Intern in the Commercialisation Department

Internship Opportunity in the Directorate of Commercialisation, Industry and Procurement.

ESA is an equal opportunity employer, committed to achieving diversity within the workforce and creating an inclusive working environment. We therefore welcome applications from all qualified candidates irrespective of gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, beliefs, age, disability or other characteristics. Applications from women are encouraged.

Location

The Commercialisation Department is responsible for identifying and incubating new space start-ups and businesses with a commercial and competitive potential, and setting up the environment to enable these businesses to commercialise their products outside the perimeter of ESA programmes, including training, access to finance and provision of IOD/IOV opportunities.

It takes inventiveness to design for space. The new technologies, systems and know-how making ESA missions possible often hold much wider potential in the terrestrial sphere. It is the task of ESA’s Technology Transfer and Patent Office to explore this potential by identifying and developing novel business opportunities for providers of space technologies and systems.

Under the direct authority of the Head of the Commercialisation Department, Technology Transfer and Patent Management Unit is responsible for:

• managing and promoting the use of space technologies outside the space field (spin-out) and of non-space technologies in the space field (spin-in) and implementing related demonstration activities with the support of Brokers in the Participating States;
• accompanying technology development from its inception to assess and support later technology transfer and support spin-in technical assessment;
• coordinating the technical support to the Commercialisation department;
• acting as the Secretariat for the Patents Group managing all aspects related to the ESA patents portfolio in accordance with the Patents Group mandate;
• promoting the utilization of ESA’s patents portfolio;

For further information visit our web site: http://www.esa.int

Topic: Commercialisation support

You will learn about and develop skills related to:

• Management of a patents portfolio, including its commercialisation 
• Commercialisation of space technologies and new space markets

It all starts with technical solutions born in/for space. Our Technology Transfer function begins by identifying space technologies that might be possible for transfer, arising from the industry, ESA R&D contracts or ESA’s inventions. We also make contact with space companies interested in commercialising their capabilities beyond the space field and manage a network of innovation partners (Brokers) in our Member States. The next step is to progressively de-risk these technologies for participating companies through the performance of feasibility studies, proof of concepts and operational demonstrations, giving them the confidence to move forward with transfers. Beyond this, we also provide Technical support for the companies as the transfer process continues, by facilitating regular contact with the inventors and the rest of ESA’s technical specialists.

We also manage ESA’s Patents portfolio and provide access to them in line with an attractive licensing policy. ESA-owned patents are available on a free-license basis for space use by companies based in ESA Member States. For all other cases they are available on more commercial terms.

Result Orientation
Operational Efficiency
Fostering Cooperation
Relationship Management
Continuous Improvement
Forward Thinking

You must have student status and be enrolled at university for the entire duration of the internship. You should preferably be in your final or second to last year of a university course at master’s level in a technical or scientific discipline.

The working languages of the Agency are English and French. A good knowledge of one of these is required. Knowledge of another Member State language would be an asset.

Educational knowledge: Technical background (Engineering degree), Innovation process, Business or Law knowledge would be an asset.

Other information

For behavioural competencies expected from ESA staff in general, please refer to the ESA Competency Framework.

If you require support with your application due to a disability, please email [email protected] .

Internships can take place remotely, on-site or partially on-site depending on the pandemic situation, and in line with the relevant Establishment’s policy (e.g. possible Green Pass requirement) applicable at the time of starting the internship.

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Please note that applications are only considered from nationals of one of the following States: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Nationals from Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia and Slovenia, as Associate Member States, or Canada as a Cooperating State, can apply as well as those from Bulgaria and Cyprus as European Cooperating States (ECS).