TechCap Markets will address a specific challenge in improving access by innovative SMEs to alternative finance: the lack of connectivity with exit markets such as stock exchanges and emerging growth markets for trading shares in private innovative SMEs. This lack of connectivity for both alternative finance providers and innovative SMEs is characterized by: - Lack of opportunity for Initial Purchase Offers (IPOs) for innovative SMEs in Europe - Challenges to trading privately held shares in Innovative SMEs - Sub-optimal use of public market investment vehicles in raising venture capital funds - Difficulty to raise capital via further issuances by listed innovative SMEs/Tech companies It will pursue the following objectives: - Establishing a High-Level Advisory Group and series of Expert Working Groups and capture the latest market expertise via these groups to deliver: o a whitepaper for exchange operators and policy makers containing best practice in public policy, regulatory environments and market operations and make recommendations as appropriate o develop a practical “how to” tool kit for innovative SMEs and alternative finance providers to access exchanges - Produce learning material tailored to different stakeholder groups and prepare and implement a capacity building plan for all stakeholders - Create awareness about exits to stock exchanges and the use of secondary market places The consortium is composed of 3 partners, designed to maximize the effectiveness of bringing together senior market practitioners and gathering and deploying their expertise. The partners specific expertise covers the individual requirements of the project: EUN - the current relationship between innovative SMEs and alternative finance providers such as BA and VC investors. IESE - world class research capabilities at the nexus of entrepreneurship and capital markets; PMEF - think tank of professionals in financing for entrepreneurs with strong public policy expertise.

Space Data Gateway (SDG) is an Intelligent NanoSat Communication service in Low Earth orbit (LEO), capable of transmitting on-demand space data (speeds of data transmission of 150 Mbps and above) at a fraction of the cost (as low as 5 EUR per GB). The main innovation is the capability for NanoSats to interconnect in LEO by using SDG satellite communication modules and antennas and transmit up-to 50x more data per mission. The proposed service will enable the user to have plug & play satellite communication system and AI-based autonomous mission operations capability, as well as cloud-based Digital Mission Control. This will reduce the price of NanoSat missions by 65% on average and at the same time lower the complexity of the satellite communications and increase the volume of the space data transmitted. Having on-demand access to a given LEO satellite makes its operations much safer and redundant. The successful implementation of SDG data service will result in acquiring hundreds of terabytes of space data per year from NanoSats. This will have positive impact on educational, science and commercial space missions’ outcome while also guaranteeing stable recurrent cashflow for the service. The initial commercialisation estimates are for up-to 50 new satellite customers per year. The service will also have strategic value to EU – enabling unique satellite data network solution for all European entities and ensuring that Europe will lead in LEO space missions on commercial and science-level. The solution will open the door for next generation of European innovators to access LEO space data faster and commercialize it directly in non-space industries. SDG service will enable NanoSats with diverse missions to connect and empower the first common satellite network in LEO.

Interactive technologies such as Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR are set to transform the ways in which people communicate, interact and share information. The XR industry is now at a stage where after years of research and development, it has reached a point where technology becomes accessible and allows market introduction. However, the European XR scene is fragmented and there is a risk that big US companies dominate the XR market (what they are already doing B2C). XR4ALL is set to risk through 6 objectives that correspond to the 6 work packages. Together, they will create a thriving European XR community: 1) unite the XR community through the XR Forum (community and supportive portal for knowledge exchange and visibility); 2) provide access to XR solutions on the XR Platform; 3) increase XR innovation through funding of sub-projects, to be integrated in the XR Platform; 4) monitor trends, visions and developments to create a SRIA; 5) boost the take-up of XR through a technology transfer strategy and VC involvement; and 6) carry out efficient dissemination activities to pave the way towards sustainability. All activities are carried out by a consortium of 5 partners with complementary expertise: Coordinator Fraunhofer HHI (XR research), EUN (cascading funding management, access to market and industry users), I3D (10 years of XR community building and events organisation), BCOM (XR platform building and integration) and LucidWeb (XR communication and community building with a strong focus on women in XR).

The objective of the Go2Space-HUBs proposal is to secure the creation and up-scaling of European businesses, offering technology and services in and from the space-sector, ensuring value creation and innovation through cross-fertilization, training and locally owned and driven networks and initiatives that connect effectively with existing EU initiatives. This will be achieved through the creation of 3 new Space Hubs in Madrid, Tallinn & Coimbra strengthening local entrepreneurship/business ecosystems & networks. The 6 consortia partners represent key players in the local and regional start-up ecosystem. The 3 new HUBs have extensive experience in providing support to start-ups and will be supported by entities that are: experts on investor readiness & access to finance services; technology transfer, in addition to an aerospace cluster representing SMEs from all the relevant space-segments. The project responds effectively to the work programme by including a range of new local initiatives for entrepreneurs, start-ups, scale-ups and SMEs, building bridges to EU activities, and designed to secure the creation of new start-ups & to help start-ups and scale-ups grow. The uniqueness of GO2Space HUBs relies upon a process through 4 phases: AWARENESS, SUPPORT, SCALE AND SUSTAINABILITY. Go2Space HUBs includes: Incubation of 20 entrepreneurs/early stage start-ups; acceleration of 20 established start-ups/scale-up; Demo-Days to present their solutions to Investors and partners; Innovations Days; B2B events to facilitate spinning-in/-out; Organization of Hackathons; Joint-applications to the Copernicus incubator; An “Up-scaling engine” to help a range of local scale-ups and SMEs secure more efficient growth, introduction to existing space recourses; identifications of barriers to investments in space; Targeted training on access to private and public finance & Final Investment & Partnering event with participants from all the 3 HUBs.

POINT.IoT combines the strengths of EGNSS with the growing importance of IoT devices in our daily life in a make-it-work approach, organised by leading companies in their field, such as Verhaert, SpaceTec Partners, Cesah and Orange. The POINT.Cheetah programme scouts and selects 20 new IoT applications using GNSS technologies for a combined 3-month technical and business sprint with a multidisciplinary team of mentors. Each selected application receives on average 80 hours of support. The business sprint ensures the maturation of the innovative usages of GNSS/IoT for investors, whereas the technical sprint is a combination of technical coaching and hands-on product development support. The programme focusses on a rapid development of 20 demos for early technical validation. The top-2 teams receive a prize of EUR 20,000 each. The POINT.Kangeroo programme supports the teams with business training tools. The POINT.IoT Entrepreneur Playbook guides the sprints that the teams and mentors undertake but can help any GNSS/IoT developer in a do-it-yourself sprint. The POINT.MOOC teaches the business basics in a modern and interactive manner with a Massive Open Online Course. Each year the POINT.IoT track at a leading investor event allows the top-5 teams to pitch their business to a panel of investors and corporates. The selected teams receive one-on-one investor readiness training to enhance their success rate. The POINT.Partnerships programme develops the narrative and guides the implementation of a partnership programme between POINT.IoT teams and industrial stakeholders as development partners, suppliers, clients or investors. The POINT.IoT Success & Inspiration Stories form the basis of discussion with GNSS/IoT stakeholders, and showcases successful GNSS/IoT solutions. The partnership matchmaking helps the POINT.IoT portfolio companies to have an easy access to leading IoT brands, for validation, partnering, business development or sales.