Dhaka:The Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST) and the Saudi Space Agency, in collaboration with Neo Space Group, have announced the winners of the SpaceUp global competition. This event took place alongside the Global Space Connectivity and Sustainability Events 2026, aiming to foster space entrepreneurship and support companies specializing in space technology solutions.
According to Saudi Press Agency, the competition attracted 690 submissions from over 50 countries and played a significant role in localizing operations for more than 40 companies in Saudi Arabia. This was achieved by assisting them in obtaining entrepreneurship licenses, commercial registrations, and registration on the "Etimad" platform, facilitating their participation in government competitions and service offerings in the Kingdom. The initiative also linked entrepreneurs and companies with relevant entities to apply their proposed technical products.
The winning companies, SARSATX from Saudi Arabia, Smart Orbits from Jordan, and Orbital Universe from Australia, were recognized for their innovative satellite data-driven solutions. These solutions focus on enhancing monitoring of invasive plant species, safeguarding agricultural resources through early detection of red palm weevils, and improving infrastructure planning and traffic management.
The competition's solutions leverage the latest Earth observation technologies and artificial intelligence to tackle challenges related to infrastructure and agriculture. This approach aims to monitor changes, support decision-making, and facilitate future forecasting, underscoring a trend toward using space technologies and AI for practical, impactful solutions.
The announcement also acknowledged strategic partner Neo Space Group, along with previous challenge track partners the National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification, the National Center for the Prevention and Control of Plants Pests and Animal Diseases (Weqaa Center), and the Riyadh Infrastructure Projects Center. These partners have contributed to adopting innovative solutions and promoting research and innovation in the Kingdom.