Host
Welcome to the
INNOspace Masters 2026
INNOspace Masters 2026
Engage on Earth, Unite in Space –
Exploring Next Level
Cross-Sector Innovations
Exploring Next Level
Cross-Sector Innovations
Submit your idea
from 15 January
to 25 March 2026
Submit your idea from
15 January to 25 March 2026
INNOspace Masters 2026
Video Q&A sessions
Do you have a question about our competition or a specific challenge? Here are all our video Q&A sessions at a glance:
- 5 February 2026, 15:00–16:00 CET: German Space Agency at DLR Challenge (ICS file)
- 12 February 2026, 15:00–16:00 CET: ESA BIC Challenge (ICS file)
- 19 February 2026, 15:00–16:00 CET: ESA BA Challenge (ICS file)
- 26 February 2026, 15:00–16:00 CET: Mercedes-Benz car2space Challenge (ICS file)
- 5 March 2026, 15:00–16:00 CET: Airbus Challenge (ICS file)
- 12 March 2026, 15:00–16:00 CET: OHB Challenge (ICS file)
- 19 March 2026, 15:00–16:00 CET: Whole competition and all challenges (ICS file)
- 23 March 2026, 15:00–16:00 CET: Last-minute submissions (ICS file)
Use the links above to download an ICS file, which you can then add to your calendar. The ICS file also contains the dial-in details.
Alternatively, you can use the following automatic dial-in link:
https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/32285678556375?p=lWjlmvoKwMoKqACEqm
Or dial in manually using your internet browser:
https://www.microsoft.com/en/microsoft-teams/join-a-meeting
Meeting ID: 322 856 785 563 75
Passcode: Q3e6no6A
What is the competition about?
INNOspace Masters is the international innovation competition organised by the German Space Agency at DLR in cooperation with ESA, Airbus, Mercedes-Benz and OHB. Launched in 2015, it is open to companies of all sizes, start-ups, research institutions and universities, as well as individuals from all over the world.
The competition promotes ideas for the transfer of technology and expertise from other industries to the space sector (spin-ins/New Space) or from space to non-space sectors (spin-offs).
The overall theme for the 2026 competition round is:
Engage on Earth, Unite in Space – Exploring Next Level Cross-Sector Innovations
Under this overall theme, the competition offers six different challenges for you to participate in.
Submission for the 2026 competition round is open from 15 January 2026 (13:00 CET) until 25 March 2026 (13:00 CET).
What are the rewards and benefits?
Winners of the INNOspace Masters 2026 challenges will embark on a tailored journey to turn their idea into a real innovation project or business by
- gaining direct access to capital and funding,
- receiving support from research and market specialists,
- obtaining the chance to co-innovate with world market leaders,
- and getting access to premium research and industry networks
to shape the future of space in Germany and Europe!
See how far former winners of INNOspace Masters have already come on their journey, e.g. SilentRunning, DCUBED, OKAPI:Orbits
Challenges and partners
- German Space Agency at DLR Challenge: “Groundbreaking Cross-Sector Innovations”
- ESA BIC Challenge: “Join the New Space Economy”
- ESA BA Challenge: “Space for a Resilient Society”
- Airbus Challenge: “Boosting Earth-Space Industry Partnerships”
- Mercedes-Benz car2space Challenge: “Space up your Drive”
- OHB Challenge: “Sovereign End-to-End Systems”
Timeline
Here are the most important dates for you if you are taking part in one of our challenges. The ESA BIC Challenge has a slightly different Evaluation Phase, with a shortened initial evaluation and an additional coaching phase.
10th anniversary
The 2026 competition marks a special milestone as we are celebrating the 10th anniversary of the INNOspace Masters. Throughout the year, you can discover the success stories of our alumni and learn more about the people behind these achievements. Explore the Overall Winners of the past decade on our winners website. Stay tuned for additional content on our LinkedIn channel.
