The ESA Technology Broker UK successfully supported the transfer of Entelea Ltd’s non-space materials modelling and simulation expertise into the space sector, leading to its involvement in a consortium that subsequently won an ESA contract.
Entelea has expertise in Integrated Computational Materials Engineering (ICME), multi-scale modelling, artificial intelligence and machine learning. Its technology can predict the behaviour and properties of metals, polymers and composites by linking information from quantum and atomistic scales through to macroscopic material behaviour.
The ESA Technology Broker UK identified a strong match between Entelea’s capabilities and an ESA requirement for the development of 100% biobased thermoset composite materials for space applications. Entelea’s technology could support the programme through molecular modelling, prediction of thermo-mechanical and thermodynamic properties, virtual screening of material formulations and down-selection of the most promising candidates for experimental development.
The Broker supported the formation of a consortium involving NCC, AIMPLAS, OHB and TWI, with Entelea engaged as a specialist subcontractor to the consortium.
The consortium subsequently secured the ESA contract, providing Entelea with a direct route to demonstrate its technology within the space sector.
Technology Transfer Benefits
Entelea’s modelling-led approach can help:
- accelerate material formulation and optimisation;
- reduce the number of physical experiments required;
- shorten development lead times and reduce costs;
- improve understanding of material structure-property relationships;
- virtually screen and compare candidate materials; and
- investigate conditions that may be difficult or expensive to reproduce experimentally.
This represents a successful spin-in technology transfer, where expertise developed for non-space industries has been matched with a space-sector need, integrated into an ESA-funded programme and given a pathway towards future commercial opportunities within the European space sector.