A European Space Agency (ESA) programme created in 1990 to transfer space technology to industrial and commercial sectors. As of the end of December 2017, the programme has made more than 280 successful transfers which helped create or save thousands of jobs in Europe and create over 100 new companies. Its portfolio includes 150 inventions covered by 450 patents. Examples of transferred technology included special spacesuit materials being used for tracksuits, and new coatings for bearings in a rocket launcher being used on car wheels. The transfers created new businesses and saved companies millions of euros in research, development, maintenance, and operation costs.