Offering about 28 Million USD Contractual Opportunities CST and SSA Launch the SpaceUp Competition to Develop Innovative Space Based Solutions

Aleqtsad. Riyadh

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 solution, 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.

Through its six challenge tracks, the SpaceUp Competition targets global & local entrepreneurs, startups and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to develop Space based solutions for challenges in vital sectors, by linking the supply with the demand.

The SpaceUp Competition presents about 28Million USD contractual opportunities across all competition tracks, in addition to providing direct access with end-users. localization, as well as connecting with end-users to implement the proposed solutions.

The SpaceUp Competition includes six challenge tracks supporting various sectors. The first challenge track is “Monitoring Date Palms Pest and Disease” track sponsored by the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture and the Weqqa Center, which focuses on providing Space based solutions to monitor palm farms and detect pests. The second is “Improving City Livability by Monitoring Urban Heat Islands” sponsored by the Quality of Life Program, which aims at solving the problem of rising temperatures in crowded cities. The third is “Monitoring the Impact of Infrastructure Development” sponsored by Riyadh Infrastructure Projects Centre to promote infrastructure projects and traffic management. The fourth and fifth challenge tracks are “Optimizing Urban Road Assets” track that aims to provide solutions to detect urban road damage and elevate its maintenance, and “Mapping of Urban Trees” that aims to monitor and maintain urban green spaces, sponsored by the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing. The sixth is “Greening Saudi Arabia” which seeks to monitor tree growth and support sustainability efforts related to Saudi Green Initiative.

Registration for the SpaceUp Competition is starting  from January 20, 2025, until April 12, 2025, through the Competition  webpage: (https://new.cst.gov.sa/en/about/program-and-initiatives/spaceup-competition)

It is worth noting that 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.