[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” background_image=”https:\/\/www.ieec.cat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/slider-comunicacio.jpg” max_height=”130px” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” global_colors_info=”{}” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”24px||11px|||” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” global_colors_info=”{}” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text module_class=”ieec-orgs” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _dynamic_attributes=”content” _module_preset=”default” text_font=”|700||on|||||” text_font_size=”16px” header_font=”|700|||||||” text_orientation=”center” custom_margin=”||10px||false|false” header_font_size_tablet=”28px” header_font_size_phone=”26px” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoiY3VzdG9tX21ldGFfb3JnYW5pemFjaW9uZXMiLCJzZXR0aW5ncyI6eyJiZWZvcmUiOiIiLCJhZnRlciI6IiIsImVuYWJsZV9odG1sIjoib2ZmIn19@[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_post_title author=”off” categories=”off” comments=”off” featured_image=”off” module_class=”ieec-title et_pb_text_align_center” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” title_font=”Cairo|300|||||||” title_text_align=”center” title_font_size=”40px” meta_font=”||on||||||” meta_text_align=”center” meta_font_size=”16px” title_font_size_tablet=”35px” title_font_size_phone=”30px” title_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_post_title][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.ieec.cat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/nasaspaceappsperweb.jpg” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text module_class=”ieec-img-footer” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”||||||||” text_font_size=”15px” text_line_height=”1.1em” background_color=”rgba(64,111,218,0.15)” custom_margin=”0px||||false|false” custom_padding=”30px|20px|30px|20px|true|true” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Foto de grup del NASA International Space Apps Challenge. <\/span>Space Apps Spain<\/b><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” link_font=”|700|||on||||” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n The NASA International Space Apps Challenge, one of the leading STEAM hackathons worldwide, took place this past weekend in Barcelona. <\/span><\/p>\n This is the third time the city has hosted the local edition of the event, which aims to foster and develop creative solutions to global challenges posed by NASA.<\/span><\/p>\n The <\/span>NASA Space Apps Challenge<\/span><\/a> is a global initiative open to people of all ages and backgrounds \u2014 students, professionals, scientists, engineers, artists, and communicators.<\/span><\/p>\n Participants work collaboratively to develop innovative projects that aim to improve life on Earth and in space, using open data from NASA and other associated space agencies.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” link_font=”|700|||on||||” hover_enabled=”0″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n During this edition, held at Campus 42 Barcelona Fundaci\u00f3n Telef\u00f3nica, over 20 teams tackled some of the 19 challenges, covering areas such as sustainability, health, technology, and space exploration.<\/span><\/p>\n The winning teams of this edition are <\/span>Sharkitects<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>AI i Oli<\/span><\/a>. Sharkitects developed a mathematical method based on satellite data to identify sharks and predict where they feed. In addition, they proposed a new type of electronic tag capable of recording not only the sharks\u2019 location but also their feeding behaviour, with the aim of improving their conservation and scientific study. AI i Oli, on the other hand, created a tool based on artificial intelligence and computer vision to make the exploration of astronomical images easier. Through a natural language chat interface, it allows users to identify stars, galaxies and constellations in a simple and accessible way for all audiences.<\/span><\/p>\n Both teams will represent Barcelona in the international phase of the competition, competing with projects from around the world and aiming to present their proposals at the Kennedy Space Center (USA).<\/span><\/p>\n The local event was organised by SpaceApps Spain and supported by Fundaci\u00f3n Telef\u00f3nica, the Generalitat de Catalunya, and the <\/span>Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia<\/span><\/a> (IEEC), within the framework of the Talent and Society programme of <\/span>Catalonia\u2019s NewSpace Strategy<\/span><\/a>. This year, Spain led participation across Europe, with around 800 participants spread across six local hubs. The hackathon was also held simultaneously in other cities around the world.<\/span><\/p>\n The opening ceremony featured institutional participation from <\/span>Xavier Luri<\/b>, Director of the IEEC; <\/span>Sandra Ruiz Peralta<\/b>, Director General of Digital Economy and Society of the Generalitat de Catalunya; <\/span>Nikki Finnemann<\/b>, Public Diplomacy Consul at the U.S. Consulate General in Barcelona; <\/span>Sara D\u00edaz<\/b>, Executive Director of Strategic Sectors and Talent at Barcelona Activa; <\/span>Ainhoa Zamora<\/b>, Director of Telef\u00f3nica Campus 42 Barcelona; and <\/span>\u00c1lvaro Montoliu<\/b>, representing NASA Space Apps Spain.<\/span><\/p>\n Once again, the IEEC actively collaborated in this year\u2019s edition, providing mentors (<\/span>Laura Mart\u00ed Ramos<\/b> and <\/span>Llu\u00eds Montilla Rodr\u00edguez<\/b>) who supported the participating teams, as well as jury members (<\/span>Llu\u00eds Foreman Campins<\/b> and <\/span>Paula Lomascolo Pujad\u00f3<\/b>) responsible for evaluating the final proposals.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_divider color=”#406fda” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||10px||false|false” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_text module_class=”ieec-sub-title” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Cairo|700|||||||” text_text_color=”#406fda” text_font_size=”20px” custom_margin=”||10px||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n Image gallery<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_gallery gallery_ids=”39950,39962,39956,39944,39959,39947,39941,39953″ zoom_icon_color=”#FFFFFF” hover_overlay_color=”rgba(26,17,64,0.6)” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” title_font=”|||on|||||” title_text_align=”center” title_text_color=”#1a1140″ title_font_size=”13px” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_gallery][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row module_class=”ieec-about” _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”rgba(64,111,218,0.15)” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”20px|50px|20px|50px|true|true” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Sobre l’IEEC” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” header_2_font=”|700|||||||” header_2_font_size=”25px” custom_margin=”||10px||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ header_2_font_size_tablet=”23px” header_2_font_size_phone=”23px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”||on||||||” link_font=”|700|||on||||” hover_enabled=”0″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n The Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia (IEEC \u2014 Institut d\u2019Estudis Espacials de Catalunya) promotes and coordinates space research and technology development in Catalonia for the benefit of society. IEEC fosters collaborations both locally and worldwide and is an efficient agent of knowledge, innovation and technology transfer. As a result of more than 25 years of high-quality research, done in collaboration with major international organisations, IEEC ranks among the best international research centres, focusing on areas such as: astrophysics, cosmology, planetary science, and Earth Observation. IEEC\u2019s engineering division develops instrumentation for ground- and space-based projects, and has extensive experience in working with private or public organisations from the aerospace and other innovation sectors.<\/p>\n The IEEC is a non-profit public sector foundation that was established in February 1996. It has a Board of Trustees composed of the Generalitat de Catalunya, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Universitat Aut\u00f2noma de Barcelona (UAB), Universitat Polit\u00e8cnica de Catalunya \u00b7 BarcelonaTech (UPC), and the Spanish Research Council (CSIC). The IEEC is also a CERCA centre.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The NASA Space Apps Challenge is a global initiative open to people of all ages and backgrounds \u2014 students, professionals, scientists, engineers, artists, and communicators.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":39918,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"2880","footnotes":""},"categories":[71,125,128,111,133,80],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-39982","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-announcements","category-award","category-event","category-highlighted-news-small","category-newspace-en-2","category-talent-en"],"yoast_head":"\nAbout the IEEC<\/h2>\n