To accelerate user uptake of the European Union’s Earth observation (EO) programme Copernicus, and to foster the development of commercial space applications using EO data, the European Commission (EC) has launched the Copernicus Accelerator.

The accelerator is focused on providing a tailored business coaching service for up to 40 finalists in the Copernicus Masters EO innovation competition, of which the Satellite Applications Catapult, UK Space Agency and Innovate are sponsors.

Organisers of the Copernicus Accelerator are seeking business mentors to sign-up to the expert database so that successful applicants selected to join the accelerator programme can be matched with a mentor.

Accelerator participants will be able to determine the focus of this coaching, including business plan development, business modelling, customer acquisition or raising capital.

Each mentor will work with up to two participants for approximately six to eight months. At the end of this collaboration, the two parties will be required to deliver a report to the EC highlighting the impact and outcomes of the mentoring process, and the mentor will then receive €5,000 for their contribution.

The Copernicus Accelerator will kick-start with a boot camp in Madrid on 24 October 2016 to which participants and mentors will be supported to attend.

The closing date to apply is 16 September 2016.

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