RIYADH: The Saudi Space Agency has announced on Thursday the launch of the Sari competition for undergraduate students across the Kingdom’s universities, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Participants will be expected to design, build, and launch small satellites as part of an effort to magnify competitive spirit and innovation in the space sector and cultivate a space technology-savvy generation.

According to SPA, the main goals of the competition are to support scientific research and experiments, foster opportunities to design and develop satellites, create an academically motivated environment that encourages innovation among universities, and hone technical and engineering skills in the space sciences.

The satellites designed at Sari will be subject to practical applications in several fields such as space imaging, data analysis, navigation applications, Internet of Things programming, and conducting research in technological areas.

The Saudi Space Agency will provide participants with a comprehensive educational background by bringing in a select group of advisory experts, preparing intensive training programs, and hosting workshops to develop technical and engineering skills, SPA reported.

Sari also seeks to strengthen collaboration between universities and the Saudi Space Agency with the aim of forging stronger partnerships between academic institutions and the space sector. It will allow students to apply their academic knowledge in sophisticated real-world applications.

The deadline to submit applications is Jan. 30, 2025, via the Saudi Space Agency’s official website. Participant selections will be decided by a specialized committee.