Geoflex one of 3 winners of the Mercedes-Benz AG Car2Space Challenge
Paris-Saclay startup Geoflex was selected as one of 3 winners of the Mercedes-Benz AG car2space Challenge within the INNOspace Masters innovation competition. The competition’s second round took place in Bonn, with final results to be announced in Berlin on July 5. Fingers crossed!
A new world-class lab opens at Paris-Saclay
Dedicated to the physics of the “infinitely large and infinitely small”, the Irène Joliot-Curie Laboratory is one of the largest European research units in physics. This cutting-edge lab is the result of a merger of five physics institutions located in the perimeter of Paris-Saclay: The Center for Nuclear Sciences and Material Sciences (CSNSM), the Imaging and Modeling in Neurobiology and Cancer Laboratory (IMNC), the Orsay Institute of Nuclear Physics (IPNO), the Linear Accelerator Laboratory (LAL), and the Laboratory of Theoretical Physics (LPT).
Sylvie Retailleau to head the Ministry of Higher Education and Research
President of Paris-Saclay University, Sylvie Retailleau embodies all the success of the research-intensive university model, notably taking her institution to the 13th spot in the Shanghai ranking. Recently appointed as head of the Ministry of Higher Education and Research, this physicist specializing in nanoelectronics has spent most of her career on the Orsay campus, where she obtained her PhD in 1992 and became a professor in 2001. Since January 2019, she has led Paris-Saclay University, an institution that represents a full 13% of France’s research potential.
IncubAlliance launches two new accelerators
Attention all GreenTech and MedTech startups: IncubAlliance has just created two new accelerators dedicated to these innovative sectors. Focused on scaling up, the accelerators allow companies to deliver and test their solutions in real conditions with corporates or customers. In this way, they can fast track their business with the help of an unprecedented team of experienced mentors and coaches, while being immersed in a community of entrepreneurs. Calls for both the GreenTech and MedTech accelerators are now open.
Astronomical momentum for New Space startups
Paris-Saclay is ready for liftoff following big wins for two of the cluster’s New Space startups. ThrustMe, a provider of in-orbit mobility solutions, earned an ESA GSTP contract to develop and qualify its electric propulsion system, NPT30-I2-1.5U. Enabling the maneuverability needed for collision avoidance, the system will be used on the GOMX-5 satellite mission to demonstrate new nanosatellite capabilities. Next, ION-X raised €3.8 million to prototype its ionic liquid engine for small satellites. Based at the CNRS Paris-Saclay Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, the startup now plans to expand its teams in order to develop the first ION-X engine for small satellites, with the aim of a demonstration flight within 18 months.
Eniblock Lab: a new partnership for blockchain
In a strategic partnership to research and develop new solutions for the blockchain market, the Blockchain Group and IRT SystemX have teamed up to create Eniblock Lab, the first platform in Europe for designing, building and managing Web3 projects all in one place. As outlined in its first roadmap, the platform will focus initially on training Web3 developers and Self-Service Identity solutions to facilitate Know Your Customer data for businesses and service providers.
