Capacity survey by NODAL

Pushed by a ESA order, the French consultant firm NODAL has accomplished introductory survey of the Czech industry capabilities to be possibly involved in European space projects. The finished study is the first inventory of space industry in the Czech Republic as the European cooperatiing state and future candidate for ESA membership. The survey has been done with official support of the Czech Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport.

Firm NODAL sent away questionnaires together with supporting ministerial letter to 134 subjects (from that 33 were academic institutions) according to list set up by the Czech Space Office (CSO). On the whole, 45 subject (including 10 academic ones) sent the filled questionnaires back. According to content of responds the NODAL firm selected 17 only industrial institutions for personal visits with aim to get more detailed information and to understand better their respective environment. Selected firms were addressed and visited during the period of 24. - 27. 9. 2002 by team comprised of Bernard Bellot, NODAL senior expert, Bernard Zufferey from ESA and Jan Kolar from CSO.

Result of the whole study containing the detailed evaluation report and recommendations for next development has been handed over to the ESA. All results have also been presented at the dedicated seminar on 8 November 2002 in Praha to where all Czech participants at the study were invited. Mr. Bellot gave the main presentation of the study results and the Czech space industry evaluation. ESA representatives H. Olthof and B. Zufferey presented ESA position on the study results and answered questions in discussion.

The independent survey is valuable source for evaluation of space capacities in the Czech Republic. It has brought a positive answer to the question if the Czech Republic could effectively participate in European space projects. Several possibilities have appeared during discussions in visited Czech firms. These firms create a sample of industrial production in space related project with economical value estimated in the study to about 1,8 million euro yearly. The report specifies industrial fields most suitable for the Czech capacities. Also it advises measures to be taken by ESA, Czech governments and industry itself to ensure profitable development and effective usage of the capabilities. Visited firms will be enlisted into official ESA database of industry firms, used for preliminary negotiations on specific offers and orders. Additionally, similar database is kept and permanently updated in the Czech Space Office where also new industrial capacities are included. As far as the database growth will be significant, ESA is ready to repeat the evaluation study.

NODAL presentation (Power Point file 1,6 MB)