Apply for the CEMSxESA Block Seminar "Turning Technology into Business"

The experience

Since its establishment in 2005, the seminar has explored terrestrial applications for technologies originally developed for the space sector. In its current edition, it focuses on value co-creation opportunities at the intersection of the space sector and the Port of Rotterdam.

Programme overview

Participants are organised into multidisciplinary teams and challenged to rapidly develop an understanding of the strategic and operational challenges facing both the space and port industries, as well as broader societal needs. Over five working days, teams develop and present value-creating business proposals to a hybrid professional jury.

Teams are coached by an RSM faculty member and guided through a structured innovation methodology — from design thinking to business model definition — adapted flexibly to the needs of each team.

Programme structure

The seminar runs from Monday 31 August to Friday 5 September 2026. Upon arrival at ESA on Monday, participants receive:

• A plenary programme briefing and team allocation
• An immersion session on challenges and emergent technologies in the space sector, including technologies with potential for terrestrial deployment
• A parallel briefing from Port of Rotterdam representatives covering key operational challenges and high-priority technology areas

Guided by the RSM faculty coach, teams then identify high-value problem spaces — ideally of relevance to both the space and port sectors — and progress through problem definition, ideation, concept selection, and solution design over four working days. Each team develops an initial business proposal and delivers a pitch to a professional jury, with a winning team announced at the close of the week.

Engineering support

This call is for engineering students who will complement the business expertise of CEMS participants. Engineering students will be embedded within the teams throughout the week, providing technical guidance and domain knowledge in this high-intensity learning environment.

Who can apply?

Eligibility criteria

This call is addressed to Master's students in engineering. The business participants are provided by CEMS partner schools worldwide; ESA-supported places are reserved exclusively for engineering students applying through this call.

To be eligible for this ESA Academy Short Course Scholarship, students must fulfil the following criteria at the time of application:

• be minimum 18 years old at the time of the short course;
• be a national of an ESA Member State or Associate Member;
• be enrolled as a student in a Master degree in engineering in a tertiary education academic programme (not graduating before the short course);
• not benefit from an overlapping financial support to attend this short course, unless duly justified;
• attend the entire short course;
• agree with the conditions of the ESA Academy's Privacy Policy.

Sponsorship & attendance

Selected students will receive an ESA Academy Short Course Scholarship covering the following costs: registration fees of €150, paid directly by the ESA Education Office; up to €350 towards travel expenses; and up to €500 for accommodation for up to 5 nights.

Diversity & inclusion statement

ESA is committed to achieving diversity and creating an inclusive professional environment. To this end, we welcome proposals and applications from all eligible candidates irrespective of gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, beliefs, age, disability, or other characteristics. Whenever possible, we seek to accommodate individuals with disabilities by providing the necessary support, either digitally or at the location of the training. In case of any questions or specific needs, please reach out to academy.engagement@esa.int to get assistance or advice during the application process.

How to apply?

• Apply through ESA Learn, the ESA Education and Community ;
• Upload a motivation letter (PDF, maximum 1 page, no images);
• Upload a CV (Europass format, PDF, maximum 2 pages, no images);
• Upload a formal recommendation letter (PDF, maximum 1 page, including signature, no image) from a university professor or academic supervisor of the current university (if it is not possible to receive the recommendation letter from your referee, please ask them to send a recommendation email to academy.engagement@esa.int before the application deadline); 
• Upload a copy of your Transcript of Grades from the two previous semesters, or, if not available, the previous graded academic year (PDF).

All answers and documents should be in English (Transcript of Grades can be submitted in the language of the hosting university, if unavailable in English).

Deadlines

Application deadline: 26 July 2026, 23:55 CEST.

Selection announcement: 31 July 2026.

Contact & further information

For more information, please contact academy.engagement@esa.int.