Innovate for a sustainable and healthy future
A progressive Earth Observation competition by ESA Φ-lab, from November 2024 to June 2025, rewarding solutions that tackle climate change and public health challenges.
- Sector
- Earth observation & public health
- TRL
- Scalable, market-ready solutions
- Deadline
- 28 November 2024 (closed)
Top 3 runners
The 2024 Grand Marathon invited innovators using Earth Observation data to tackle climate change and public health challenges, with a particular focus on solutions benefiting children and adolescents. The winning solutions will collaborate with Save the Children to explore opportunities for implementing them in future initiatives.
1) EpiWise by GEOMATYS: climate-sensitive epidemic disease prediction maps and population risk characterisation, integrating real-time Earth Observation data.
2) PLASTIC-I: real-time intelligence on plastic pollution and its associated health risks, combining Earth Observation and AI.
3) AirCare by GRASP: monitoring and analysis of PM0.1 and PM2.5 levels, to improve air quality management, optimise emissions and support health initiatives.
Discover the finalists
EpiWise by GEOMATYS
Providing climate-sensitive epidemic disease prediction maps and population risk characterization by integrating real-time Earth Observation data.
PLASTIC-I
Delivering real-time intelligence on plastic pollution and its associated health risks by combining Earth Observation and AI.
AirCare by GRASP
Monitoring and analyzing PM0.1 and PM2.5 levels, improving air quality management, optimizing emissions, and supporting health initiatives.
Were you developing solutions for these topics?
Any innovator using Earth Observation data to tackle climate change and public health challenges. Any other climate-related topic with applications in public health was also welcome, such as malnutrition, respiratory illnesses or the psychological impacts of displacement due to climate events.
Sea level rise and coastal erosion
Addressing waterborne diseases due to saltwater intrusion, preventing outbreaks that disproportionately affect the health and development of the most vulnerable.
Heatwaves and urban heat islands
Real-time monitoring of temperature variations in urban areas, to identify areas at higher risk of extreme heat exposure.
Flooding and extreme rainfall
Addressing waterborne diseases after flooding events, by improving sanitation and access to clean water.
Drought and desertification
Monitoring soil moisture and vegetation health for sustainable agriculture, and predicting drought to manage water resources and ensure equitable distribution.
Who could apply?
Scalable and market-ready solutions, especially those predicting climate events and infectious disease impacts that disproportionately affect younger populations.
Based in an ESA member state
Applicants had to be from an ESA member state.
Climate and public health
Solutions using Earth Observation data to tackle climate change and public health challenges.
Scalable and market-ready
Solutions ready to scale, especially for predicting climate events and infectious disease impacts.
Advanced technologies
Teams leveraging AI, machine learning and blockchain to drive environmental sustainability and health resilience.
Children and adolescents
Preferably with a particular focus on solutions benefiting children and adolescents.
What runners benefited from
Prizes, exposure at two international events, coaching and direct access to ESA experts.
Prize pool
€215K for the 1st runner, €65K for the 2nd and €15K for the 3rd.
Travel covered
Travel and accommodation covered for the top 3 finalists at the Summit in Paris, and all expenses covered for the top winner at the Living Planet Symposium in Vienna.
Pitch at the Hello Tomorrow Summit
Showcase your solution and pitch on stage at the Hello Tomorrow Global Summit in Paris (13–14 March 2025).
Living Planet Symposium
Present at the Living Planet Symposium in Vienna (23–27 June 2025).
Expert coaching
Exclusive coaching from Hello Tomorrow’s experts to refine your pitch.
Direct access to ESA experts
Engage directly with ESA and Φ-lab’s leading Earth Observation experts.
A marathon in 42 km
The Grand Marathon was a progressive competition, from 28 November 2024 (Km 0) to the end of June 2025 (Km 42).
Start of the Marathon
The progressive competition begins.
Hello Tomorrow Global Summit
The top 3 finalists pitch on stage in Paris.
Living Planet Symposium
The top winner presents in Vienna.
Finish line
Top 3 runners: EpiWise by GEOMATYS, PLASTIC-I and AirCare by GRASP.
In collaboration with
ESA Φ-lab
ESA Φ-lab provides an open innovation ecosystem that turns visionary ideas into market-ready solutions, managing the full innovation cycle with financial, technical and business support.
Save the Children
Save the Children is dedicated to improving children’s lives and ensuring every child has the opportunity to thrive. The winning solutions will collaborate with Save the Children to explore opportunities for implementing them in future initiatives.
About the 2024 Grand Marathon
All the details of this edition are in the brochure.
Who could apply?
Any innovator from an ESA member state using Earth Observation data to tackle climate change and public health challenges, preferably with a focus on children and adolescents.
What were the prizes?
€215K for the 1st runner, €65K for the 2nd and €15K for the 3rd, plus travel and accommodation for the top 3 finalists at the Hello Tomorrow Global Summit in Paris.
Who were the top 3 runners?
EpiWise by GEOMATYS, PLASTIC-I and AirCare by GRASP.
Is there a newer edition?
Yes. The 2nd edition, the ESA Φ-lab Grand Marathon 2025 (now closed), was focused on innovating for a safer future. The 3rd edition, the ESA Φ-lab Grand Marathon 2026 (open until 15 January 2027), seeks startups developing Earth Observation solutions to detect, map, and understand the abandonment of rainfed croplands in conflict-affected regions.
Explore past calls
See the open innovation calls we have run with corporations and public partners.
Deep Scale Climate Tech Accelerator
A climate tech acceleration programme bridging Latin America with global deep tech ecosystems, with lab access in Chile and international expansion support.
L'Oréal GSI Startup Call 2026
L'Oréal's Green Sciences Incubator and Genopole looked for alternative carbon sources and sustainable ingredients for cosmetics.
ASML Emerging Innovator Award 2026
A global contest by ASML for startups building breakthrough technologies for next-generation high-tech and complex systems.
ESA Φ-lab Grand Marathon 2025
AI-enabled Earth Observation concepts to protect civilians in conflict and disaster zones. Up to €215K in cumulative prizes.
Applications are closed
The 2024 Grand Marathon rewarded Earth Observation solutions for climate and health. Discover our open calls or contact us to hear about the next ones.