COIMBRA SPACE
SUMMER SCHOOL
New Frontiers, New Opportunities:
Writing the Next Chapter of Human Space Exploration
2nd, 3rd and 4th of September 2026
📍 Instituto Pedro Nunes, Coimbra
📍 Geophysical and Astronomical Observatory, Coimbra
📍 Pampilhosa Business Center, Pampilhosa da Serra
In April 2026, the Artemis II mission carried four astronauts beyond low Earth orbit for the first time in 54 years. Getting there – and back – required solving some of the hardest problems in science and engineering. Those problems are still far from solved.
- How does the human body survive beyond the protection of Earth's atmosphere, where radiation is relentless and every system can fail?
- What does it take to keep a crew connected when every signal has to travel hundreds of thousands of kilometres through space?
- How do you find what you need to survive on a world with no air and no supply chain?
- How do you plan for the unknown, when the cost of being wrong is measured in human lives?
- And what do all these answers mean for life here on Earth, and for the businesses that can be built from them?
🚀 Come explore the science and engineering behind humanity's return to deep space and build the business ideas that make the next chapter possible.
What is Coimbra Space Summer School?
Coimbra Space Summer School is a summer school dedicated to students, researchers and entrepreneurs interested in exploring the space economy.
This edition takes place over 3 days, between the 2nd and 4th of September 2026, in person, with a diversified program of activities, combining knowledge-sharing, contact with people, entities and companies linked to space, challenges to generate business ideas, gifts and prizes!
All this in a stimulating environment with a good mood.
That’s 3 days full of space!
Who are we looking for?
Higher Education students, researchers from entities of the National Scientific and Technological System (SCTN) and entrepreneurs interested in exploring the potential of space to create business.
We want people with motivation and curiosity to know and propose ideas on how Space can improve our daily lives, creating innovative services or products that incorporate space assets!
What are the benefits of participating?
- Learn more about space technologies and their applications
- Networking with the space community in Portugal
- Receive mentoring from experts in the field of space, innovation, entrepreneurship and business development
- Develop entrepreneurship skills, teamwork, communication and problem solving
- Get a certificate of participation
- Win gifts and prizes
What activities are included?
- Thematic talks
- Challenges and contests for creating businesses that use space assets
- Mentoring
- Pitch
- Networking with key people and institutions in the space sector
How to participate?
Registration is individual and must be completed by August 28th, 2026, using the form available here.
The organisation of the event is conditioned to a maximum of 45 participants. If the minimum number of 16 registrations is not verified, the organization reserves the right to cancel the event.
The cost of registration is 10€ per participant with payment made by bank transfer, to the IBAN of Instituto Pedro Nunes:
IBAN PT50 0035 0239 00003663230 55
BIC SWIFT CGDIPTPL
Proof of payment must be attached to the registration form (document, PDF or image). A receipt will be issued for all payments received. Please note that payments are non-refundable in case of no-show. Only registrations submitted on time, with proof of payment included, will be considered valid.
What’s included:
The registration fee covers participation in the full programme, including all meals throughout the event. This year’s edition also includes an overnight stay in Pampilhosa da Serra on the night of 3 September, with accommodation and transport between Coimbra and Pampilhosa da Serra provided by the organisation.
What are the conditions of participation?
• Being a university higher education student or
• Be a researcher at an SCTN institution or
• Be an entrepreneur
• Be over 18 years old
• Enroll by deadline
Applications are processed in order of receipt. Successful applicants will be notified by email by August 31st, 2026.
What are space assets?
The ESA – European Space Agency divides space assets into the following areas:
· Earth Observation
· Human and Robotic Exploration
· Space Transport
· Navigation
· Space Science
· Space Engineering and Technology
· Operations
· Telecommunications and Integrated Applications
· Preparing for the Future
To find out more, you can visit: ESA – Our Activities
You can also find out more about the Portuguese Space Agency and its work: Portugal Space
Space assets are:
• equipment that is or can be placed in space (for example, a satellite or a launcher).
• ground equipment that directly supports activity in space (for example, a ground station), including all technologies, architectures, software, techniques, tools, systems, hardware, models, components, and materials, among others, developed to integrate such equipment.
Space assets are also:
• data and images from Earth Observation satellites – Earth Observation, the satellites that provide positioning and time information, and
• navigation and communication satellites.
You can find out more, you can visit:
COPERNICUS – European Earth Observation Program
GALILEO – Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)
EGNOS – European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service
Programme
Day 1 (2 Sep)
09:45 Check-in at the venue
10:00 Welcome by IPN+OGAUC+GeoPlaNet
10:15 Event Agenda Presentation
10:30 Teaming
11:00 Keynote
11:30 Challenges, Space Technologies & Competition
12:00 Team Work
13:00 Lunch Break
14:00 Keynote
14:30 Team Work & Mentoring
15:30 Keynote
16:00 Team Work & Mentoring
17:30 Thematic Talk
18:00 Team Work & Mentoring
18:15 Keynote
19:00 Astro-Barbecue
21:00 Astronomical Observation / Astro Q&A
22:00 Go home (it’s late…)
Day 2 (3 Sep)
09:45 Check-in at the venue
10:00 Welcoming Briefing
10:15 Warm-up Quiz and Prize
10:30 Thematic Talk
11:15 Coffee Break
11:30 Team Work & Mentoring
13:00 Lunch Break
14:00 Keynote
15:00 Teamwork & mentoring
16:00 Learn How to pitch
16:45 Teamwork & Mentoring
18:00 Departure to Pampilhosa da Serra
19:30 Check-in & Welcoming Dinner
21:30 Good night – big day tomorrow!😴
Day 3 (4 Sep)
09:30 Check-in at the venue
09:45 Welcoming Briefing
09:50 Pitch Session #1
11:50 Coffee Break
12:00 Pitch Session #2
13:00 Lunch! Ad astra!
14:00 Keynote
14:30 Award Ceremony
15:00 The End 😉