Open call to participate in the NewSpace Catalonia stand at the International Astronautical Congress in Milan (Italy), from 14 to 18 October 2024

Is your company an innovative company or a research and innovation centre in the field of space? If the answer to the previous question is yes, your company or centre may be eligible to exhibit at the ‘NewSpace Catalonia’ stand that the Government of Catalonia, with the collaboration of the Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia (IEEC), will present at the International Astronautical Congress 2024 from 14 to 18 October this year. The event, which this year will be held in Milan (Italy), brings together all kinds of international organisations and is the major reference in the space sector.

The International Astronautical Congress (IAC) is the most important space event in the world. Every year, all actors in the space industry come together to offer everyone the opportunity to discover the latest innovations in the space sector, as well as outstanding contacts and potential collaborations.

Under the motto ‘Responsible Space for Sustainability’, IAC24 aims to bring together all space communities with the ecosystem of companies and startups, entrepreneurs, universities, laboratories, scientific researchers and manufacturers working in the space sector. Special attention will be given to students and young professionals through dedicated events, and there will be also space-themed conferences and exhibitions aimed at the general public.

This year, the Generalitat de Catalunya, with the collaboration of the IEEC, will have a 140 m² pavilion dedicated to the NewSpace Strategy, with an exclusive area dedicated to accommodate 8 companies. These companies will be able to use the Strategy’s stand to hold meetings and to promote all those activities that they consider relevant and that have been agreed, while enjoying maximum visibility within these spaces. Visitors, companies and entities participating in the congress will be able to take advantage of the spaces of the stand, which will be located in an area of great public affluence and close to relevant actors at European and US level, to publicise their activities, establish contacts with other leading actors in the world space sector and promote global collaborations. 

The ‘NewSpace Catalonia’ pavilion is an initiative of the NewSpace Strategy of Catalonia, promoted by the Generalitat de Catalunya in collaboration with the Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia (IEEC), the i2CAT Foundation and the Cartographic and Geological Institute of Catalonia (ICGC). This collaboration seeks to project to the world the capabilities of the Catalan ecosystem in terms of industry, innovation, and talent generation. The stands will show the great potential of the interaction of the space sector and the digital sector, both strategic in the emergence of the New Space Economy, as well as the different institutions involved, the strengths of the NewSpace Strategy of Catalonia and the sectors participating in this ecosystem.

The companies and entities hosted in the different areas of the ‘NewSpace Catalonia’ pavilion will benefit from the different outreach and internationalisation activities that will be carried out, and will have the support and assistance of the members promoting the strategy before, during and after the celebration of the event.

DEADLINE EXTENSION: the deadline for application submission is Monday 6 May 2024 (23.59 pm).

Participation modalities

Modality 1: Your own space in the NewSpace Catalonia pavilion (co-exhibitor)

• Reserved area at the NewSpace stand of the Generalitat de Catalunya with a specific space ranging from 7 to 10 m2, with table and chairs.
• Access to the stand’s meeting area.
• 1 ‘Exhibition booth staff badge’ ticket for the congress (*).
• Option of an extra ‘Exhibition booth staff badge’ type ticket for the congress, at a special price of €400.
• Listing in the IAC24’s NewSpace Catalonia brochure.
• Participation in the different events organised by the promoting members of the NewSpace Strategy of Catalonia within the framework of the IAC24.
• Dissemination by the IAC through its communication platforms.
• Promotion through different communication channels (web, press, etc.).

The cost of the co-exhibitor modality is €500. The company must assume all costs associated with travel, transportation and the installation of specific content in its space.

(*) The ‘Exhibition booth staff badge’ ticket allows access to the exhibition area, the opening ceremony and the welcome reception, but does not allow access to the technical sessions (TS), the plenary session, the IAF Global Networking Forum (IAF GNF) or the special session rooms (SpS). Access to these rooms and sessions will require registration as a full IAC 2024 delegate and an additional fee from the co-exhibitor.

Modality 2: Showcasing company inside the NewSpace Catalonia Pavilion

• Access to the stand’s meeting area.
• Listing in the IAC24’s NewSpace Catalonia brochure.
• Participation in the different events organised by the promoting members of the NewSpace Strategy of Catalonia within the framework of the IAC24.
• Promotion through different communication channels (web, press, etc.).

The cost of the showcasing modality is €200. The company will be responsible for all additional costs other than travel and transportation.

Modality 3: Catalan ecosystem company with its own stand outside the NewSpace Catalonia pavilion.

• Listing in the IAC24’s NewSpace Catalonia brochure.
• Participation in the different events organised by the promoting members of the NewSpace Strategy of Catalonia within the framework of the IAC24.
• Promotion through different communication channels (web, press, etc.).

Participating in this modality is free of charge. We encourage all companies from the Catalan ecosystem that will have their own stand outside the NewSpace pavilion to participate in this call. The company must assume all costs associated with travel and transportation.

Mandatory requirements

To join the selection process, it is necessary:

• Sending an email with your contact details to info-apec@ieec.cat before 6 May 2024 (23:59 pm), with the subject “IAC24”.
• Documents that must be attached to the email:
• Choice of the desired participation modality (1, 2 or 3).
• Brief description in English and Catalan (maximum 100 words). This description will be used in the event brochures, as well as in the dissemination and communication actions deemed appropriate by the entities promoting the NewSpace Strategy of Catalonia. Your consent for its use is considered to be implicit. It is important that the text is both INTELLIGIBLE and DESCRIPTIVE.
• A PowerPoint file with a corporate presentation of the company in English. Maximum 15 slides. This document will provide additional information to assess the suitability of the company to the call for proposals and will not be used in any case as dissemination material by the promoters of the NewSpace Strategy of Catalonia. NOTE: Send via a file transfer website (Dropbox, WeTransfer, etc.).
• A file with the logo you wish to appear in the NewSpace Catalonia brochure (high resolution format: Freehand, Illustrator, etc.). This logo will also be used on your company’s signage at the ‘NewSpace Catalonia’ stand. NOTE: Send via a file transfer website (Dropbox, WeTransfer, etc.).

You will receive confirmation before 10 May 2024 as to whether you have been selected.

Selection criteria

To be a Catalan company or a research and innovation centre working in the business segment of the space sector. For the selection, the following criteria will be taken into account:

• The degree of innovation and originality of your company’s or centre’s products, services or applications.
• The possibilities for internationalisation.
• The degree of maturity or market implementation of your products, services or applications.

For further information, please contact us at info-apec@ieec.cat.

Scheduled dates

• Monday 6 May 2024 (23:59 pm). Deadline for application submission.
• Before 10 May 2024. Notification of the selected companies by the selection team of the NewSpace Strategy of Catalonia.