Six finalists selected for the Innovation in Space Award

The Institute of Astrophysics and Space Sciences (IA), Tekever, IST NanosatLab and the Instituto de Telecomunicações, N10gled, the Instituto de Telecomunicações and the University of Aveiro, and INEGI are responsible for the six finalist projects in the Innovation in Space Sciences and Technologies Award launched by the Portuguese Space Agency. The final list, which resulted from a total of 26 applications and will now be assessed by a jury of seven members, reflects the diversity and vitality of the national ecosystem in the space sector, with solutions ranging from research to the most advanced technological applications.  

“All the applications were of remarkable quality, but it’s extraordinary to see the diversity and quality of the proposals that made it to the final list, which illustrate what is best being done in Portugal in a sector that is increasingly strategic,” says Ricardo Conde, President of the Portuguese Space Agency. 

The projects on this list of finalists, the result of a preliminary assessment led by the Portuguese Space Agency, stood out for their innovative nature, contribution to scientific and technological progress, and impact on the space sector. 

The award, of a symbolic nature, is intended to publicly recognise a project and/or initiative that has stood out over the course of the year for its capacity for innovation, according to criteria relating to the level of innovation in the space sector, applicability, viability, and impact. 

The finalist projects are currently being assessed by a jury made up of experts from academia, industry, and scientific research. The jury, presided over by Professor José Manuel Mendonça (INESC TEC), further includes Professor Teresa Lago (University of Porto), Isabel Nunes (National Defence Institute), Sílvia Garcia (ANI) and Cláudio Melo (ESO). 

About the finalist projects

Among the finalists are proposals covering areas as diverse as astrophysics, telecommunication, inter-satellite communications, quantum cybersecurity, off-Earth energy supply, and space systems engineering: 

ESPRESSO, a project of the Institute of Astrophysics and Space Sciences, whose team developed the optical systems that allow the VLT telescope to observe the sky with an aperture equivalent to 16 metres, with scientific results of international distinction in the detection and characterisation of exoplanets; 

Development of advanced antennas for CubeSats, a project by IST NanosatLabs and the Instituto de Telecomunicações that presents space communication solutions adapted to innovative requirements, covering bands from VHF to millimetre waves; 

GAMALINK, by Tekever Space, an inter-satellite communication system based on SDR (Software-Defined Radio) technology, operationally validated in ESA missions, with the capacity for precise ranging, time synchronisation, and data transfer between satellites; 

Entangled Space, by N10GLED, centred on the development of a transportable optical station for the distribution of quantum keys, resistant to quantum computing threats, with potential application in critical cybersecurity sectors; 

Mulas Energéticas, by the Instituto de Telecomunicações and the University of Aveiro, proposes a solution for supplying energy to the lunar surface via microwaves, even in regions deprived of sunlight, such as the dark side of the Moon; 

NoTank, an INEGI project developed under ESA’s GSTP programme, presents a new concept for a modular, lightweight tank for space propellants. This tank maximises useful volume, reducing both mass and manufacturing costs. 

The jury’s final decision will be announced on May 14th, 2025, the last day of the 8th edition of the New Space Atlantic Summit, which will also include the award ceremony.