Saudi space agencies launch competition to pioneer innovative space solutions
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The Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST) and the Saudi Space Agency (SSA) have launched the global SpaceUp Competition, in partnership with Neo Space Group (NSG), which aims to promote Space entrepreneurship, support local companies specializing in Space-based solutions, attract global entrepreneurs, startups and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and encourage the adoption of Space-based solutions by entities operating across various vital sectors.
According to a CST press release issued today, the SpaceUp Competition targets global and local entrepreneurs, startups and SMEs through six challenge tracks to develop Space-based solutions for challenges in vital sectors by linking the supply with the demand.
The competition presents about $28 Million in contractual opportunities across all competition tracks, in addition to providing direct access to end-users, localization and connecting with end-users to implement the proposed solutions. The release highlighted that the competition includes six challenge tracks supporting various sectors.
The first track, “Monitoring Date Palms Pest and Disease,” sponsored by the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture and the Weqaa Center, focuses on providing Space-based solutions to monitor palm farms and detect pests. The second, “Improving City Livability by Monitoring Urban Heat Islands,” by the Quality of Life Program, aims at solving the problem of rising temperatures in crowded cities. The third is “Monitoring the Impact of Infrastructure Development” by Riyadh Infrastructure Projects Centre to promote infrastructure projects and traffic management.
The fourth and fifth tracks are the “Optimizing Urban Road Assets” track which aims to provide solutions to detect urban road damage and elevate its maintenance, and “Mapping of Urban Trees” which aims to monitor and maintain urban green spaces, both sponsored by the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing. The sixth, “Greening Saudi Arabia,” seeks to monitor tree growth and support sustainability efforts related to the Saudi Green Initiative.
"The SpaceUp Competition extends the efforts of CST and the SSA in enhancing investment opportunities in the Saudi Space sector and stimulating research and innovation," the release reads. Registration for the competition starts from January 20, 2025, until April 12, 2025, through the competition webpage:
https://new.cst.gov.sa/en/about/program-and-initiatives/spaceup-competition