Image courtesy NASA.
Japan’s S-Booster contest is offering a prize of 10 million yen (approximately $120,000) for the best idea for utilising space assets to start new businesses or for new projects within existing businesses.
The contest is divided into two regions, Japan and the wider Asia-Oceania region as a whole. Entrants from the latter region will participate online.
Individuals or teams can enter, but they must have firm intentions of commercialising their concepts. Applicants from outside of Japan must include collaboration with Japan or a sponsor’s theme. (Detailed information is available on the S-Booster website.)
All entrants will undergo two rounds of screening. The first, in May and June 2021, will involve assessment of submitted documents. The second, in July, will take the form of pitch presentations.
Those who pass rounds 1 and 2 will receive support for commercialising their ideas via mentoring by Japanese experts, including business advice.
Successful finalists will then pitch their ideas to investors, businesses and others interested in the space field at the final round of judging, which will take place in mid-December 2021.
S-Booster 2021 is the fourth iteration of the contest.
The contest is hosted by the Japanese’s government’s Cabinet Office, co-hosted by the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency and the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organisation, and, as a local host, the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency.
The deadline for applications is 5:00pm, JST, on 20 May. Full details on how to enter are available on the S-Booster website.
Stay up to date by getting stories like this delivered to your inbox.
Sign up to receive our free weekly Spatial Source newsletter.
