Start-up Contest

TAKE PART IN THE START-UP CONTEST
AND PROMOTE YOUR COMPANY

The organizers have imagined this « Start-Up Contest » to promote new talents and shed light on innovative solutions and technological breakthroughs, which will help shape Space Propulsion and Space Transportation in the coming decades.
This Start-Up Contest, organized with the support of accelerators and investors.

For this 10th edition, more than 700 professionals from over 30 countries are expected, gathering engineers and scientists from government, university and industry. Plenary roundtables will bring a specific focus on Challenging the scale economics and industrialisation for future propulsion in a competitive environment.

This « Start-Up Contest » organized with the support of accelerators and investors, is aiming to promote new talents and shed light on innovative solutions and technological breakthroughs.

• Before March 23rd, 2026 : Apply to participate in the contest at spacepropulsion@3af.fr
  => Ask application file, fill out the information & send back docuements and a 3min presentation video.
   
• By or before April 2nd, 2026 : jury composed of sponsors and partners from SPACE PROPULSION 2026 Technical Committees, Venture Capital Companies and Accelerators will select 8 finalist candidates.
   
• From May 18th to 21st in Bari (Italy) for the entire conference : the 8 start-up finalists will benefit of 1 high desk on the Start-up zone of exhibition + 1 complementary participant badge (value 2300€).
   
• On Wednesday May 20th, 2026 : during the plenary session, the 8 start-up finalists will present their 3-minute pitch and participate in a Q&A session with the jury.
  Onsite presence to this session in Bari is required.
   
• On May 20th, 2026 : At the Gala Dinner, the winners will be announced and allocated great prizes.

PRIZES

The 8 start-up finalists will benefit of 1 high desk on the Start-up zone of exhibition on SP2026   including a participant badge (value 2300€)

Winners : 6sqm booth on SP2028 edition + 1 year 3AF membership

Special recognition prize by DTA : access to testing infrastructure in line with GATB capabilities   
 

Information and applications before March 23rd, on spacepropulsion@3af.fr

Download the full annuncement here

Final contestants for the 2nd Edition in 2024

Final contestants for the 1st Edition in 2022