Visit from PR China

Prof. Yi Li, from the Northwestern Polytechnical University (NWPU), the executive deputy of Suzhou Society of Aeronautics and Astronautics (SUSAA),  PR China visited A3 from 4 to 9 September 2023 as part of the cooperation between NPU/SUSAA and A3. Prof. Li is an expert of space science and Suzhou (Suzhou – Wikipedia) is investing heavily in the aerospace industry, so as part of the visit, in addition to the presentation of A3 activities, a visit to Croatian companies and scientific institutions, it was agreed on cooperation in joint projects that would be an upgrade to existing activities that include the exchange of experts. The immediate upcoming activity is the joint organisation of the Brijuna Conference 2025 in China, Suzhou, one of the most important cultural, science and technology centre of China. It is intended that the conferences will be held alternately between Brijuni and Suzhou. The theme of the conference is closely related to the challenges of travelling to distant space.

 

 

 

The first visit was to the Ruđer Bošković Institute.

 

 

 

 

 

Prof. Mile Ivanda, head of the Laboratory of Molecular Physics and Synthesis of New Materials, presented his scientific work at the Institute. Prof. Ivanda showed the laboratories and instruments with which he researches new materials for energy storage, develops ultra-sensitive sensors, uses Raman spectroscopy to analyze the composition of materials down to extremely low impurity densities.

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the company FACC Solutions Croatia d.o.o., part of the AVIC Group, Mr. Edvin Brčić (COO) and Mr. Matija Ferić (CFO) gave a description of the activities that include the production of components for the interior of aircraft, servicing all the most important airlines. Plans include expansion of production, product range, as well as connection with other sectors of the AVIC group.

 

 

 

 

The company HSTec, part of the Chiron Group, is high technology firm and its production line was presented by Mr. Mladen Šarlija, Managing director CEO, and Mr. Tomislav Marfat, Technical Director COO. The fundamental backbone of the company’s work is the product development from design to delivery to the customer. The company specialises in the production of spindles for extreme conditions and top requirements, as well as the production of top performance robotic systems.

 

 

A meeting with Mr. Marijan Topčić, technical director, and Mr. Danko Kočiš, ICT director and general secretary of A3, at the Multinorm d.o.o., was held via the Internet connection. The firm is a top technological company for the production of tools, but also participates in the production of satellite components in the A3 project. The company Multinorm is a member of the Strama consortium, which has branches in the People’s Republic of China, and there is the possibility of involvement in cooperation projects. Hydrogen is considered one of the most important elements for space activities and its extraction is of great importance on site. At the meeting with Mr. Ivica Jakić, president of H2-Hydrogen Cell Croatia, various extraction methods of this important element were discussed. The possibility of obtaining a scholarship for the study of astronautics at NWPU was discussed at a meeting with Mr. Bogomir Hren, the president of the Croatian Astronautical and Rocket Association, open to young people who are willing to opt for that calling. A special topic that would be important for the Republic of Croatia is to attract the Chinese aviation company to open a plant for the production of parts for their aircraft. At the meeting with Mr. Igor Kekez, a good expert on the state of the aviation sector in the Republic of Croatia, various possibilities for realising this project were discussed. Prof.  Jakov Baleta, from the Faculty of Metallurgy in Sisak, University of Zagreb, also attended the meeting, who shared his experiences in scientific cooperation with partners in the People’s Republic of China.

 

CASSINI Hackhaton at ZICER

Join the CASSINI Hackathon in Zagreb!

Can you create solutions using space technology to help strengthen Europe’s security? The 5th CASSINI Hackathon is open for entries.

Be inspired by experts, learn to access data from Copernicus, EGNOS and Galileo, and connect with a team to build your solution. There are three challenges on the theme of defence and security:

  • Enabling cross-terrain mobility
  • Making the seas more secure
  • Protecting our critical infrastructure

Already working closely with the Croatian defence sector, local organiser ZICER will welcome leading experts – like SES Techcom – to this edition of the Hackathon. From physical security to cybersecurity, our local challenges are diverse. Are you ready to tackle them?

