, company processes, and essential skills. While the extra oversight from senior staff may temporarily increase their workload, this investment in support and training is critical to achieving long-term success.

2. Limited industry knowledge

Consultants bring a wealth of diverse expertise, but moving between industries often requires some adjustment to specific tools, terminologies, and best practices they’re unfamiliar with. While they possess the skills to deliver high-quality solutions, each sector comes with its unique nuances. With the right guidance and support, consultants can quickly acclimate to new industry demands, ensuring they are well-prepared to provide specialized, impactful solutions.

3. Need for supervision and training

One of the primary challenges is the higher need for supervision and structured training. New consultants typically require additional guidance, which can strain the resources and time of more experienced team members. Clients often express concerns such as “We don’t have time to train consultants.” This need for supervision means that senior peers and managers must dedicate significant portions of their time to guiding, which can detract from their own project responsibilities. The necessity for a structured training program and a dedicated mentorship approach becomes evident as new hires navigate their initial stages in the company.

4. Lower client confidence

Clients might initially have less confidence in newer consultants, fearing that a gap in industry-specific knowledge may compromise the quality of work. This skepticism can affect, on one hand, the perceived value of services and, on the other hand, the consultant’s ability to build strong, trusting client relationships. Overcoming this involves ensuring that consultants are well-prepared and demonstrating their competence and reliability through consistent, high-quality performance over time.

5. Integration into the team

When joining a new company, consultants may find it challenging to seamlessly integrate into established teams, potentially affecting dynamics and project flow. As this involves understanding team roles, building relationships, and learning the company culture, the onboarding process, combined with the time required to adapt to new environments, can lead to initial friction. However, with the right support and alignment between colleagues, consultants can smoothly blend into the workplace and start contributing effectively.

6. High turnover rates

Consulting roles can have higher turnover as professionals seek growth opportunities, leading to added recruitment and training costs. Clients often worry about the retention of these new hires, asking, “If you recruit consultants, how long do they stay employed?”. This high turnover rate can be attributed to their desire for rapid career advancement and diverse experiences. To mitigate this, ensuring that consultants feel valued, challenged, and supported in their roles is crucial. A well-structured career development plan can help retain talent and reduce turnover rates, resulting in more stability for projects.

7. Balancing enthusiasm and realism

Consultants may come in with great enthusiasm but lack a realistic understanding of project limitations. This can lead to overly ambitious plans that may not always align with the project’s practical constraints. With the right mentorship, consultants can channel their enthusiasm toward realistic and impactful solutions, ensuring balanced, sustainable progress.

Turning challenges into opportunities with the right talent

At Verhaert On-site Consulting we understand the challenges that come with bringing in new talent to your team. That’s why we invest in cultivating top on-site consultants who provide valuable support to our clients from day one.

Now that you’re familiar with the potential hurdles, we’ll show you how we transform these challenges into opportunities for growth and innovation.

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Key principles for successful innovation

1. Alignment with business strategy

To achieve predictable success in innovation, the first principle is that innovation must contribute to the business strategy. Every innovation effort should align with the company’s overarching goals and objectives. As Stijn Smet, managing director of Verhaert Innovation Academy, emphasized during a recent workshop at Beacon Masters in Innovation, “When innovation is not strategically aligned, it becomes a distraction rather than a growth driver.”

2. Portfolio approach

Rather than putting all eggs in one basket, companies should diversify their innovation efforts across multiple projects. This approach spreads risk and increases the likelihood of overall success. During the workshop, Stijn Smet illustrated this principle with a compelling case study of a leading tech company that adopted a diversified innovation portfolio. By spreading their efforts across various projects, they significantly reduced their failure rate and enhanced their chances of success.

3. Following the right process

Finally, the third principle is that innovation can be predictable if the right process is followed. This involves establishing a structured, measurable approach to innovation. A tool often recommended for this purpose is ‘innovation accounting,’ which consists of setting measurable parameters (metrics) and monitoring them throughout your innovation projects.

Making innovation measurable

Innovation accounting allows companies to measure their progress objectively. Metrics are divided into two types: activity metrics and impact metrics. During our workshop, a diverse group of professionals, including business directors, R&D managers, innovation delivery team leads, CEOs, and directors of product design & development, identified the top three measurable factors for successful innovation:

• Number of validated assumptions (activity metric): This was unanimously chosen as the most important metric. Validating assumptions early and frequently helps ensure that innovation is on the right track.
• Percentage of risk reduction per period/phase (impact metric): Measuring how much risk is reduced in each phase of the innovation process helps companies manage uncertainties effectively.
• Number of milestones (gates) passed per year (impact metric): Tracking the number of milestones achieved annually helps assess the overall progress and adherence to the innovation plan.

