Factors Encouraging the Creation of Spin-Offs from Student Satellite Projects

Student satellite projects are a widely used measure for introducing the space technology industry to students as potential future workforce, entrepreneurs and innovators. This study presents factors encouraging the creation of space industry startups from student satellite projects. Between April 2018 and June 2018, seven semi-structured interviews were conducted with the alumni of the student satellite project ESTCube-1 and Aalto Satellite Program (satellites Aalto-1 and Aalto-2), who started their own companies during or after their participation in these satellite projects. In this study, student entrepreneurship is being studied through the following factors previously outlined in university spin-off related research – assets related to intellectual property, knowledge and social capital, and additionally personal characteristics relevant to entrepreneurship. The results showed that the capabilities of student satellite projects depend on access to relevant human capital and the objectives of the projects. Currently the capabilities of these projects in terms of innovation and spin-off creation are limited. Nevertheless, by supporting the sustainable growth of student satellite projects and student's personal growth, student's evolvement from being entrepreneurial to becoming entrepreneurs can encourage the creation of spin-offs, and therefore help along with emergence of new technology companies. The results also showed that students' and alumni as agents can help to supplement the missing gap of science and entrepreneurship.