March 2014

The "Service Robotics Masters Competition" and the "ESA BIC Robotics Initiative"

Service Robotics Masters Competition
This is the chance for companies and start-ups to position themselves as innovation leaders at the AUTOMATICA trade fair June 3 - 6, 2014.  For the first time, the "Service Robotics Masters" competition will award prizes to outstanding service robotic innovations at the AUTOMATICA 2014. The competition is open to companies and start-ups developing innovative products in the emerging service robotics market. The winners and runners-up will be presented at the award ceremony at the AUTOMATICA Forum on 4 June 2014, in Munich. Prizes for the most revolutionary service robotics products include cash, free exhibition at the AUTOMATICA trade show, and a comprehensive media package.

Registration deadline for the competition is:  2 May 2014

The competition is organised by Anwendungszentrum GmbH Oberpfaffenhofen with the support of Messe München GmbH, the European Space Agency's Business Incubation Centre (ESA BIC) programme, and the German Aerospace Center's (DLR) Robotics and Mechatronics Center (RMC).

Important Dates:

- 31 March - 2 May 2014:   Registration at www.robotics-masters.com
- Mid-May 2014:   Notification of finalists
- 3 - 6 June 2014:  AUTOMATICA 2014 trade fair
- 4 June 2014:   Awards ceremony at the AUTOMATICA Forum

For more information on the competition, please visit: www.robotics-masters.com

ESA BIC Robotics Initiative 
The ESA BIC Robotics Initiative is the first global start-up programme dedicated to service robotics. It is being launched in parallel with the "Service Robotics Masters Competition" aiming to boost start-ups to bring the next breakthrough in home robotics, cloud robotics or robotics drones to market. This is done by supporting selected entrepreneurs for up to two years with the comprehensive commercial and technical assistance they need to get their businesses off the ground using ESA's Business Incubation Centres (BICs).  Innovative robotics start-ups are invited to apply for the incubation programme in one of the nine ESA Business Incubation Centres (BICs) across Europe. Applications can be submitted at any time and will be evaluated four times a year. 

Click here for more details on the application process.

The ESA BIC Robotics Initiative is directed by Anwendungszentrum GmbH Oberpfaffenhofen (AZO) in cooperation with all ESA Business Incubation Centres, the German Aerospace Center's (DLR), and the Robotics and Mechatronics Center (RMC), in order to launch the first global start-up programme dedicated to service robotics.

To take advantage of the ESA BIC Robotics Initiative and for more information please contact:

Dr. Christin Bindl, Project Management ESA BIC
Christin.Bindl@anwendungszentrum.de
Tel.: +49(0)8105-77277-15
Fax.: +49(0)8105-77277-55