UniSA hosts 24/7 global space innovation competition – News & Events | So Good News

October 31, 2022

Students, entrepreneurs and developers work together to solve real-world space challenges at the ActInSpace competition at the University of South Australia’s Innovation and Collaboration Center (ICC).

Co-organized by the French space agency, the Center National d’Etudes Spatiales (CNES) and the European Space Agency (ESA), ActInSpace is delivered by the ICC with support from the Australian Space Agency, Accenture and other industry sponsors.

The 24-hour event will be held simultaneously around the world on November 18 and 19, inviting space innovators and creative minds to come up with new solutions to real-world challenges posed by partners such as Airbus and CNES.

Challenges include combating climate change with Earth observation technology, reducing collisions with space debris, using satellites to detect infectious diseases, and safely placing humans on Mars.

UniSA Deputy Director of Business Incubation Jasmine Wroigdenburg says ActInSpace is integral to building commercial space opportunities in Australia and beyond.

“ICC first brought ActInSpace to Australia in 2018 and since then we’ve seen competitors create and develop their own space startups,” he says.

“That’s why we love hosting ActInSpace in Adelaide – we encourage local talent to consider space as a viable career option, and then they get hooked.

“Yes, we’re excited about the race itself, but we also expect some great space businesses to grow from this event.”

The ICC has produced the International Commercial Space Champions, whose team will win the 2018 Global Finals in France.

“The ICC will remain the sole Australian organiser, so our winners this year will be crowned national champions and then compete in Cannes, France next year,” says Wrougdenburg.

“Our national event gives all our participants the opportunity to connect with key space experts and business talent, who then present their final decision to a panel of judges, including representatives from the Australian Space Agency and Accenture.

“We are really looking forward to the solutions they come up with and we hope to unveil the next big idea for the space industry in France in 2023 that will challenge the rest of the world.”

A total of 40 countries and 61 cities participated in the last event in 2020 at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, with 2,300 participants in more than 530 teams worldwide.

This year’s event in Adelaide kicks off at 12pm on Friday 18 November with the Australian Space Agency and Accenture as key sponsors.

Contestants get to work, refining their ideas and solutions through the night before presenting their final proposals to a panel of judges on Saturday afternoon.

The free event is open to anyone 18 and older, and all meals are served. University students, graduate students, space enthusiasts, creatives and changemakers are invited to register. High school students can also participate regardless of age restrictions.

Interested participants can register at actinspace.org.

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Media contact: Georgia Minarelli T +61 413 314 726 E [email protected]
Event Information: Samantha Dawes M: +61 457 289 282 E: [email protected]