Combining forces to advance sustainable innovation, the European Space Agency (ESA) is glad to announce its partnership with the Mirpuri Foundation. The cooperation aims to leverage space applications for advancing development addressing capacity building and education, marine and wildlife conservation, aviation, and health. Both organizations will join forces in order to achieve common objectives.
The cooperation started with the Mirpuri Foundation sharing environmental inputs for a feasibility study to support post COVID-19 outbreak socio-economic recovery. The objective of this feasibility study is to identify and analyse the technical feasibility and economic viability of sustainable space-based services which can contribute to the post Covid-19 outbreak recovery in the vertical sectors as transport, health, education, manufacturing, agriculture. Additionally, the study will address societal and environmental challenges likely to emerge after the COVID-19 crisis.
Recently, the Mirpuri Foundation has also supported a new ESA initiative aimed at reducing the environmental impact of plastics, which will assess the viability of space based applications in support of reducing environmental impact of plastics/marine litter, and define a roadmap for services implementation and demonstration.
Paulo Mirpuri, President of the Mirpuri Foundation, described this partnership as “the best way to enable cross-sectoral sustainable innovation, with a prestigious and goal-oriented organization. At the Foundation, we feel very confident that this collaboration will show great results, an advance in technology that will benefit the environment”.
Rita Rinaldo, Head of the Partner-led and Thematic Initiatives for ESA Space Solutions, said: “The cooperation with the Mirpuri Foundation is a unique opportunity to demonstrate how space applications can support a green transition. We are confident that together with the Mirpuri Foundation, we will be able to unlock new opportunities for space and deliver tangible impact at scale."
ABOUT THE MIRPURI FOUNDATION
The Mirpuri Foundation is a non-profit organization based in Portugal, and founded by entrepreneur Paulo Mirpuri with the aim of contributing to a better world for future generations. With its belief that leading by example is the best way to change mindsets, the Mirpuri Foundation fosters cooperation between legislators, corporations, communities and individuals. The Mirpuri Foundation acts in six distinct areas: Marine Conservation, Wildlife Conservation, the Performing Arts, Social Responsibility, Medical Research, and Aviation. The foundation’s commitment to sustainability is transversal and is reflected in all its activities. The Mirpuri Foundation is synonymous with technology, research, information and innovation. Allied to these characteristics are the values of integrity, perseverance and altruism in order to better impact the planet.
About ESA
The European Space Agency is Europe’s gateway to space. Its mission is to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world. ESA is an international organization with 22 Member States. By coordinating the financial and intellectual resources of its members, it can undertake programmes and activities far beyond the scope of any single European country.
ESA Space Solutions aims at reaching commercial exploitation of space assets, data and capabilities addressing incubation, proving technical feasibility and business development. This includes the development of operational services for a wide range of users through the combination of different systems, and support in creating viable companies as well as to existing companies