Saudi Arabia’s Communications, Space and Technology Commission and Saudi Space Agency have announced the winners of the global SpaceUp competition, held alongside the 2026 Global Connectivity and Space Sustainability Event in Riyadh.
The competition received 690 submissions from more than 50 countries and helped localize the operations of over 40 companies in Saudi Arabia, according to the announcement. Support included assistance with entrepreneurship licenses, commercial registration and enrollment on the Etimad platform, enabling companies to participate in government tenders and offer services in the Kingdom.
The winning companies were SARSATX from Saudi Arabia, Smart Orbits from Jordan and Orbital Universe from Australia. Their solutions use satellite data, Earth observation technologies and artificial intelligence to address challenges in agriculture and infrastructure.
Applications include monitoring invasive plants, supporting the early detection of red palm weevil and assessing palm health, as well as improving infrastructure planning and estimating the traffic impact of road closures. The organizers said the technologies are designed to monitor changes, support decision-making and improve future forecasting.
New Space Group was also recognized as a strategic partner. Previous challenge partners honored at the event included Saudi Arabia’s National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification, the National Center for Prevention and Control of Plant Pests and Animal Diseases, and the Riyadh Region Infrastructure Projects Center.
Source: Saudi Press Agency