Implementing a structured process

Companies that truly excel in innovation understand that it’s not about eliminating risk but managing it effectively. They embrace the inherent uncertainty of innovation while utilizing structured processes and measurable metrics to navigate the unpredictable terrain. In the end, predictable innovation success is not about creating a rigid formula but finding a balance in a system where both creativity and structure can flourish by working side by side.

Struggling to make your innovation success predictable? A well-organized governance framework, supported by periodic checks and objective metrics, can significantly enhance your innovation success rate. Contact us to discuss how we can implement a structured innovation process tailored to your company’s needs and turn your innovation efforts into predictable success.

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Vulnerability of the archipelago

Guadeloupe, like many Caribbean islands, faces high climate change vulnerability due to its geography, limited land area and reliance on tourism and agriculture. Combined with limited resources for adaptation, the island also struggles with biodiversity loss and water scarcity, exacerbating its climate challenges. How can we adapt to climate change and ensure the island’s long-term sustainability?

Reducing water usage by tourists

Every year more than 850.000 people visit Guadeloupe, and with an average water consumption of 84 to 2.000 liters per tourist per day, this poses a real threat to clean water availability. As part of one of the solutions implemented by the TransformAr project, we’re developing a nudging experiment together with ADEME Guadeloupe. This experiment aims to make tourists more conscious about their water usage and encourage them to use less water.

Material nudging kit ©Verhaert

In preparation for the experiment, we hosted a panel discussion on the engagement of visitors with various stakeholders of the tourism industry, like hotel managers, tourist accommodation owners and industry representatives. This event also kicked off the full-scale nudging experiment aimed at reducing the water consumption of tourists in Guadeloupe. This experiment involves a ‘nudging kit’, comprised of a shower sensor, nudging stickers and an informational brochure, to be installed in hotel rooms. These materials will remind them and give some tips to conserve water.

Kick-off of the full-scale experiment

If you spend just 1 minute less in the shower, you’ll save about 10 liters of water. With that statistic in mind, the potential of this experiment could already have a big impact on the overall tourist water usage. Having concluded the pilot phase in February 2024, the nudging kit has now been installed in about 100 bathrooms across the island. This full-scale experiment will run until August 2024 and give valuable insights into the effectiveness of nudging strategies in promoting sustainable tourism practices in Guadeloupe.

Want to stay in the loop about this project? Make sure to sign up for the bi-monthly newsletter!

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Context

In all the excitement, it’s easy to forget that not everyone’s aware of the activities at OpenLab and what CASSINI actually is. So here is a quick recap and update for all our new readers:

What is OpenLab?

OpenLab is a division of Verhaert that focuses on creating multi-sided collaborations with universities, governments and other companies. A specialty of the team is supporting start-ups in the space tech scene from early stage to scale-up. This is however only a small task, as the team also focuses on technology transfer, utilizing tech from high-tech areas (fusion, space, and hopefully soon other domains as well) for products in other markets, and climate change resilience for governments. In short, OpenLab is a gateway for projects and innovation on company overarching topics to take place.

What is CASSINI?

The CASSINI Initiative (not to be mistaken for the CASSINI satellite from NASA that explored Saturn) is in essence the European (Commission’s) strategy for supporting new entrepreneurs in the space industry. It compiles lessons from past programs into a single, simple, clear strategy for European space tech entrepreneurship.

Innovation within the accelerator

The CASSINI Business Accelerator focuses on the more mature start-ups that already have a demonstrator on the market and are ready to build more business scaling teams. The challenge these space start-ups often face is that they remain within the engineering story and have difficulty transitioning from a technology builder to a product or service-selling company. This means having nailed down all processes from marketing, sales, communication and supply chain management, to production, assembly, QA and logistics. And that’s exactly where we offer support during the accelerator. Besides these internal processes, we also focus on getting to know the ins and outs of public buyers in other countries. Because let’s be honest, you can’t just grow you company by selling to your national government (not in Europe at least).

