A sustainable Space for a sustainable Earth

A sustainable Space for a sustainable Earth

Portugal Space and partners are putting together the next AI Moonshot Challenge.

Space provides the infrastructure for personal mobility, communication for work, weather forecasting, precision farming to maximize crop harvesting, banking transactions, management of precious resources such as potable water, monitoring of forest fires, archaeological investigations, scientific knowledge, and even the dream of expanding the reach of humanity.
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Within this infrastructure, satellites, missions and programs are generating massive amounts of data. Recent developments in Artificial Intelligence position it as a key technology to translate all these data into useful information to enable all of the real-world applications.
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At the same time, in order to ensure that we can properly and effectively use our space assets to provide these services and reach these goals, it is clear that we need to retain our ability to access and utilize space, increasingly cluttered by debris, in a sustainable manner.
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How can we effectively manage space assets?
How will they, together with Artificial Intelligence, help us create a more sustainable Earth?

We are looking for innovative ideas in the following topics:

Space Debris Monitoring

How can AI help us minimise and keep track of Space debris?

Land resources management

How can AI and Satellite data help us preserve our land resources and contribute to a net zero carbon emissions society?

Ocean sustainability

How can AI an Satellite data help us promote ocean health and biodiversity?

See the rules to submit your proposal!

TIMELINE

STAGE 1
Open for applications
4th November 2021
Teams start to develop and submit their proposals.
STAGE 2
Close of Call
30th May 2022
International panel of experts evaluate each proposal and select the best teams.
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STAGE 3
Selection of proposal
September 2022
Top teams are invited to pitch their proposals at the Web Summit.
STAGE 4
Pitches and Winner announcement at the Web Summit 2022!

PARTNERS

PARTNERS

Web Summit

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Portugal Space and partners are putting together the next AI Moonshot Challenge.
‍
Space provides the infrastructure for personal mobility, communication for work, weather forecasting, precision farming to maximize crop harvesting, banking transactions, management of precious resources such as potable water, monitoring of forest fires, archaeological investigations, scientific knowledge, and even the dream of expanding the reach of humanity.
‍
Within this infrastructure, satellites, missions and programs are generating massive amounts of data. Recent developments in Artificial Intelligence position it as a key technology to translate all these data into useful information to enable all of the real-world applications.
‍
At the same time, in order to ensure that we can properly and effectively use our space assets to provide these services and reach these goals, it is clear that we need to retain our ability to access and utilize space, increasingly cluttered by debris, in a sustainable manner.
‍
How can we effectively manage space assets?
How will they, together with ArtificialIntelligence, help us create a more sustainable Earth?

Start brainstorming your ideas considering the following themes:
Space Debris Monitoring
Land resources management
Ocean sustainability

The challenge open announcement will happen during Web Summit, on November 1st –4th 2021.

More news coming soon!


Fight Earth's problems

with AI & Space Tech

Win 500k
Join the #AIMoonshotChallenge

Submissions are now closed.

Fight Earth's problems
‍with AI & Space Tech

LET’S USE AI TO COMBAT
CLIMATE CHANGE

Win €500000
Join the #AIMoonshotChallenge

Submissions are now closed!

Submissions are now closed!
The first worldwide competition to combine AI and emerging space technologies to find solutions for the detection, location and monitoring of maritime waste on a planetary scale.

LET’S USE AI AND EMERGING SPACE TECHNOLOGIES TO COMBAT CLIMATE CHANGE

LET’S USE AI TO COMBAT
CLIMATE CHANGE

Participate in the first worldwide competition to combine AI and emerging space technologies to detect, locate and monitor maritime waste on a planetary scale.
The first worldwide competition to combine AI and emerging space technologies to find solutions for the detection, location and monitoring of maritime waste on a planetary scale.

THE CHALLENGE

The global competition to advance monitoring of plastic litter on a planetary scale, making use of AI and Satellite Data.

Fifty years after landing on the moon, we’re calling a new challenge — this time back home. Our oceans are drowning in waste.

Marine Litter Pollution is an urgent problem we are far from solving and only starting to understand. More than 4.8 million tons of plastic end up in the ocean every year and most of it is unaccounted for.

At the same time, massive amounts of satellite data are being generated worldwide providing opportunities to improve health, economy and environment when leveraged with powerful tools such as Artificial Intelligence.

Make a difference

Trash in the oceans is a global problem.

Challenge what’s possible

Problems from the past need solutions from the future.

Win €500k

to perform research from Portugal for up to 2 years.


The first edition of the AI Moonshot Challenge is now in it's final stages.
We've received proposals including 38 institutions from 13 countries that were evaluated by our Jury Panel.
Three proposals were selected to pitch their projects during Web Summit and the winning team has been announced! Check the video to find out the winner of the first edition of the AI Moonshot Challenge!

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The AI Moonshot Challenge is live!

After re-structuring the challenge to take into consideration the most recent restrictions imposed by the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, the competition is open with an updated timeline and scope.

The AI Moonshot is now a Global Open Call for Disruptive Ideas, challenging participants to submit their solutions on how to leverage AI capabilities and Satellite data to address marine litter pollution.

We are open to receive proposals from research groups, individual experts, consortia or partnerships between different people or entities, including companies or start-ups, from different academic backgrounds and geographies, according to the Call for Applications.
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Submissions should target plastic marine litter detection and will be evaluated on their innovative approach and technical component by a panel of international experts in the areas of Satellite Remote Sensing and Artificial Intelligence.

‍The team(s) with the best proposal(s) will receive up to a maximum of 500.000€ to carry out their research in the next 2 years from Portugal. Non-national teams can participate either in close cooperation with Portuguese beneficiary institutions, or by establishing themselves in Portugal.

How to apply to the
AI Moonshot Challenge

1. Download our Open Call for Proposals to get all of the details (including eligibility and evaluation criteria).
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2. Build a team and discuss your most innovative ideas
(reach out if you need support in partnering up with organisations).
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3. Craft a proposal according to the Call guidelines.
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4. Submit your application by emailing your proposal (PDF) 
including the signed letters/declarations of commitmentto moonshot@ptspace.pt until the 9th of October.
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5. Wait for evaluation results and start preparing a pitch
(top proposals will be invited to pitch their projects).

Good Luck!