Join us in Zagreb between Friday 24th and Sunday 26th of March. All you need is an interest in space technology – and the motivation to develop a winning idea. There are local and international prizes for the best team giving the winners the support they need to launch their ventures!

Europe-wide CASSINI Hackathons are a major opportunity to develop ideas for digital application of space data. They are particularly addressed to students, graduates, researchers and teams/startups in their very early stages. Each hackathon takes place simultaneously in ten European cities and the local organizers offer everything needed to form a great team, learn about accessing space data, identify customer needs, and start working on digital solutions.

CASSINI Hackathons & Mentoring are part of the European Commission’s CASSINI initiative to support space entrepreneurship. The initiative tackles global challenges through space technologies.

ZICER – Zagreb Innovation Centre is organizing the Croatian edition of the CASSINI Hackathon. The 5th CASSINI Hackathon: Space for Defense & Security will take place from 24 to 26 March, 2023. ZICER is the nation’s leading startup incubator and accelerator and the largest startup hub in Croatia.

 

Prior to the hackathon, Big Ideas Campaign will be held from March 6 to 10, 2023 (also at ZICER). This preparatory week will feature several warm up events (keynote speeches, fireside chats etc.) that will provide inspiration and additional information to participants who have registered for the hackathon and interested parties.

Prizes:

  • 1st Prize – EUR 5,000
  • 2nd Prize – EUR 1,000
  • 3rd Prize – Goodie packages
  • Special prize powered by SES Techcom: A 6-month paid internship at SES Techcom in Luxembourg

Meet ZICER, Croatian local organiser of the 5th CASSINI hackathon

ZICER – Zagreb Innovation Centre is the nation’s leading accelerator and incubator and the largest start-up hub in Croatia. This organisation was founded by the City of Zagreb and aims to identify, grow, connect and finance tech startups and entrepreneurs. Inside the flagship centre 90 start-ups are currently incubated, receiving support to develop, launch and market their innovative solutions. ZICER has, over the past 28 years, assembled expert programs to mentor innovative ventures. Its collaborations with companies, authorities and investors make it the perfect place to turn ideas into entrepreneurship!

Register now!

Don’t miss your opportunity to learn about satellite technology – and build your own solutions – from the entrepreneurial heart of Croatia’s thriving space sector.

Register now via https://www.cassini.eu/hackathons/Croatia!

The final conference on the Digital Education project was held

On Saturday, February 11, 2023, starting at 11:00 a.m. in the PISMO incubator building (Trg Luka Ilića Oriovčanina 8, Novska), the final conference on the Digital Education project (UP.04.2.1.11.0372) was held.

 

At the conference, the project team presented the project goals, target groups, project elements, project activities and achieved project results. With the Digital Education project, members of the associations A3, Igra znjana and HZTK were trained to carry out the activities of creating and using educational materials to respond to crisis situations. Mechanisms of intergenerational solidarity and learning of the elderly with the help of the younger ones in the field of ICT have been developed.

Digital educational materials will remain permanently available on the created web portal https://digitalna-edukacija.org/. The project also organized the development of strategies and innovative tools for managing crisis situations for Sisak-Moslavina County in the field of digital satellite data.
The total value of the project is €59,550.17 (448,680.78 HRK), and the funds are provided from the State Budget of the Republic of Croatia (15%) and from the European Social Fund (85%).

The project was co-financed by the European Union from the European Social Fund.
The project is co-financed by the Office for NGOs of the Government of the Republic of Croatia.
The content of the publication is the sole responsibility of the Adriatic Aerospace Association.
For more information on EU funds: www.esf.hr and www.struktrunifondovi.hr.

Start of intergenerational education on the Digital Education project

The Digital Education project (UP.04.2.1.11.0372) invests in innovative and different education and establishes mechanisms of intergenerational solidarity based on the teaching of the elderly by the younger, thereby increasing digital literacy and good governance in the local environment through increased resistance to crises. situations.