Connecting start-ups with large corporations

This program envisions generating sales and thus includes connecting to large corporations and understanding their needs, requests and partnership conditions. Here, we see different possibilities for both corporates and start-ups and how they can learn from each other.

1. Benefits in pushing pricing strategy

Start-ups, as they mature, need reliable suppliers that are accustomed to price discussions and production excellence improvements. Many larger space companies have been providing ESA-standard high-quality parts. Why should they not deliver similar subcomponents to start-ups but at a lower price? See how these start-ups push your own sales, operations and delivery processes to lower the cost and improve margins. Many existing space companies have embraced this approach already and as start-ups scale increase, volumes could be achieved previously unheard of.

2. Benefits in production management

Additionally, some start-ups might benefit from high-quality production management, project management approaches already well in place in industries like the automotive industry. For too long, the space industry has considered delays in delivery to be part of the way of working. In contrast, any day of delay entails hefty penalties within the automotive industry. The processes installed to make sure this doesn’t happen could be a new breeze in the processes of a (space) start-up trying to scale. Hence a consulting agreement with a non-space production company could be interesting to learn about these processes. Think of:

• BMW assisting Veoware/ Aerospacelab for the production
• Airbus (aviation division) for Isar Aerospace
• SAP and Spotify’s fast feature teams for Leanspace
• Viso.ai for earth observation start-ups

3. Benefits in co-development

A step further is co-development: a mutually beneficial agreement in terms of revenue sharing and IPR, building on the strengths of each of the teams and possibly in the facilities in place in larger companies.

4. Benefits in product scaling

Not to neglect is the current consolidation wave in the space ecosystem. The CASSINI Business Accelerator will bring forth some of Europe’s strongest scaling space companies. Others might need the (production) scale of a larger organization to achieve that growth. The benefit is mutual: Corporate venture teams could apply to the accelerator for further scaling, and M&A divisions could be interested in currently more independent teams looking to achieve scale.

We are researching these multiple points and looking forward to building bridges between industries to grow an intertwined network to in the future constitute a true space industry. If this has sparked your interest, our team is happy to take this further.

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Where it all began

In the past, public authorities have been the prime procurers and consumers of earth observation data and insights. However, as more companies have international markets and supply chains entangled in a global web of diverse environments, this EO data might fill in the gaps in your data sets and provide valuable insights for your management, planning, and reporting. Think of opportunities like detecting pollution or emission leaks, increasing biodiversity and growth in carbon sequestration projects (forests, fields), or improving the yields of low-income farmers.

What sparked the rise?

We’re currently in the next innovation wave with earth observation. Next wave? Yes, because the previous revolution in earth observation data was the commercialization of online GPS systems in the late 1990s. So let’s take a trip down memory lane:

Positioning

• In 1983, Reagan authorized the use of Navstar by civilian commercial airlines for positioning.
• By 1995, a new stronger version of Navstar, GPS was developed and fully operational.
• In the late 1990s, GPS increased its accuracy and became available for commercial use. In 2000, the GPS receiver and processing chips price dropped from roughly $3000 to $1.50. Both lead to exponential growth in GPS usage.

Earth observation

• Since the 1950s, authorities have been using earth observation satellites for spying and defense purposes.
• A first wave of commercial earth observation constellations came online in 2014. (Planet Labs, Blackbridge, Satellogic, Spire Global,…). Nevertheless, the majority of the customers remained governmental.
• Today, we see larger and larger constellations with more capable sensors being approved (400 000 approved in 2022, but not all are for EO) enabling more data, but also at lower price points.

In addition to becoming more easily available and cheaper, earth observation data is also providing more granular and detailed data with shorter time intervals. And this will only improve further as new constellations consist of smaller satellites and state-of-the-art cameras. Combining these inputs with data sets generated by connected thermometers, buoys, drone imagery, aerial photography and many more sensors, provide truly valuable insights in the changing conditions of environments, urban and industrial areas. Think of changing temperatures, unusual emissions of methane, carbon,…, departing ships and planes, tracking spills, and much more.

How can you get started?

The EO market is rapidly evolving, so even if you found drone imaging last year too expensive, a new player may have entered the scene with new solutions since then. So where do you get started sifting through the endless opportunities? FIRE, the non-profit industry-led Forum for Innovation and Research in European Earth Observation, aims to promote the adoption of EO solutions by shaping the research and innovation strategy for various industries.

