Mars Habitat Challenge
What is the Mars Habitat Challenge about?
Hagerbach Test Gallery is looking for pioneering startups to develop solutions for the visionary idea of living on Mars or other planets. Solutions include those that offer products/services that could make life on Mars possible. Be it solutions for constructing buildings/caverns, energy, air or water management, health & safety, transportation, food production, or communication. The ultimate goal is a self-sustaining habitat based on the principles of a circular economy.
The event is held annually and is supervised by Venturelab.
Process
- Application open till February 5, 2024
- Ten selected startups will pitch their startup project on March 5, 2024 in front of a jury of high-ranking industry experts, including members from ACO, Amberg Group, Belloli, ESA BIC Switzerland, Implenia, Mission Earth First and SIKA.
- The top five will undergo a public voting system in March/April, where everyone can vote for their favourite project.
- The top three startups selected will be invited to the customer event Hagerbach Test Gallery on May 3, 2024 where the winner be unvealed
- One startup will be awarded with a proof of concept in the Hagerbach Test Gallery (value CHF 10'000).
Testimonials
ANYbotics AG, Zurich, Switzerland
Taking part in the Mars Habitat Challenge was a great opportunity to intensify our collaboration with the Hagerbach Test Gallery. Together with ETH Zurich, we used our four-legged robots ANYmal to autonomously explore unknown tunnel systems. The development was tested in the Hagerbach Test Gallery and made a significant contribution to the CERBERUS team winning first place in the Darpa Subterranean Challenge!
Dr. Péter Fankhauser, Co-Founder & CEO
Aura System srl
The Mars Habitat Challenge hosted by the Hagerbach Gallery was one of the best startups contests we have ever attended. The organization and the procedure are actually really fun and the final event is definitely worth it.
It is a contest that gives you the opportunity to get your brand known in Switzerland and it also gives you a lot of credibility as it is organized by a big and very technical company.
As Aura we had the opportunity to install one of our natural air purifiers in particular conditions to run tests and see how certain types of plants behave in such environment. Our systems are able to not only purify air with low energy consumption but also to better the life quality every day of the employees that are in contact with it.
Indoor air is forced to pass through our biofilter that is composed of a patented soil mix and selected plants that eliminate and absorb the pollutants through their roots. The result is a more natural, fresh and purified air. Our idea is to “recycle” polluted air. We will continue to monitor the air quality results in the Hagerbach Gallery for months to come.
We are doing this because air conditioning systems are the most polluting and energy consuming systems in buildings and with our technology this can change.
We are very happy and proud to have won the Mars Habitat contest as it gives everyone hope for a better and more environmentally friendly future.
Pietro Carloni, CEO
Participating in the Mars Habitat Challenge in 2022 proved to be a highly fruitful moment for SoHHytec. The exposure, collaboration opportunities, and valuable feedback received during the challenge were helpful in refining and advancing our green hydrogen solution offering and capabilities. The support provided by Subspace Energy Hub and Hagerbach Test Gallery post our victory has been indispensable, contributing significantly to our growth and success.
Our experience in the Mars Habitat Challenge was nothing short of exceptional. The challenge not only allowed us to showcase our innovative solutions for the Mars like environment eventually mimicking the scenarios for underground terrestrial infrastructure, but also provided a unique platform to connect with like-minded industry experts, researchers, and potential partners. The collaborative spirit fostered by Subspace Energy Hub and Hagerbach Test Gallery has been a driving force behind our continued dedication to advancing sustainable energy solutions.
Our green hydrogen equipment, known as ARB, holds the world record for green hydrogen production, a result of over 10 years of dedicated research and development. With the collective experience of our team, we've brought a groundbreaking product to the market. ARB not only produces green hydrogen but also generates heat, electricity, and oxygen simultaneously. This Swiss innovation, backed by Swiss technology, exemplifies our commitment to pushing the boundaries of sustainable energy solutions.
Impressions Mars Habitat Challenges
For around 60 years, the renowned Swiss Amberg Group has been a leader in engineering and surveying services for railway, metro, underground and specialised civil engineering.
