Skip to content
Technologická Inkubace

Marie Nemeckova: Space Hub is a base for Czech startups heading for the stars

SPACE
13.11. 2024
line-arrow Marie Nemeckova: Space Hub is a base for Czech startups heading for the stars

The article was taken from positivni-zpravy.cz

What is the main vision of Czech Space Week 2024 and what role does Space Hub play in it?

The main vision of Czech Space Week is to introduce space activities to the general and professional public, inspire young people, get children and their parents excited about space and provide a platform for companies, academics and other active space and non-space entities to meet. Czech Space Week was held for the first time in 2018 on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the Czech Republic’s membership in ESA and the response was so good that the CzechInvest and Ministry of Transport team decided to organise it again in the following years. This cooperation on the organisation of the Czech Space Week was also the basis for the subsequent creation of the Czech Space Team, which covers all aspects of space activities in the Czech Republic. This year, the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic joined us and became an official part of Czech Space Week.

Within the Czech Space Team, CzechInvest, and therefore also the Space Hub, is mainly responsible for cooperation with industry and (especially) with startups. The Space Hub aims not only to support companies and innovations, but also to popularize the Czech space industry, science and research, which is why we organize Czech Space Week.

What new trends or technological innovations in the space industry could we expect at Czech Space Week this year?

Many new products will be presented throughout the week. Highlights include the introduction of new Czech satellites, science missions and projects at the Space2Business event or the introduction of new startups at the ESA BIC Launchpad event. A large part of this year’s programme is also focused on education and popularisation, which is understandable given the national project Czech Journey to Space.

Trends in panel discussions and general discussions are expected to follow key global trends. In particular, sustainability in space technology has been a big theme recently, such as the reuse of rocket stages and the development of new types of propulsion, the latest developments in materials and the use of composite 3D printing. As every year, this year’s Czech Space Week will focus on key technology trends that are pushing the boundaries of traditional industries using space data and technology.

How does Space Hub support startups and innovative projects in the field of space technology?

The aim of the Space Hub is to help develop unique Czech know-how, form partnerships and support cooperation between various institutions, organisations and companies across the state, public, private and academic spheres. We strive to build an ecosystem so that it can work together, not just competitively. My personal view is that innovation comes from outside the comfort zone. By this I mean, for example, when a student goes beyond fear or a scientist doesn’t just research ‘in a drawer’ but steps out of the familiar comfort zone and decides to do business. I think many colleagues share this view with me, which is why we support startups. However, by stepping out of the comfort zone, I also mean a situation where a company decides to step out of its comfort zone, meet other players (competitors, a company from a completely different industry, a startup, academics) and start sharing ideas, experiences and best practices. This then leads to new projects, new solutions and innovations. The aim of CzechInvest’s national innovation hubs, which were created thanks to the Technology Incubation project, is to create the conditions for these outputs from the comfort zone for all players in the ecosystem. The Space Hub is one of them, and thus serves not only to support entrepreneurship in the space industry, but also for the exploitation of space resources beyond it.

Technology incubation is a key part of the startup support ecosystem. What are the specifics of incubation in the space industry compared to other technology sectors?

The space sector has a major advantage over other sectors, namely a long-standing “breeding ground”. At CzechInvest, we have 7 technology areas and an incubator has been created for each of them, except for Space. It was not necessary to create one for Space, because the ESA business incubator (ESA BIC Czech Republic) has been operating since 2016. It has managed to support more than 50 companies during its existence, not only with 50,000 euros, but also with precise mentoring, networking and overall care, i.e. business incubation in its true sense. Now, thanks to the linking of these two projects, i.e. Technology Incubation and ESA BIC, through the Space Hub, companies applying for incubation can not only benefit from extended mentoring support, but also from increased financial support of up to €180,000.

What was your personal journey into the world of space technology and what motivates you to continue in this field?

My passion for space was born in my childhood, but it was only during my internship at the Department of Transportation during my undergraduate studies that I realized it was a realistic career choice for me as a humanities major as well. I attended Space Week for the first time in 2019 for the Space4Women debate and was very inspired. As part of my Master’s in Security Studies, I then deliberately already focused on technology and space. At the same faculty of Charles University, I then continued my research at the Peace Research Centre Prague after graduation. During my studies and subsequent research, I specialised mainly in space security and planetary defence. I also spent some time as an intern at the European Commission, DG DEFIS (Defence and Space), further deepening my experience in the space industry and public administration. Then it was just a small step to a job at CzechInvest, where I fulfilled my dream of being part of the Czech Space Team.

What is your opinion on the cooperation between Czech and foreign entities in the field of space research and what role does Czech Space Week play in it?

I believe that thanks to the membership in ESA and EU, international cooperation of Czech space entities is successful, especially in Europe. Cooperation outside of Europe is much more challenging, which is why this year’s Space2Business (the main industry event of Czech Space Week) will focus in two panels on cooperation with countries that companies have identified as key – the USA and Israel. In addition to these two panels, we also expect a delegation from India, for example, at this event. Last but not least, I would also like to highlight the cooperation of Czech entities with the United Arab Emirates, which this year has been very strongly supported and advanced by the Ministry of Transport with its missions.

Marie Němečková is currently the director of the Space Hub at the CzechInvest agency. She has several years of academic research and experience from the European Commission. Before taking up her current position at CzechInvest, she was involved in incubating startups within the ESA BIC Czech Republic business incubator. From her current position and as an active member of the Czech Space Team, she is primarily committed to promoting cooperation and innovation in the (Czech) space industry. Her role and passion is to connect the existing ecosystem not only with startups but also with other organizations from for-profit and non-profit, public, private and academic spheres.

Author of the article: Nikol Chrástová

Similar news

Article Year 2024 in a nutshell

Year 2024 in a nutshell

The third year of Technology Incubation brought a number of significant milestones. Let’s take a look at an overview of the most interesting key activities.