From February 1st to 3rd, the FIRE Forum is dedicated to unlocking the benefits of EO in various industries, including agriculture, raw materials, urban development, infrastructure, wind energy, and marine & maritime. Dedicated teams will showcase and explore how aerial and drone footage can be replaced by satellites, as well as discuss the current capabilities and solutions available on the market.

Interested? Visit the FIRE website for more information and registration.
Curious to know more about how Verhaert supports EO application projects? Check out our capabilities and get in touch!

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First of all, congratulations to you and your teams on winning the CASSINI Business Accelerator contract! Pieter, for anyone who hasn’t heard about it, could you explain to us what this contract is all about?

“Yes, of course. The CASSINI Business Accelerator is a program from the European Commission to accelerate space start-ups and make them competitive in the global market. With a budget of €8.5 million, the European Commission wants to pull European space companies out of the shadows of the highly-invested American and Asian projects.”

What will this mean in practice? How will this money be used?

“The program will offer support through both learning and acceleration support, and €6 million in seed money. So the largest part of the budget will be dedicated to supporting the accelerated start-ups and scale-ups financially after finishing the program. The acceleration journey itself will consist of learning (Verhaert) and acceleration support (Plug and Play, CIVITTA and Sting) in dedicated locations and markets of interest, as well as mentorship in key areas such as sales and business development planning, investment readiness, and market expansion.”

A well-rounded program with a clear purpose! Who will be eligible for this program?

“All starting entrepreneurs within the European Union that are working on space-related innovation projects can apply to this program. Twice a year, 20 start-ups or scale-ups will be selected to participate in the 6-month acceleration journey.”

Benoit, you and your team are taking on quite the challenge. Why is Verhaert’s OpenLab in such a good spot to shape and manage the CASSINI Business Accelerator?

“Well, the CASSINI Business Accelerator is definitely the biggest accelerator contract we’ve ever won, but it’s not our first time managing this type of initiative. Over the last decade, we had a big role in other space acceleration initiatives like setting up and managing the ESA Space Solutions Center Belgium, including technology transfer, business incubation and funding. On top of that, we’ve co-organized programs like FIRE, Point.IoT and recently the CASSINI Hackathons. All this experience gives us the confidence to take on this new challenge together with Plug and Play, CIVITTA and Sting.”

Based on your experiences, what’s one aspect people sometimes overlook when setting up this kind of program?

“Acceleration programs are not a one-size-fits-all solution. Even if you set up a thematic accelerator targeted to one market, you still need to allow room for tailored support. The larger the group of participants, the more different their needs will be. To make sure all teams are fit to become key players in the international market, you will have different gaps to fill. That’s why we’re so pleased that Verhaert Innovation Academy, part of the Verhaert group, will also support this. Customizable innovation courses are one of their key offerings and expertises.”

Dany, you must feel really proud of your team for reaching this milestone. So tell us, what does this mean for the Strategic Innovation team and Verhaert in general?

“This contract confirms that we’re not only leaving a mark in the Belgian, but also the European and global innovation landscape. It’s truly a milestone in our efforts to help boost the European capacity to innovate and puts us in the pole position to continue doing so. Innovation is a well-established growth strategy, but unfortunately, the return is often too low. That’s where we can help.”

So does this mean that this accelerator will also benefit other innovation domains?

“Definitely! What Formula 1 does for the automotive industry, space does for many innovation areas on Earth. Space has become a very dynamic industry: large private space companies like SpaceX, Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic are inspiring many small companies to capitalize on the innovation wave too. It’s become a technological playground to develop new materials, systems, technologies and so much more. That’s why ESA Space Solutions Belgium, for example, has been investing heavily in transferring space technology into everyday applications. It’s the future for innovation on Earth.”

And a final question, why should European NewSpace start-ups apply for the CASSINI Business Accelerator?

“Getting your product or service to the market successfully is not a walk in the park. Doing it alone is nearly impossible. Regardless of how far your technology stands, you still need an entire ecosystem to make it ready to launch. And that’s the unique offer of the CASSINI Business Accelerator, a direct link to experienced industry experts to build your network and connect with investors.”

Special thanks to Pieter, Benoit and Dany!

	Pieter Deleye Manager Innovation Acceleration Services – Strategic Innovation
	Benoit De Vrieze Coordinator OpenLab
	Dany Robberecht Director Strategic Innovation

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