Projects by IST and INEGI win the 2025 edition of PROSSE

The NEURONAUT project, from the Institute for Systems and Robotics (ISR) at the Instituto Superior Técnico, and the U-SANS project, from the Institute of Science and Innovation in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering (INEGI), were selected by the jury for the 2025 edition of PROSSE (PROdex for Science in Space Exploration), an initiative of the Portuguese Space Agency that supports the development of scientific projects in the field of space exploration. Each project will receive €50,000 in funding.

Created by the Portuguese Space Agency following the 2022 European Space Agency (ESA) Ministerial, PROSSE supports national participation in ESA’s PRODEX (PROdex for Science in Space Exploration) programme, enabling Portuguese institutions to develop scientific projects in the field of space exploration.

This year’s edition received 11 applications, eight of which were considered eligible, from the regions of Lisbon (45%), the North (45%), and the Setúbal Peninsula (10%). The proposals were initially evaluated by a jury composed of 12 international experts. The two highest-ranked applications were subsequently submitted to a technical and financial feasibility assessment by ESA’s PRODEX team.

The ISR’s NEURONAUT project aims to investigate non-invasive brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) in a microgravity context, focusing on motor control and action anticipation for interaction between astronauts and robots. As opposed to previous studies focusing on passive brain changes, NEURONAUT will explore real-time, closed-loop BCI control using advanced artificial intelligence models. These experiments will be validated in parabolic flights.

As for the U-SANS project, presented by INEGI, it studies the relationship between the natural frequencies of the brain and the layer of nerve fibres in the retina at different levels of exposure to external stimuli with the potential to cause eye damage. Using a mechanical model, it will be possible to infer the effects of vibrations in extreme environments such as microgravity.

For Joan Alabart, programme manager for Space Exploration, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation at the Portuguese Space Agency, the applications received reveal “a high level of quality”, which reflects the capabilities of the national ecosystem. “The number of applications received over the years is an indication of the high level of interest in this initiative among the national community. It represents an excellent opportunity for the most innovative research projects, and we therefore expect this initiative to attract even more applications in the coming years,” he notes.

After the selection, the process of contracting the two projects with ESA’s PRODEX team will follow. “The technical and scientific knowledge and monitoring of projects by ESA’s experts are fundamental in guaranteeing successful implementation,” says Marta Gonçalves, programme manager for Science at the Portuguese Space Agency.

The results of the 2025 PROSSE initiative competition are available here.