This Summer School aimed to equip participants with the skills, tools and networks needed to imagine, develop and launch a space-related start-up within an international innovation ecosystem. The programme combined lectures, training workshops and mentoring sessions, covering the fundamentals of space, emerging technologies and entrepreneurship.
Explore, Innovate and Build
A team pitch competition formed the core of the programme: students developed business plans for innovative space projects. Ten multidisciplinary teams, balanced in terms of home institution, age, experience, gender and academic background were formed by the organising committee. A panel of experts, supported by the Italian Space Agency, selected three winning projects, which were then presented during the final of the Start Cup Lazio. This regional competition for innovative start-ups supports and rewards projects originating from universities and public research bodies across the Lazio region in central Italy.
The final, hosted at the regional government headquarters during Rome Future Week 2025, offered participants exceptional visibility among institutional actors and potential investors.
One of the highlights of the in-person week was the visit to the Italian Space Agency, a particularly memorable experience for the students. This immersion allowed them to observe the operations of a national space agency up close and to better understand the evolution of Italy’s space innovation ecosystem.
Testimonies from UNamur Students
Mattéo Capaldo, Management Engineering student
Mattéo Capaldo, a management engineering student at the University of Namur, is starting his master’s degree in Business and Sustainability. His professional immersion takes place within his own company, Woaw Design, which specialises in creating personalised, eco-designed LED neon signs, an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional models, often deemed polluting and unreliable. In parallel, he is involved in Jen Consult, UNamur’s junior enterprise, where he contributes to projects in strategy, marketing and data analysis.
Mattéo explains that he was motivated by the desire to explore new horizons: discovering another university, meeting new people, and delving into a field that has long fascinated him: space. He says he increasingly enjoys short, immersive experiences with people he has never met before, as they push him out of his comfort zone. For him, such trips are opportunities to discover others while learning more about himself.
He gives a very positive assessment of his participation, highlighting the richness of the encounters, the enthusiasm shared by the teams and participants, and the opportunity to improve his English and build confidence. “This experience truly made me grow,” he says.
He notes that he would have appreciated a more balanced programme, with more emphasis on a broader understanding of the space sector and on entrepreneurship and innovation; topics that particularly interest him.
For Mattéo, the human dimension was central. He recalls spontaneous and in-depth exchanges with participants from a wide range of backgrounds, conversations he describes as “truly enriching.” These interactions helped him overcome the hesitation of talking to strangers, reminding him that “most people are kind and willing to help.”
“In my view, this kind of stay has a real impact: it broadens your perspective, shakes up your habits and gives you valuable insight into yourself and others.”
He also notes that the Summer School provided him with a broader and more structured understanding of the space sector; knowledge he considers useful for cultivating his general understanding of an expanding field.
Going forward, he plans to continue developing his entrepreneurial project, refine his elevator pitch, an exercise he practiced during his stay in Rome, and begin looking for potential investors. He also intends to remain open to similar opportunities, which he finds particularly enriching, while continuing his studies.
Inès Riou, Management Engineering student
Curious, creative and passionate about entrepreneurship, Inès saw the Summer School as a unique opportunity to discover the space sector through the lens of innovation. With experience in project management, team organisation and collaborative work, she wanted to challenge her skills in an international environment while practising her English. She ultimately aims to start her own company, ideally with ecological or social impact, making this Summer School an ideal step to explore a field she knew little about and to fuel her creativity within a multidisciplinary context.
For Inès, the experience was exceptionally rich, both in terms of academic content and personal encounters. Exchanges with students and teachers from various countries were a powerful source of learning, as was the intensive practice of English.
The human dimension was one of the most striking aspects of the stay. She highlights the diversity of profiles, each bringing a unique and stimulating perspective. These interactions encouraged her to step outside her comfort zone, discover new ways of thinking and communicating, and forge genuine relationships.
Inès describes the Summer School as highly formative, particularly because it immersed her in collaboration with participants from very different disciplines. She mentions the challenges of mutual understanding when space experts refer, for example, to “end of life passivation”, a concept that is far from obvious to non-specialists. Yet she insists that with patience, listening and solid organisation, these barriers can be overcome.
Most importantly, the experience helped her appreciate the value of her management engineering skills. When it came to business models, market analysis or finance, she and her teammates realised that what seemed obvious to them was not at all obvious to others. This strengthened her confidence in her skills and in the relevance of her academic path.
“Taking part in this short international stay as part of my studies strengthened my desire to go on Erasmus next year.”
This immersion has made her eager to participate in other Summer Schools and has reinforced her plan to study abroad through Erasmus next year. She also hopes to stay in touch with the students she met, connections that could grow into strong friendships or even future professional collaborations. Finally, she intends to continue engaging in projects that push her out of her comfort zone and expose her to new fields, convinced that these are the moments when one learns the most, about oneself and about others.
