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.
The rules of the contest
For the 2025 edition, launched on last December, the competition focuses on three key themes 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, solutions for Earth and other celestial bodies and emerging space-based connectivity solutions.
The initiative is open to students, graduates, PhD candidates, PhD holders, and researchers from universities and departments around the world: it is possible to participate individually, with a team, or as part of a group of students from different universities. Proposals must be submitted no later than February 20, 2026. The winners of the contest will then be awarded on April 2026.
The competition prizes
As in previous editions, this year’s top teams will be awarded cash prizes. To encourage the creation of partnerships that may lead to future ventures, Leonardo and Telespazio will also offer #T-TeC 2025 participants the following opportunities, granted at the discretion of the selection committee, based on the nature and maturity of the projects submitted:
pre-incubation within the Space Business Catalyst, promoted by Thales Alenia Space;
pre-incubation programs in I3P, the Innovative Companies Incubator of Politecnico di Torino, with ESA BIC Turin;
a pre-incubation program with ESA BIC Brindisi;
supporting services eligible for ESA BIC Lazio and/or Technology Transfer Lazio.
Thanks to Leonardo, one promising proposal that requires further development will also be awarded a testing contract.
All official updates related to the contest, including the call for proposals, deadlines, and FAQs, are available on the dedicated webpage of the initiative.
The previous winners from the Turin network
Several teams coming from the community of I3P and ESA BIC Turin, or which joined it afterwards also through the participation to #T-TeC, have won prizes in the annual editions of the initiative:
Spaice Technology, born as a team of students from different European universities and today an innovative start-up incubated in ESA BIC Turin, won the second prize, worth €6,000, at #T-Tec 2022;
ORiS, then a project team and today an innovative start-up incubated in ESA BIC Turin, won the Test-it Award in the 2022 edition;
Deplotic, then a project team and today an innovative start-up incubated in ESA BIC Turin, won the second prize, worth €6,000, in the Prototype category of #T-TeC 2023;
ASTRO, then a project team and today an innovative start-up pre-incubated in I3P, won the first prize, worth €10,000, in the Prototype category of #T-TeC 2024.
