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Space Innovation Challenge
-From Data Utilization to Future Space Service -

Propose a space-enabled solution to a real societal challenge!

Finalists will be announced on September 5, 2026

Finalist Benefits
Audience Registration (APRSAF side event)

1. Overview

The Asia-Pacific region faces a wide range of societal challenges, including disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation, agriculture, marine and coastal management, water resources, urban development, and public health.
Space data has tremendous potential to address these challenges. However, a significant gap remains between the information needed by end users and the space data and services currently available.
The Space Innovation Challenge aims to bridge this gap by:

  • Promoting innovative applications of existing space data and services;
  • Identifying future observation needs and opportunities for new space-enabled services;
  • Fostering international collaborative research and projects involving Japanese universities, research institutions, and private companies.

Participants are encouraged not only to develop practical solutions using existing space data, but also to identify current limitations and propose future observation capabilities, data products, or space services that could better address societal challenges.

2. Competition Theme

Space Innovation for Societal Challenges

Proposals should demonstrate how space data and space-enabled services can contribute to solving societal challenges.
Applicants are encouraged to:

  • Utilize existing space data and services effectively;
  • Integrate multiple datasets through data fusion where appropriate;
  • Generate new insights using alternative data derived from space assets;
  • Apply AI or other advanced analytical techniques;
  • Identify future observation needs and opportunities for new space-enabled services.

Example Application Areas

  • Disaster Risk Reduction and Emergency Response
  • Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation
  • Agriculture and Food Security
  • Water Resources Management
  • Marine and Coastal Management
  • Environmental Protection and Biodiversity
  • Urban Development and Smart Cities
  • Infrastructure Monitoring
  • Public Health
  • Other societal challenges

3. Eligibility

The competition is open to individuals, teams, organizations, and companies interested in developing space-enabled solutions for societal challenges.
Each team should include members with relevant domain expertise (e.g., industry, government, NGOs, research institutions, or other practitioners).
Student-only teams are not eligible. Students are encouraged to participate as members of multidisciplinary teams that include professionals or domain experts.

4. Schedule

First Announcement
1 July 2026
Abstract Submission Deadline
7 August 2026 13 August 2026
Notification of Finalists
9 September 2026
Final Oral Presentation and Judging
26 October 2026

Venue

APRSAF-32 Side Event
Bangkok, Thailand

5. Proposal Requirements

Please submit “Space Solution Proposal” using the template.
Each proposal should address the following:

Societal Challenge
Describe the challenge and explain why it is important.
Target Users
Identify the intended users and beneficiaries.
Data and Services
Describe the space data and other relevant information used.
Examples include:
  • Optical satellite imagery
  • SAR data
  • GNSS data
  • GIS data
  • Meteorological data
  • Statistical data
  • In-situ observations
  • Other relevant datasets
Proposed Solution
Explain how the proposed solution addresses the challenge.
Approaches may include:
  • Innovative use of space data
  • Data fusion
  • Alternative data generation
  • AI-assisted analysis
  • New service concepts
Current Limitations
Describe the limitations of currently available data, observation capabilities, or services.
Future Observation and Space Service Needs (Optional)
Applicants are encouraged to identify future capabilities that could further improve the proposed solution, such as:
  • New observation capabilities
  • New sensors
  • New data products
  • New space-enabled services
  • New data delivery models
Outstanding proposals in this category will be considered for the Future Observation Award.

6. Awards and Benefits

Awards
1st Place
2nd Place
Future Observation Award
Company Awards
Benefits
Finalists from ASEAN countries may be eligible for travel support to attend the Final Presentation in Bangkok.
BeneficiariesProvidersAll contestantsFinalistsWinnerNote
The award may not be granted if no project meets the selection criteria.
Space ShiftSateAls APISateAls APISateAls APIParticipants are eligible to use the SateAIs API's satellite data analytics tools. You can register via the following link to receive 500 free credits per month.
iQPSHigh-Resolution SAR Satellite Imagery Data Usages RightsiQPS may select one or more teams to receive the iQPS Award.
TellusDetail explanation documents for Tellus Pro ServicesMentorship(1-2 teams selected by Tellus)Free use of Tellus Pro, a cloud workspace for satellite data.Tellus may select one or more teams to receive Tellus Award.
Tellus Pro Broucher
CEO message
ArkEdge SpaceMentorship for selected teamMentorship for selected teamArkEdge Space may select one or more teams to receive mentoring support.
SynspectiveMessage from Vincent Kessler (CEO of SynspectiveSG)
AxelspaceTBD

7. Application

Step 1
Register online
Step 2
Submit your abstract （PDF and WORD）to:
spaceinnovation(at)unisec.jp
by no later than August 7, 2026.
Language
English

8. Organizer

Japan Space Forum (JSF)
under the Space Strategy Fund Program
In cooperation with
UNISEC
Kyushu Institute of Technology (Kyutech)



* The original language of this web site is English.
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