The end users are vulnerable groups of the elderly population at risk of social exclusion and young people in secondary schools who lack work experience for better employability.

Through the project, it is planned to hold 6 intergenerational educations for 24 people, and on November 23, 2022. was held first. Students of the Novska secondary school, majoring in video game development technician and users of the Day Center for the Elderly in Novska participated in the training. Education will be held throughout November, December and January.

The project was co-financed by the European Union from the European Social Fund.
The project is co-financed by the Office for NGOs of the Government of the Republic of Croatia.
The content of the publication is the sole responsibility of the Adriatic Aerospace Association.
For more information on EU funds: www.esf.hr and www.struktrunnifondovi.hr.

IT IS TIME TO ACT IN SPACE EXPLORATION: A letter of European space industry to decision makers

Europe has often fallen behind in key sectors because of a lack of daring decision at key moments. We are at such a historical moment for human and robotic exploration. Stepping up the ladder or falling off is at stake. The concerned European industry is asking political decision-makers to be bold at the next ESA Council at ministerial level.

Dear Madams and Sirs,

At the beginning of this decade, the US and China embrace exploration boldly for a sustained robotic and human presence in the Solar system. The early space race was a sprint, especially for the first Moon walk, but the new race will be long lasting and into deeper space, especially for Mars. Besides medium players such as Russia and India, non-traditional space-faring countries like UAE or Saudi Arabia are now also engaging in space exploration programmes. Under such geostrategic circumstances a European standstill is not an option.

We are at the dawn of a low Earth orbit economy, expanding to the Moon and later to Mars. Europe must shape its own future and not just passively witness others exploring beyond Earth, establishing their economic influence, and reaping the benefits. The European space industry strongly holds that Europe cannot afford to be sidelined, considering its GDP and international ambition. Skilled jobs creation and technological innovation with spillovers well beyond space technology are at stake.

But there is much more. With an accelerated pace of space activities around the globe, we want to alert politicians that it is their decision now for Europe to have its own sovereign capabilities or to be a follower forever and miss out market shares and future prosperity.

The European industry can undoubtedly deliver. Europe’s strength is unique multilateralism, creativity and diversity, federation of resources and know-how for common goals. The thrill of the first ever asteroid landing (Rosetta mission) and recently Ariane 5’s perfect launch of the James Webb Space Telescope are outstanding proofs of competence. The same has to hold true for exploration.

Cooperation on the International Space Station, on Orion and soon the lunar Gateway and Mars sample return, all led by the US with significant European contribution, has already strengthened European industry resulting in some instances in worldwide market advantage like the on-going B2B initiatives well established with US and other industries.

In this new era of expansion, we as space industry, have to strive for more autonomy in a level playing field. We are ready to move on to the next step and embrace new innovative business models, such as service-based commercial initiatives. Like in the US, governmental support and commitment as anchor customer is vital, as well as setting clear rules for co-funding and derisking technology maturation. We also foresee that numerous non-space industrial sectors such as energy, automotive, health, food, etc. will be profiting from opportunities created by a large variety of exploration challenges in order to tackle immediate grand challenges including energy and climate, circular economy and sustainability.

This open letter is therefore a plea for decision-makers to step up at the occasion of the ESA Council at ministerial level in November this year. Courageous and bold decisions are needed to unlock the potential of industrial growth by supporting fully the Terrae Novae programme proposal and its 2030+ strategy roadmap. Failing to open the door for the next decades will see Europe’s heritage of explorers vanish, and so will the pride of the young Europeans bound to watch others making history, leaving the dream to the ones who dare, taking away the emotions of being part of this endeavour and putting their inspiration in a straitjacket.

Space exploration is not a nice to have, it is also more than pride and soft power, it is a civilisation necessity.

Sincerely,

For Adriatic Aerospace Association

Slobodan Danko Bosanac, president

Signatories of the letter: