BEGIN:VCALENDAR METHOD:PUBLISH VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//WoltLab GmbH//WoltLab Suite Calendar 5.4//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN X-WR-CALNAME;VALUE=TEXT:Accelerate Crisis Preparedness BEGIN:VEVENT TRANSP:TRANSPARENT UID:event-110@spacefoxies.com URL:https://spacefoxies.com/calendar/event/110-accelerate-crisis-preparedne ss/ DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20251020 DTSTAMP:20251020T000000Z CREATED:20251020T000000Z SUMMARY:Accelerate Crisis Preparedness DESCRIPTION:Join 5 days of immersive Innovation Sprint at ESA ESEC in Redu! \nESA invites your team to a 5-day innovation sprint at the ESA ESEC site i n Redu\, where multidisciplinary teams will collaborate to create bold solu tions that enhance crowd management and mass evacuation in case of emergenc y or crisis. \nEssential info:\n\nDates: 20-24 October 2025.\nLocation: ESA ESEC\, Redu\, Belgium.\nApplications: deadline for first step is on 31 Jul y 2025\, 23:59 CEST.\nEligibility: Open to all organisations\, including in dustry\, SMEs\, startups\, research centres\, and academia from any ESA Mem ber States and Associate Member States.\n\nPlease note that applying for ES A Acceleration Days does not confirm your participation. Once the applicati on period closes\, selected participants will receive a confirmation of the ir participation. \nApply now\nThe context\nThis innovation sprint is a fas t-paced\, collaborative process where teams compete for prizes by co-creati ng practical prototypes with end users to solve real-world challenges. The sprint is supported by national civil security and crisis stakeholders\, wh ose involvement ensures that the solutions are grounded in real operational needs and safety priorities. Together\, participants will tackle critical challenges to enhance European resilience. \nAcceleration challenge\nIn mom ents of crisis\, every second counts. Whether it is a natural disaster\, la rge-scale accident\, or sudden emergency\, the ability to plan and execute mass evacuations efficiently can reduce physical and psychosocial harm as w ell as save lives. We are calling on innovators to harness the power of spa ce – from satellite navigation and communications to geospatial intelligenc e – for mass evacuation preparedness\, starting from a concrete use case: t he mass evacuation of a stadium affected by a crisis. \nWhat is at stake? E SA\, Safe.Brussels\, and the Police of Brussels South\, are co-designing th is challenge based on a real operational scenario. This is not a theoretica l challenge: it is about anticipating real crowd dynamics\, understanding e xisting infrastructure and its limits\, and exploring how space capabilitie s can be integrated into crisis planning and execution from the start. \nWe are calling on innovators to design smart\, AI-powered solutions that inte grate space to support the preparedness and execution of mass evacuations. Your solution should not only harness data from space but also leverage art ificial intelligence to support responding authorities and personnel to ass ess risk\, anticipate threats\, predict and monitor crowd movements\, make quick and effective decisions\, and automate key aspects of emergency respo nse. \nThis sprint is about designing with intent\, for a specific environm ent and end-users at the table. We are inviting multidisciplinary teams to work hand-in-hand with local authorities and safety operators to co-create what mass evacuation preparedness can look like. \nYou bring the project co ncept\; we guide you towards a prototype in co-design with end-users. \nWho can participate?\nThis innovation sprint is open to all organisations\, in cluding industry\, SMEs\, startups\, research centres\, and academia from a ny ESA Member States and Associate Member States\, ready to explore how spa ce capabilities can enhance mass evacuation preparedness. Participants can apply as teams (3 members minimum\, up to 6)\, with hybrid participation op tions available. Teams should be multidisciplinary\, bringing together dive rse expertise – from space technologies and AI to emergency planning\, urba n planning\, and beyond. All participants must be 18 or above. Gender-balan ced teams and inclusive collaboration are strongly encouraged. Whether you are part of a consortium\, a startup team\, or forming a new alliance – if you’re ready to co-create the future of emergency preparedness\, this is yo ur mission. The event will be held in English. \nSelection process\nModelle d after fast-paced competition formats such as hackathons and innovation sp rints\, the ESA Acceleration Days are in-person events where top teams comp ete to take forward their innovation ideas to help tackle Europe’s most pre ssing issues. \nSelected ideas and teams will be invited to a five-day inno vation sprint to develop a prototype and a plan to bring their solution to end users. The competition entails the participation of selected teams (min imum 3 members) to the in-person event in Redu\, Belgium\, where they will be guided and supported to develop their idea and pitch it to a jury. The winning team(s) will be invited to apply for a Cooperative Agreement with E SA (up to 100.000€) to take forward this plan. \nApplications close 31 July 2025\, 23:59 CEST. \nCosts\, accommodation and travel\n\nThere are no appl ication or participation fees for this event.\nParticipants are kindly requ ested to arrange and cover the costs of their own travel.\nAccommodation an d catering will be provided to the selected team at the Euro Space Centre\, free of charge. If you wish to take advantage of this accommodation\, you will be able to indicate your interest in the application form. Once select ed\, participants will receive further information and guidance for the eve nt.\n\nPrizes\nParticipating to this new format is a unique chance to work on a real-world use case together with ESA\, Safe.Brussels and the Police o f Brussels South. The winning team(s) will be invited to apply for a Cooper ative Agreement with ESA (up to 100.000€) to take forward this plan. \nAppl y now LOCATION:ESA ESEC\, Redu\, Belgium DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20251025 END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR