Composite image of Europe at night. Photo: NASA Earth Observatory/ Joshua Stevens.

First Derivatives has signed a letter of intent with the European Space Agency (ESA) to foster the development of disruptive applications in the commercial space market, based on its Kx technology. Under the agreement, Kx and ESA’s Business Applications (formerly Integrated Applications) Program will work together to assist start-ups seeking to use Kx technology as a platform technology for big data analytics in the commercial space market.

ESA is making efforts to use satellite data to benefit European and global citizens and has identified support for key enabling technologies, such as analytics, as a priority to achieve its goals. According to ESA, Kx’s ability to analyze large volumes of historic and streaming data in real time makes it ideally suited as a platform for use cases ranging across sectors including transport, energy, safety, development and agriculture. The agreement with ESA follows recent announcements including a collaboration agreement with Airbus, and Earth Observation (EO) specialist 3DEO’s selection of Kx as its real-time analytics platform.

Kx and ESA have had preliminary discussions over multiple opportunities to work together, and with third parties, to address specific data challenges. Over the coming months Kx and ESA Business Applications will develop new applications based on Kx and seek to raise awareness of the technology within the commercial space market. Kx and ESA will also discuss opportunities to collaborate on EO analytics, where ESA provides multiple applications including disaster management to alert first responders on floods, major fires and natural disasters such as hurricanes.