The family-owned company is an innovative knowledge, engineering and technology provider in the field of logistics and infrastructure for smart cities, hubs and networks. We provide outstanding solutions for our customers through innovatively combining above-ground and underground space utilisation.
Amberg Engineering
Engineering services for the construction of underground infrastructure
Planning, design, construction, operation and maintenance of railway, road, utility and metro tunnels, as well as caverns
Amberg Technologies
Systems and solutions for railway and tunnel surveying
Acquisition, evaluation and refinement of measurement data in infrastructure construction
Amberg Infra 7D
Digital services in the infrastructure environment
Geo-monitoring, mobile mapping, digital construction, geomatics and inspection services
Amberg Loglay
Smart city and construction logistics solutions
Sophisticated logistics solutions for efficient and future-orientated construction projects
Amberg Infocon
High-quality design and BIM services
Design, BIM, consulting, PMC and IT solutions for architecture, engineering and construction
VersuchsStollen Hagerbach
The underground future lab
Extensive underground research infrastructure for testing and development, testing laboratory for building materials, training centre and event facilities
QAECY
Intelligent information
Analysing documents and data with artificial intelligence to create a unified view of reality
Your underground experts
- Rail tunnels, including high-speed rail
- Metro lines
- Tunnel and shaft infrastructure
- Caverns with large cross-sections
- Energy storage and utilities
Engineering at its best
- Numerous services for your entire project cycle, from feasibility, planning and construction to renewal of your infrastructure
- Trained specialists and experts in planning and design, geotechnics, and project management
Infrastructure experts
- Rail, metro and tunnels
- Underground spaces
- Mining and shafts
Systems and solutions
- Slab track, tamping, mapping, surveying and inspections
- Tunnel machine guidance
- Tunnel profile measurements and stakeout
- Undulation
- Layer thickness control
- Surface inspection
- Geological predicting during tunnel excavation
- Surveying, data analysis and maintenance
Digital infrastructure experts
- Data acquisition and processing
- Monitoring
- Measurement of geotechnical tasks
- Maintenance and operation
- Process optimisation and digital continuity
Solutions and services
- Geo-monitoring
- Mobile mapping
- Geomatics
- Inspection services
- Digital construction
Smart cities and construction logistics experts
- Manage stakeholders across the value chain
- Improve construction mobility in dense cities
- Unlock up to 50% of the true potential of assets
- Integrate circular economy principles into construction
- Use smart data throughout the supply chain
Solutions for construction sites
- End-to-end digital logistics processes
- Rapid prototyping and smart sensors (IoT)
- Logistics concept and manual (3D/4D)
- Integration of logistics data
- Logistics insights management (LIM)
- Construction logistics management (CLM)
- Management of external hubs and consolidation
Design and construction experts
- Design and BIM integration
- Coordination between different disciplines
- Information workflow setup
- Facility management and BIM integration
- Visualisation
Services
- BIM implementation and creation of models
- Clash detection, coordination and clash resolution
- Construction documentation and shop drawings
- 4D simulation and 5D estimation
- Underground utilities
- Laser scan to as-built models
- IT solutions – BIM integration with FM application
VersuchsStollen Hagerbach - The underground future lab
Recently named a research infrastructure of national importance, we have been providing the space and expertise to turn visions into innovations for over 50 years.
Your analysis and testing requirements
- Real scale test and prototype environment
- Analysis of construction material
- Training facility
- Unique location for your event
Our facilities and services
- Various test sites, test procedures and management
- Concrete and rock laboratory
- Training environment and syllabus
- Seminar rooms, event cavern and restaurant
AI agent as a service for the construction industry
- AI agent dedicated to the AEC industry
- Easy access to complex project information
- Helps in taking confident, informed decisions
- Opens data silos, unlocks all content and uncovers context
- Effortless interaction with your most valuable asset – your collective knowledge
Solution and services
- AI agent as a service
- Strategic consulting and training
- Development of tailored solutions