APEC | Talent
Talent and society
The IEEC drives initiatives and activities that promote the recruitment, generation and retention of talent in the space sector of the Catalan ecosystem.
Talent management is currently one of the pillars of the developing technological environment in Catalonia and worldwide. Specifically, the recruitment, generation and retention of talent with the capabilities to develop solutions applied to the space sector is one of the cornerstones of the Catalonia Space 2030 Strategy, promoted by the Government of Catalonia.
Within this framework, the IEEC collaborates by fostering access to solutions and technologies applied to the space sector for researchers, engineers and innovators, as well as business owners and entrepreneurs, whether or not they have a prior connection to the sector.
These initiatives are carried out in collaboration with the Catalan Ministry of Education and with the support of other entities within the Catalan ecosystem.
Fostering vocations
The IEEC collaborates and fosters STEM and research vocations among primary, secondary, and upper secondary school students, presenting space as a source of inspiration from the earliest educational stages. Through partnerships with organisations and educational centres, educational experiences and support are offered to teachers and students alike, with the goal of reaching classrooms across Catalonia, stimulating motivation for research, and training the scientists and researchers of the future through initiatives such as the following:
European Space Agency (ESA) CanSat Competition. CanSat is an international competition promoted by the European Space Agency that challenges secondary school students to design and build a mini-satellite the size of a soft drink can. The local phase in Catalonia is organised by the Terrassa School of Industrial, Aerospace and Audiovisual Engineering (ESEIAAT) of the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya – BarcelonaTech (UPC).
Edusat Challenge. The Edusat Challenge programme offers training and support to teachers to bring Earth observation into the classroom. The programme is aimed at teachers of STEAM subjects and Social Sciences, and primary (upper level), secondary, and upper secondary schools across Catalonia can participate. The programme is promoted by the Catalan Government’s Ministries of Business and Labour —through the Secretariat for Digital Policies— and of Education and Vocational Training, within the framework of the Catalonia Space 2030 Strategy and the STEAMcat programme. Teacher training and mentorship are coordinated by the Geographic Information Systems and Remote Sensing Service (SIGTE) of the UdG. SIGTE also develops the Edusat platform, which inspired the programme, and offers materials and training on remote sensing to university students and certain high-ability organisations.
Youth and Science. In the interdisciplinary project ‘NewSpace: Small satellites to change the world’ of the Youth and Science programme, students design, build, test and launch two analogue nanosatellite missions. The initiative is part of the programme to foster scientific vocations of the Fundació Catalunya La Pedrera.
Scientific Stays. The ‘Scientific Stays – NewSpace’ programme has allowed secondary and upper secondary school students to learn what NewSpace is, which technologies form part of it and how it can help us in our daily lives. Held during the summers between 2023 and 2025, the project is also part of the programme to foster scientific vocations of the Fundació Catalunya La Pedrera.
Space training in higher education
The IEEC promotes access to the professional world in the space sector for the final stages of higher education (undergraduate degrees, master’s degrees, and vocational training courses) through instruments such as internships, training placements in companies and research centres (Bachelor’s and Master’s theses), industrial doctorates, etc. We highlight the following programmes:
Scholarship programme for internships in companies and research centres. These grants for undertaking internships in space-sector projects aim to encourage the connection between educational and professional activities.
‘Catalonia Space Scholarships’ grants. A scholarship programme to undertake higher education space studies at the International Space University (ISU). Promoted by the Government of Catalonia and the IEEC, this programme awarded three annual grants, which complemented those awarded by the ISU itself and the European Space Agency (ESA), to help cover the costs associated with participating in the Space Studies Program (SSP) organised by the ISU.
The SSP, of great international prestige, was developed with the support of the ESA and was held annually in collaboration with various space agencies worldwide. The course offered an 8-week development experience during the summer months for students in the final stages of higher education. The main objective of the programme was to train students or early-career professionals to access the specialised sector within the fields of the space economy and the space industry.
Grants for companies to finance industrial doctorates in space-sector projects. The objective of these grants is to contribute to the competitiveness and internationalisation of the Catalan industry in the space sector, reinforce the instruments for attracting talent generated within the country, and facilitate future PhD students to develop R&D&I projects within a company. This funding complements the financing provided by AGAUR (Agency for Management of University and Research Grants).
Bachelor’s Degree in Satellite Engineering at the Castelldefels School of Telecommunications and Aerospace Engineering (EETAC). The degree aims to provide comprehensive training in the knowledge, skills, and competences required in the space sector, which includes the design and control of systems forming a spacecraft, communications with Earth and between satellites, data transmission and processing, and satellite data services and applications.
NASA SpaceAPPS Challenge. This hackathon, organised worldwide by NASA since 2012, offers students, professionals, entrepreneurs, and STEAM enthusiasts the opportunity to solve global challenges through collaboration and innovation, working in multidisciplinary teams using open data from space agencies.
Promotion of female talent and space training for professionals
The IEEC provides support for the transfer of professionals from other technological sectors and for the preparation of various sectors to incorporate space technologies and services.
One of the objectives of this line of action is to recognise the role of women in the professional, business, and academic environments of new technologies. At the same time, it seeks to provide role models for girls and teenagers to promote the presence of women in STEM disciplines.
The main areas of focus are:
DonaTIC Plan in the space sector. Within the framework of the Catalonia Space 2030 Strategy, the IEEC collaborates to award the Aerospace Special Mention of the DonaTIC Awards.
HypaTIC Project. HYPA-TIC is an initiative created from the collaboration between the Hypatia Mars Association and the IEEC, supported by the Government of Catalonia within the framework of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan, funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU. The project aims to promote female talent and digital inclusion in the fields of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and space sciences through educational and outreach activities that combine scientific research, storytelling, and participatory learning.
Within the framework of this initiative, several events and inspiring talks have taken place, alongside the expansion of the CatMart project: Catalonia searches for life on Mars.
The IEEC also promotes training for professionals from different sectors to expand their capabilities and incorporate the technologies and services that space offers for the growth of their own sector, through initiatives such as the following:
SpaceSUITE Project. SpaceSUITE (Space downstream Skills development and User uptake through Innovative curricula in Training and Education) is an ERASMUS+ Blueprint project for the development of innovative resources for education and training to bridge the gap between the supply and demand for skills in the constantly growing space sector. The IEEC participates in the review of the project’s main results and supports information on competences, as well as awareness-raising, dissemination, integration, and implementation actions, particularly within its respective regional ecosystems.