To foster user uptake in the European Union Earth Observation (EO) program Copernicus, as well as to spur the development of commercial space applications using EO data, the European Commission has launched Copernicus Accelerator.

This one-of-a-kind program is focused on providing a tailored business coaching service for as many as 40 finalists in the Copernicus Masters competition. The organizers of the Copernicus Accelerator are now seeking high-level professionals to support outstanding entrepreneurs in turning their promising ideas into reality, successfully entering the market, and achieving measurable progress toward their established objectives. Mentors and mentees will be able to determine the focus of the coaching and be matched according to their needs and expertise. The customized business development coaching service is worth 5,000 euors and will be remunerated to mentors at the end of the program.

Copernicus Accelerator will kick off with a boot camp in Madrid on October 24, 2016, in line with the prestigious Copernicus Masters Awards Ceremony, which will give mentors the chance to interact with industry stakeholders, renowned institutions, ambitious startups, and forward-thinking peers. Each mentor will work with a maximum of two participants for approximately six to eight months. Mentors and mentees will be fully supported throughout this period, at the end of which they will be required to deliver a report highlighting the impact and outcomes of the mentoring process.

Professionals with proven experience in Earth Observation, ICT, mobile industry, or one or more topics of interest connected with the 2016 Copernicus Masters Challenges are invited to apply to become a mentor in the Accelerator database by September 16, 2016. For further information regarding the Copernicus Accelerator program, please visit the Accelerator program's website and read the Terms of Participation.