Siena: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, held alongside the Global Space Connectivity and Sustainability Events 2026, aims to foster space entrepreneurship and support companies specializing in space technology solutions.
According to Saudi Press Agency, the competition received 690 submissions from over 50 countries and played a significant role in localizing the operations of more than 40 companies in Saudi Arabia. This was achieved by aiding these companies in acquiring entrepreneurship licenses for investment and commercial registrations, as well as registering them on the "Etimad" platform. This platform enables participation in government competitions and facilitates offering services within the Kingdom. Additionally, entrepreneurs and companies were connected with relevant entities to implement 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 the monitoring of invasive plant species, protecting agricultural resources through early detection of red palm weevils, and improving infrastructure planning and traffic management.
The proposed solutions leverage the latest Earth observation technologies from space and artificial intelligence to address challenges in infrastructure and agriculture. These technologies assist in monitoring changes, supporting decision-making, and enabling future forecasting, highlighting a trend towards using space technologies and AI for developing practical, high-impact solutions.
The announcement also acknowledged the contributions of strategic partner Neo Space Group and success partners from previous challenge tracks. These include 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 supported the adoption of innovative solutions, strengthening their application in the Kingdom, and fostering research and innovation.