TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan’s RunSpace Innovation Challenge is now open for registration for domestic and international teams.
Now in its fourth edition, Taiwan's premier platform for space and satellite innovation is promoting transformative satellite concepts, particularly small form factor satellites, or CubeSats.
The competition invites students, engineers, entrepreneurs, and researchers to submit proposals that can lead to real-world implementation. Organizers hope the competition can further develop Taiwan into a hub for small satellite innovation in the Asia-Pacific region, per a press release.
RunSpace Innovation Challenge was initiated by the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Industrial Development Administration, to strengthen Taiwan’s role in emerging space technologies. The competition helps foster cross-sector collaboration between academia, industry, and government, focusing on small satellite platforms and next-generation applications.
Teams may compete in one of three categories: "Innovation Category" for early-stage, conceptual ideas; "Implementation Category" for projects with prototypes or practical feasibility; and "Sponsor Special Topic," which is a real-world mission brief provided by this year's industry partner, HEX20.
Streamlined application
Unlike traditional competitions that demand full technical specifications or working prototypes, RunSpace makes it simple to participate, as the only requirement is submitting a 10-slide PowerPoint proposal for preliminary review, outlining mission concept, technical approach, potential impact, and implementation plan.
Competition organizers believe this low-barrier format will attract fresh perspectives from diverse fields. Whether you are a student with an idea, a startup team with early-stage technology, or an international collaborator looking to enter Asia’s space sector, the submission format allows you to put forward a pitch and gain a passport to real-world development.
Participants will compete for cash prizes up to NT$300,000 (US$9,500), industry mentorship and feedback, and demo day exposure to investors, industry leaders, and space organizations.
RunSpace finalists last year have attracted interest from regional aerospace firms and startup accelerators. This year’s expanded scope is expected to unlock even more career and commercial opportunities.
HEX20 challenge
The HEX20 satellite platform is a flight-proven, cost-effective solution tailored to meet several needs. The company specializes in modular satellite buses, flight avionics, and mission integration, offering end-to-end solutions for commercial, defense, and academic customers.
HEX20 has executed satellite projects with clients across the US, Asia-Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, and South America, supporting a wide range of satellite missions, and offers comprehensive training programs tailored to diverse client needs.
For the 2025 RunSpace Innovation Challenge, participating teams are invited to design a CubeSat payload for Earth Observation or Space Domain Awareness applications, integrating a selection of HEX20 commercial satellite subsystems, such as Command and Data Handling Subsystem, Electrical Power Subsystem, UHF/VHF Transceiver, and Solar Panels.
The top-performing team may be selected to collaborate with HEX20 in the mission development phase for its upcoming 27U satellite platform, with a possible in-orbit demonstration planned for 2027.
Key registration dates
With CubeSat technology revolutionizing how space missions are developed and deployed, RunSpace is offering the rare opportunity to turn ideas into actual missions. Joining forces with HEX20 allows Taiwan’s satellite community the opportunity to become more connected and spur innovation.
As space becomes increasingly commercialized, there will be more opportunities to collaborate with innovators, developers, and established enterprises. The RunSpace Innovation Challenge invites the next generation of youthful innovators to take the next step forward and help shape the future of satellite technology.
The preliminary review submission deadline is June 30, 1 p.m. Finalists will be notified in early August, with the finalist bootcamp training session set for Aug. 23. The final review submission deadline is Sept. 12, with the final review on Sept. 20 and the demo day and awards ceremony set for late October.
Each team must include one to five members and may be supported by up to two academic or industry advisors. The competition is open to all disciplines and nationalities. For more information, please visit the website.
