African Space Expo (ASPEX)Innovation Challenge 2026
The ASPEX Innovation Challenge was a continent-wide innovation competition that ran from 15 June to 26 September 2026 and concluded with the Africa Space Expo in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, from 24 to 26 September 2026.
About the ASPEX Innovation Challenge
The challenge provided a platform for university students, innovators, and early-stage startups from across African Union Member States to develop and present solutions addressing pressing developmental challenges across sectors including agriculture, health, energy, climate resilience, logistics, environmental management, and socio-economic development.
Participants were encouraged to leverage downstream applications of space science and technology, including satellite connectivity, Earth Observation (EO) data, and Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), to develop solutions with practical applications in African contexts. Solutions were eligible at various stages of development, ranging from early-stage ideas and proof-of-concepts to prototypes and pilot-stage solutions.
Objectives of the Challenge
The ASPEX Innovation Challenge was implemented with the following objectives:
- 01To identify and showcase promising IoT concepts developed by African university students and early-stage startups, particularly solutions leveraging downstream applications of space science and technology.
- 02To establish a pathway from innovation to market, enabling promising ideas to progress from concept development and prototyping to presentation on an international platform.
- 03To facilitate connections between African innovators and key ecosystem stakeholders, including industry partners, investors, space agencies, and technical experts who could support the further development and deployment of their solutions.
- 04To showcase African talent and innovation capacity within the downstream IoT and space technology ecosystem to an international audience.
- 05To promote women's participation in space technology and IoT, through intentional programme design and recognition of women's contributions to the innovation ecosystem.
- 06To provide finalists with an opportunity to pitch their solutions before a curated audience of global space industry stakeholders, investors, space agency representatives, and other ecosystem actors at ASPEX 2026.
Participation and Eligibility
Teams consisted of one to five members, with each team permitted to submit one application proposing a single solution or concept. Proposed solutions were required to address a real developmental, environmental, agricultural, health, energy, or socio-economic challenge in Africa through the application of IoT technologies connected to downstream space science and technology.
Applications and supporting materials were accepted in English or French.
Finalist Support
Six finalist teams were selected to participate in ASPEX 2026, with sponsorship provided for one representative from each finalist team to attend the event in Abidjan, in accordance with the applicable African Union rules and procedures.
ASPEX Innovation Challenge 2026
Winners
Celebrating the top winning teams of the ASPEX Innovation Challenge 2026.
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