Accenture Takes Stake In Orbital Experiment Software Provider

ISS
Credit: NASA

Major consultancy Accenture on April 6 said it made an unspecified investment in Titan Space Technologies, which is proffering software in support of in-orbit experiments and demonstrations, starting with adaptive immune response, carbon capture and biomedical applications.

Marc Carrel-Billiard, Accenture’s global lead for technology innovation, joined Titan’s scientific advisory board. The investment was made by Accenture Ventures, as part of its Project Spotlight effort to strategically tie with emerging technology and software startups, and bringing some of their potential customers into Accenture’s client base. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Titan is expected to deploy and run its first suite of machine learning models on HPE’s Spaceborne Computer-2 aboard the International Space Station (ISS) under Axion Space’s Ax-1 mission, slated for liftoff April 8.

“The burgeoning private and commercial space sector has created a once-in-a-generation opportunity for companies to leverage the unique research and development environment of space along with ever-increasingly sophisticated artificial intelligence [AI] and other technologies to potentially solve our most pressing issues here on Earth such as climate change, disease interventions, and materials shortages,” said Tom Lounibos, Accenture Ventures managing director. “The launch of Titan’s first AI models to the ISS marks an amazing new milestone in AI-driven research and experimentation.”

Michael Bruno

Based in Washington, Michael Bruno is Aviation Week Network’s Executive Editor for Business. He oversees coverage of aviation, aerospace and defense businesses, supply chains and related issues.