Promoting innovation in the space sector, turning brilliant ideas into successful start-ups and inspiring the next generation of STEM talent: this is the goal of the #T-TeC Technology Contest by Leonardo and Telespazio, which invites students, PhD candidates and young researchers from universities worldwide to submit innovative solutions in various areas of the space sector. The contest aims to promote technological development and innovation in the space industry among younger generations, enhance their ideas and insights, and work with them to imagine the technological solutions that will shape the future.
After the success of the previous six editions, which saw the participation of 500 students and researchers from 75 universities in over 20 countries, #T-TeC confirms its role as an enabler for the incubation and acceleration of start-ups, thus supporting the growth and development of ideas from the project’s early stages through to full maturity. Participants can choose to submit their ideas and projects within three macro-areas related to sustainability in Space and on Earth: Space Exploration, Extra-terrestrial Exploitation & In Orbit Servicing; Space Domain Awareness for the protection of space and ground infrastructures; Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT) solutions for Earth and other celestial bodies.
In addition to the cash prizes reserved for the winner of the “Idea” category and the top three in the “Prototype” category, Leonardo and Telespazio will offer participants the following opportunities, to be allocated at the discretion of the committee, taking into account the type and maturity of the projects submitted: one or more positions in the pre-incubation programmes of ESA BIC Turin; one or more positions in the pre-incubation programme of ESA BIC Lazio or Technology Transfer Lazio; one or more positions at ESA BIC Brindisi. Finally, the possibility will be evaluated, with the support of Leonardo, to fund the creation of a demonstrator (“Proof of Concept”) to test one of the proposals directly in the laboratory, potentially in collaboration with the Space Business Catalyst of Thales Alenia Space.
The seventh edition of #T-TeC will close on 20 February 2026, the final deadline for submitting proposals. In the following weeks, the jury will review the projects and announce the winners, who will receive their awards in April 2026.