European Space Agency: Space for Sustainable Pharma

European Space Agency (ESA)’s Kick-Start activities explore the business opportunity and the technical viability of new applications and services that exploit one or more space assets (e.g. Satellite Communications, Satellite Navigation, Earth Observation, Human Spaceflight Technology).

This call for Kick-Start activities is dedicated to the theme “Space for Sustainable Pharma”, which means that the call is open to companies that intend to develop space-enabled applications and services supporting the transition towards sustainability in the pharmaceutical sector.

The scope of this Kick-start is to support companies looking to investigate the technical feasibility and commercial viability of services which address the sustainability challenges related to the pharmaceutical industry. It aims to demonstrate the relevance of space assets in the development of new services to reduce the environmental impact of the sector and its potential contribution to circular pharma.

The urgency of improving sustainability in the pharmaceutical sector, particularly around circularity, has been highlighted by several organisations including the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries (EFPIA) , the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) , and the European Environmental Bureau (EEB) . Circular pharma refers to the integration of  circular economy principles in the pharmaceutical value chain.  It has the aim of reducing the impact of pharmaceuticals on the environment, increasing transparency and instigating the use of renewable materials to safeguard future supplies of medicines and to improve sustainability. This starts with implementing green chemistry and the selection of renewable materials in the development process. Green chemistry involves creating chemical products and processes with the aim of minimising or even completely eliminating the use and production of hazardous substances . It requires an adequate product design, optimising dosage to cure patients, and enhancing the product lifetime including minimising waste generation. Finally, the correct disposal of unused drugs is necessary.

Topics of relevance

Three topics have been identified as starting points, but any space-enabled applications and services supporting the transition towards sustainability in the pharmaceutical sector will be considered.

Disposal of unused & expired medicines

Examples of potential space-related services:

• JIT services to help reduce the number of expired drugs. To adapt the batch size of the medicines, integrated terrestrial- satellite communication (SatCom) networks can be exploited. SatCom can connect  the healthcare stock management system, logistic centres, and disposal sites anywhere in the world, including those in remote locations.
• Services for the collection of expired drugs to avoid the release of chemicals. SatNav can facilitate the tracking of drugs transported in containers across their whole life cycle, including disposal.
• Services to track the effects associated with correct disposal of expired drugs, in order to implement corrective measures. Satellite Earth observation (SatEO) data can be used to monitor the impact of disposed drugs on the environment and to help monitor water quality. This enables the detection of vulnerable zones- areas that are most affected by the water pollution linked to incorrect disposal of medicines- and use the information for local awareness campaigns. Sharing the knowledge transparently with communities will trigger them to adapt their behaviour accordingly. This in turn will help reduce the amount of medicines that are thrown away or flushed into the sewage.

Digital Twin for Sustainable Pharma

• DT requires sensors in the manufacturing process for real-time data collection, complemented by SatNav can for geo-tagging.
• During drug development, SatEO data can evaluate environmental impacts, providing water quality and GHG emissions information before production. Predictive scenarios can assess future impacts.
• In operation management, SatEO data aids in the transition to renewable energy, predicting energy production and optimising the energy mix for various consumption scenarios.
• For personalised medicines, SatCom ensures continuous communication with patients, allowing DT to adjust treatments in real-time based on data from body sensors.

Circularity in the pharmaceutical industry

• DT requires sensors in the manufacturing process for real-time data collection, complemented by SatNav can for geo-tagging.
• During drug development, SatEO data can evaluate environmental impacts, providing water quality and GHG emissions information before production. Predictive scenarios can assess future impacts.
• In operation management, SatEO data aids in the transition to renewable energy, predicting energy production and optimising the energy mix for various consumption scenarios.
• For personalised medicines, SatCom ensures continuous communication with patients, allowing DT to adjust treatments in real-time based on data from body sensors.

Value of Space

Satellite Earth Observation (SatEO):SatEO can help monitor the impact of drugs on the environment, such as GHG emissions or water quality, monitor environmental  and weather conditions affecting the spread of disease and support WWTP operations.  Historical weather patterns provided by SatEO data, combined with DT of the pharmaceutical plant, can support decision making in the shift towards renewable energy.

Satellite Communications (SatCom): SatCom can support different use cases including: data transfer from stock management systems to optimise the use of drugs before their expiration date and JIT production, remote communication with patients when their personalised treatment needs to be adapted according to the DT predictions, communication from remote sensors to the DT.

Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS): GNSS can facilitate the collection of expired drugs, and the tracking of medicines, outdated equipment and contaminated drug packaging. GNSS-guided drones can be used in the planning of new WWTP facilities and for the inspection of the plants, and for geo-tagging in situ data needed to complement EO-based data.

Eligibility

The call is open to companies that intend to develop space-enabled applications and services supporting the transition towards sustainability in the pharmaceutical sector. These are not restricted to the topics of relevance mentioned above. Eligible countries for funding include the UK.

Funding and support available

ESA’s offer includes:

• Technical & commercial guidance
• Access to network and partners
• Use of the ESA brand for your service
• Zero-equity funding

Each selected activity will receive 75% funding by the European Space Agency of up to €100K.

Briefing and support

A Webinar will be held on 20 September 2024 at 11am CEST (10am UK time). Click here to register for a place – registration is mandatory, and joining details will be sent out a few days before the event.

If you would like help to find a project partner, contact Innovate UK Business Connect’s Space team.