ActInSpace 2026 finals showcase global innovation in space technologies

By:  Nana Appiah Acquaye

The European Space Agency and Centre National d'Études Spatiales has successfully hosted the international finals of ActInSpace 2026 on April 2 in Bordeaux, bringing together top teams from a global innovation challenge focused on space technologies.

The competition followed a worldwide hackathon held in January 2026 across 23 countries and 53 cities, where more than 1,600 participants formed 391 teams to tackle 27 challenges developed by industry and institutional partners including Airbus and Thales Alenia Space.

Participants explored solutions across thematic areas such as applying space technologies to everyday life, advancing the NewSpace ecosystem, addressing environmental and humanitarian challenges, and developing concepts linked to future space exploration.

At the finals, five teams presented their projects before an international jury chaired by Jean-Claude Souyris. The overall winner, INTERSTELLAR from Dakar American University of Science and Technology, was awarded the grand prize of a zero-gravity flight aboard an Airbus A310 Zero-G aircraft.

ESA also presented awards for excellence in Earth observation and technology transfer. The Earth observation prize was awarded to the IPSA-OB2S team from Paris-Saclay for its AgriTradeTwin project, while the technology transfer prize went to the Thunderwave team from Lithuania for adapting space-derived capabilities to terrestrial applications.

ESA representatives, including Franck Germes, Natacha Callens and Guillaume Prigent, participated in the evaluation process and engagement with teams.

Since its launch in 2014, ActInSpace has grown into a global platform promoting innovation and entrepreneurship in the space sector, supporting the development of solutions that leverage space technologies to address real-world challenges.