Down to Earth--everyday uses for European Space Technology

Every year billions of dollars are spent on research and development activities in virtually every technological sector. Sadly, although many such activities have a wide potential of application, the results of this research are still a long way from commercialisation. However, companies, research organisations and academic institutes are now waking up to the fact that it has become increasingly necessary to exchange, transfer and license the technologies (including software) and knowledge they have developed in order to access new markets and revenue streams. On the other hand, it also becomes ever apparent that companies need to acquire new technologies, particularly the leading-edge technologies being developed within the space industry, in order to exploit their ideas and create new products.