T-TeC 2024 | Telespazio in France

#T-TeC 2024

Everything is set for the sixth edition of #T-TeC, Telespazio’s Technology Contest, an Open Innovation initiative that invites students, PhD candidates, and young researchers from universities around the globe to present innovative solutions addressing key challenges in the space sector.

As with previous editions, this year’s top participants will be awarded cash prizes. Additionally, the most advanced proposal in the Prototype category will have the opportunity to join an acceleration program with Seraphim Space, an investment fund specializing in the space sector.

Up to three projects may also be selected to participate in an incubation program with Cesah GmbH, a German consortium that includes Telespazio Germany and the state of Hesse.

Thanks to Leonardo, one promising proposal that still requires further development will also be awarded a testing contract.

For more details, check out the dedicated #T-TeC2024 Press Release (PDF, 232 KB)

Focus on :

Future technologies

Artificial Intelligence and High Performance Computing

Sustainable Earth

Circular economy in space

Protection of space

Space Exploration

For the 2024 edition, the competition focuses on seven key topics related to sustainability in Space and on Earth:

Space Exploration and Extra-terrestrial Exploitation

In Orbit Servicing towards a Circular Economy in Space

Sustainable solutions towards Solar System through Digital Twins

Space Domain Awareness for the Protection of Space and Ground Infrastructures

Emerging Space-based Connectivity Solutions

Positioning, Navigation and Timing Solutions for Earth and other celestial bodies

Innovative Electro-Optical technologies solutions for remote sensing

A jury will evaluate the submitted proposals and select the most innovative projects in the space sector. Winners will be awarded at the 17th edition of the European Space Conference in Brussels, January 2025.

Be inspired by interviews with past participants, and follow this page to stay up-to-date with new content.

Download the Rules (PDF, 433 KB)

Download the Proposal format (PDF, 223 KB)

Contest start date

October 17 2024

Delivery deadline

December 8 2024

Evaluation period

December 2024

The award ceremony

January 28/29 2025

FAQ

Who can take part?

The initiative is open to all students (graduates and non-graduates of every level, including PhD candidates) and researchers of universities and departments from all over the world. You can find all of the details.
What are the technological macrothemes in the competition?

• Space Exploration and Extra-terrestrial Exploitation

• In Orbit Servicing towards a Circular Economy in Space

• Sustainable solutions towards Solar System through Digital Twins

• Space Domain Awareness for the Protection of Space and Ground Infrastructures

• Emerging Space-based Connectivity Solutions

• Positioning, Navigation and Timing Solutions for Earth and other celestial bodies

• Innovative Electro-Optical technologies solutions for remote sensing.
Can I submit a proposal as a team?

Of course. You can submit an idea on your own, as a team, or even as a team of students from different universities.
What is the final submission date for entering the contest?

Entries must be submitted no later than the 8th December 2023.
What are the prizes?

For the Idea category, a prize of EUR 5,000.

The top three winners in the Prototype category will be awarded EUR 10,000, 6,000, and 4,000 respectively, as well as the possibility - should the team decide to turn into a start-up - to access an acceleration programme with Seraphim Space.

Pre-incubation programmes with cesah GmbH are also up for grabs.

On top of this, should there be a valuable proposal still needing to be tested, Leonardo will award a research contract to support 3-month Proof of Concept (PoC), with no obligation to establish a startup company.
Could we be pre-incubated if we are already participating to similar initiatives?

No. To be eligible for pre-incubation paths, the teams shall not have similar activities already on going or ready to be started at national or international (e.g. ESA BIC) level.
When and Where will the award ceremony take place?

On January 28-29, 2025, during the 17th European Space Conference in Brussels, Belgium.
What is the difference between the Idea and Prototype categories?

Idea is dedicated to projects at their conceptual stages, while Prototype includes projects beyond Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 4. If you have further questions or require clarification, write us at proposals.ttec@telespazio.com and the answer will be included in the FAQ!
Is it necessary to provide proof of affiliation with a university?

No, we do not require any formal proof of affiliation, it is enough the declaration from the team components that they are Bachelor/Master/PhD students or going to be graduated with Bachelor’s/Master’s/PhD’s degree or that they are young researchers, with the name of a Refence Professor and the name of University/Department. An actual mentorship from a Professor is recommended, although not mandatory.
I have already incorporated a start-up, can I participate to the contest?

If you are still affiliated to a university as student, PhD candidate or young researcher, you can participate in this capacity, not as a start-up.

If you have further questions or require clarification, write us at proposals.ttec@telespazio.com and the answer will be included in the FAQ !