The Space chapter begins: Saule Technologies among the Silesian Space Valley founding companies
photo 1: Silesian Space Valley member companies. Space picture by Jakub Novacek. source: PEXELS.
Saule Technologies, Legnica Special Economic Zone, Columbus Energy, SatRev and TUATARA join forces to create the Silesian Space Valley: Space Technologies Claster
The new institution has been established by the Legnica Special Economic Zone together with the 4 Polish companies superior in the space and new technologies industry: SatRev, Saule Technologies, Columbus Energy and TUATARA. The agreement was signed on Friday, June 3rd 2022 in Wrocław, during the G2 Forum – one of the most important Polish economic and geopolitical events.
The established cooperation aims to increase and combine the technological, scientific and educational potential of entrepreneurs from the space technology industry. Skilled market analysis and the use of available business resources allowed for the creation of the Silesian Space Valley – a consortium aimed to strengthen and support companies in their development within the given sector.
Legnica Special Economic Zone is the consortium’s leader due to its exceptional expertise and extensive experience in creating clusters. This special economic zone is also a leader of the Lower Silesian Education and Automotive Cluster and a partner of the Lower Silesian Aviation Cluster.
photo 2: G2 Forum in Wroclaw, June 2022. credits: LSSE. source: www.wroclaw.pl
Space Technologies Claster
The founders of the Silesian Space Valley are:
Columbus Energy – a Kraków-based company that is operating in the renewable energy sector. The company provides comprehensive services in renewable energy installations and implements long-term investments in photovoltaic farms. Columbus Energy S.A. is listed on the NewConnect market. The annual, dynamic growth of the Company’s revenues places it among the largest shareholders in the market of photovoltaic installations in Poland.
Legnica Special Economic Zone – one of the most dynamically developing areas, located in south-western Poland, in the Lower Silesian Voivodeship. In 2022, the company celebrates its 25th anniversary. Currently, LSEZ has 77 investors from many corners of the world, and nearly 1.4 thousand ha of investment areas. It also holds nearly PLN 11 billion in investments and, above all, 17.000 work placements – twice as many as planned by investors. The company became the leader of the consortium.
SatRev – a Polish start-up specializing in designing, producing and operating real-time Earth observation satellites. Thanks to the recently signed agreement, the company will produce nanosatellites in Legnica. The Lower Silesia factory is Poland’s first project where nanosatellites will be produced in commercial quantities.
Saule Technologies – a company that is developing innovative, inkjet-printed, ultra-thin and flexible solar cells based on perovskites. We are the world leader in a new, groundbreaking photovoltaic technology based on perovskites that allow for generating energy even in artificial light. Thanks to this, the range of possible applications of perovskite photovoltaic cells significantly surpasses the range of applications of traditional silicon technology.
TUATARA – a company combining consulting and technologies to create unique solutions for clients – from analytical solutions and Big Data, through backend integration and process digitization, to innovative business models. TUATARA’s mission is to support companies and institutions to flourish in the digital economy, using cognitive technologies, NLP, artificial intelligence and machine learning.
photo 3: From the left, Krzysztof Goworek (CEO at TAUTARA), Grzegorz Zwoliński (Co-Founder and CEO at SatRev) and Olga Malinkiewicz (Co-Funder and CTO at Saule Technologies) officiating the Silesian Space Valley consortium during G2 Forum in Wroclaw, June 2022. credits: LSSE. source: www.wroclaw.pl
Main goals of the Silesian Space Valley
The three main goals of the project are:
- Consolidation of companies operating in space and related industries, in Poland and European Union Member States, as well as abroad, and providing them with opportunities for technological development.
- Increasing the innovative potential of entities in space technology and related industries operating in Lower Silesia and south-western Poland, by providing them with joint access to modern technologies and educational base, and supporting the transfer of knowledge, experience and technology.
- Creating an international technology centre in the space technology industry.
This being said, the initiative aims to optimally combine the technological, scientific and educational potential of entrepreneurs from the space technology industry, scientific units and business environment institutions to allow further development of the engaged entities, the space industry, as well as the development of the region.
photo 4: G2 Forum in Wroclaw, June 2022. credits: LSSE. source: www.wroclaw.pl
Signatories of the Silesian Space Valley about the project
Dawid Zielinski, Chairman of the Management Board of Columbus Energy:
“- Columbus has the word #technology interwoven in its DNA. We develop IT technologies for distributed energy management, electromobility and energy efficiency management. We are the largest shareholder of Saule Technologies, a company that is a world leader in the development of perovskite cells. All these technologies also have a chance to be used in space in the future. It sounds ambitious, but it is with ambition and dreams that the adventure leading to success begins. I am glad that Polish companies are the cornerstone of this agreement.”
Przemysław Bozek, president of the Legnica Special Economic Zone:
“– Recently, we signed a letter of cooperation with SatRev, a company which will produce nanosatellites in Legnica. Our slogan is “We are flying higher”, so now it’s time for the next step: we are establishing the Space Technology Cluster. I am glad that we are signing a new agreement. This is a significant step towards the further development of space technologies. I believe that the activity of Silesian Space Valley will convince many investors that Lower Silesia is a perfect place for development in this industry.”
Grzegorz Zwolinski, Co-Founder and CEO at SatRev:
“– Clusters strengthen the cooperation between companies and suppliers, as well as between companies and scientific institutions. Only the exchange of knowledge and experience directs us towards development, which is why we joined this project. We have an ambitious plan to create a constellation of 1,000 Earth-watching satellites by 2026. Successful cooperation with experts in the field is not only the development of our company but also the whole Polish space sector.”
Olga Malinkiewicz, Co-Founder and CTO at Saule Technologies:
“– I am very happy that together with our partners we are now reaching for the stars. Taking part in the cosmic adventure of our civilization has always been a dream of mine – after all, it is an extremely exciting challenge, par excellence: not of this Earth! Perovskite cells, due to their unique properties, are perfectly suited for space applications, so I hope this will not only be a huge step for Saule Technologies but also a not-so-small step for humanity.”
photo 5: Olga Malinkiewicz, Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of Saule Technologies. Speech during the G2 Forum in Wroclaw, June 2022. credits: LSSE. source: www.wroclaw.pl
Krzysztof Goworek, CEO at TUATARA:
“- TUATARA has been building a portfolio of competencies in the field of artificial intelligence, cognitive technologies and big data analysis from the very beginning, which is why we are honoured d to be able to participate in this unique project. I am convinced that it will bring benefits to the entire Polish space sector and beyond.
Data from satellite images are, naturally, used in science, but also in many sectors of the economy, from agriculture and fishing, through the mining industry to telecommunications. They can also be of great importance in combating climate change, allowing, for example, to monitor oil spills, and better assess environmental changes and pollution of water reservoirs and air. Thanks to this agreement, I believe we will be able to effectively exchange knowledge and jointly develop groundbreaking solutions that will help open up new perspectives for the Polish space industry.”
photo 6: Silesian Space Valley members declaration board. G2 Forum in Wroclaw, June 2022. credits: LSSE. source: www.wroclaw.pl
Video from the event
It fills us with excitement to start this new, amazing chapter hand in hand with Legnica Special Economic Zone, Columbus Energy, SatRev and TUATARA. We are looking forward to pursuing the challenges Silesian Space Valley create, and to growing our space competencies even further.
