Skip to main content
Go to the home page of the European Commission (opens in new window)
English English
CORDIS - EU research results
CORDIS

Digital avalanche safety - Rethink the off-piste and backcountry skiing experience

Project description

A lifesaving device for backcountry skiing

Winter sports and other backcountry activities require specific skills associated not only with the activities themselves, but with the ability to adapt to unpredictable conditions while also staying safe. With the increasing popularity of off-piste skiing, more and more people are at risk of being injured by avalanches. This makes digital devices for the evaluation of avalanche safety lifesaving. In this context, the EU-funded DINGO SME-1 project will enable a feasibility study of a carefully designed small and light sensor device that can be mounted on a ski. The device will evaluate the condition of snow layers at the skier’s location in real time. It will also combine all crucial safety and weather information, as well as GPS maps, to estimate and avoid avalanche danger.

Objective

DIGITAL AVALANCHE SAFETY --- rethink the off-piste and backcountry skiing experience.

The overall objective of the innovation project is to commercialise novel avalanche safety products. The target outcome of the project is to commence production and sales of a first ‘smart ski’ series, co-branded with a high-end ski manufacturer.

THINK OUTSIDE is a pioneer in digital avalanche safety. We will bring precautionary snow analysis into the skiing mainstream, with DINGO for avalanche risk assessment and for advanced motion tracking. DINGO informs skiers when the snow layers have alarming properties, and maps the results. This can enable timely navigation and alerts to others.

On average, 150 people die in avalanche accidents each season, typically off-piste or in the backcountry, and typically the avalanche was triggered by the person who was hurt or killed. We aim to bring these numbers down, and the market is ripe for smarter, safer products.

Surveys confirm a solid willingness to pay for DINGO, among the average person looking to purchase new skis.

We have partnered with high-end ski manufacturer ÅSNES for co-production, co-branding, and a commercial pilot launch of our products before the 2019/2020 winter season.

This 6-month feasibility study leads to a commercial pilot, where ski manufacturer Åsnes will market a ski series with a first version of DINGO embedded and co-branded. Our products are truly state-of-the-art, and we are more than enthused about the slopes ahead. Our company is run by senior managers and entrepreneurs who have teamed up to launch DINGO and to build up THINK OUTSIDE as a global pioneer in avalanche safety.

Programme(s)

Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.

Topic(s)

Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.

Funding Scheme

Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.

SME-1 - SME instrument phase 1

See all projects funded under this funding scheme

Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

(opens in new window) H2020-EIC-SMEInst-2018-2020

See all projects funded under this call

Coordinator

THINK OUTSIDE AS
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 50 000,00
Address
LARS HILLES GATE 30
5008 BERGEN
Norway

See on map

SME

The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.

Yes
Region
Norge Vestlandet Vestland
Activity type
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
Links
Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

€ 71 429,00
My booklet 0 0