European Rover Challenge

🚀 Małopolska — a region reaching for the stars!

The European Rover Challenge once again brought together the brightest minds in space exploration, and this year, Małopolska Region had plenty of reasons to celebrate.

🥈 AGH Space Systems, a team from AGH University of Krakow, represented Małopolska with an outstanding performance, taking 2nd place in the competition. Their success is a great example of the talent, ambition and innovative spirit growing in the region.

But ERC was also an opportunity to look beyond the competition and discuss the future of the space sector in Małopolska.

On the first day of ERC, the panel “Kraków the Next Space City?” brought together representatives of the Marshal’s Office of the Małopolska Region, the City of Kraków, AGH University of Krakow, as well as regional and national space companies. The discussion highlighted the significant growth of the space sector in Kraków and Małopolska in recent years, as well as the importance of continuing joint efforts by academia, business and public administration to further develop and support the sector across the region. 🌍🚀

Innovation is at the heart of Małopolska’s development strategy. This was also reflected during the ERC Award Ceremony, where a special distinction — the Małopolska Innovation Champion Award — was presented by Mr Rafał Kosowski and Mr Andrzej Bańka of the Department of Ownership Supervision and Economy of the Marshal’s Office of the Małopolska Region, for an exceptionally innovative solution: the scientific application of ground radar.

🏆 The award went to STAR Dresden e.V. from Germany for demonstrating how innovative technologies can open new possibilities for planetary exploration.

From talented students and ambitious teams to universities, companies and public institutions, Małopolska is building a strong ecosystem for space and innovation.
And the journey has only just begun. 🌌

Innowacyjna Małopolska Business in Małopolska


innowacyjnamalopolska.pl
businessinmalopolska.pl

Congratulations on your 1st place, EPFL Xplore! 🏆
You did amazing job! 🚀

…And the WINNER is… 🏆🚀
We finally know the results of the 🌏
🥇 1st place – EPFL XPLORE from Switzerland
🥈 2nd place – AGH SPACE SYSTEMS from Poland
🥉 3rd place – DIANA from Italy

🌟 BEST PERFORMANCE:
Science – Scientific Exploration: DJS ANTARIKSH from India
Science – Sampling: DIANA from Italy
Science – Astro-Bio: BRNO MARS ROVER from Czech Republic
Navigation – Traverse: CRATER from Switzerland
Navigation – Droning: EPFL XPLORE from Switzerland
Maintenance: DIANA from Italy
Probing: ARES PROJECT from Japan
Presentation: ARES PROJECT from Japan

CREATIVITY by Research Institute:
🥇 1st place – FHNW ROVER from Switzerland
🥈 2nd place – EPFL XPLORE from Switzerland
🥉 3rd place – AGH SPACE SYSTEMS from Poland

INNOVATION by Innowacyjna Małopolska (Business in Małopolska Małopolska):
🎖️STAR DRESDEN from Germany

Congratulations, teams! AWESOME JOB! 👏
ESA - European Space Agency Mars Society Polska Polish Space Professionals Association POLSA Polska Agencja Kosmiczna Polish Space Agency Akademia Górniczo-Hutnicza w Krakowie Gold Sponsor ORLEN ORLEN Art & Science DPS Software - Oprogramowanie Wdrożenia Szkolenia Sprzęt Good Lood Małopolska Agencja Rozwoju Regionalnego S. A. MARR
📸: Michał Przemyski

The slowly comes to an end 🥹🚀 Today at 5.00PM CEST you'll have a chance to tune in and enjoy the livestream of the closing ceremony on our page and on our YouTube channel! 📺

The FINAL is almost here! 🚀

Let's start the 3rd day of 😎 Later this afternoon we'll know the winners of this year's competition. But before that, let's check out the agenda!

🤖 ROVERS will compete in last tasks until 12. Come and see them at MarsYard!

🎤 CONFERENCES:
11:00 – FIRESIDE CHAT WITH A SPECIAL GUEST: Paolo Ferri [Building D17, Hall C – 1.20]
11:25 – KEYNOTE: New Space and commercialisation [Building D17, Hall C – 1.20]
12:15 – DISCUSSION PANEL: What next in exploration? Directions for the coming decade [Building D17, Hall C – 1.20]
13:00 – PRESENTATION: Winning European tenders: EDF, ESA and EU funding for space [D17, Hall C – 1.20]
13:20 – WHO FINANCES THE FUTURE? Business, Science, and the New Space Economy [Building D17, Hall C – 1.20]

🔭 STEM EXHIBIT. Come and checz all the scientific workshops the exhibitors prepared 🧪

See you!

...and the Day 2. came to the end 💫
It was such an intense, challenging and fun Saturday – thank you all for being a part of it!

See you tomorrow! Take a rest, the great day is on its way 😎🚀

Day 2. has started! 🚀
And a lot will happen today. What's in the agenda?

🦾 Rovers are taking part in another tasks: MAINTENANCE, NAVIGATION, SAMPLING, DRONING, ASTRO-BIO and PRESENTATION 🔥Good luck, teams!

🎤 CONFERENCES:
10:40 – PRESENTATION – EU Space Act – the new reality [Building D17, Hall C – 1.20]
11:00 – KEYNOTE — Return to the Moon [Building D17, Hall C – 1.20]
11:30 – DISCUSSION PANEL — Lunar exploration & robotics [Building D17, Hall C – 1.20]
12:30 – PRESENTATION — Launch your career with the European Space Agency
[Building D17, Hall C – 1.20]
12:50 – PRESENTATION — The Karman Project [Building D17, Hall C – 1.20]
14:15 – DISCUSSION PANEL — Space for society: capacity-building, applications & the global community [Building D17, Hall C – 1.20]
15:00 – PRESENTATION — AI-Augmented Engineering: Collaboration, Knowledge and Creativity [Building D17, Hall C – 1.20]
15:20 – PRESENTATION — Being visible in the space industry: navigating as a startup [Building D17, Hall C – 1.20]

🔭 STEM EXHIBIT. Visit and gain new knowledge! 😎
You can also take a rest at the Chill Zone and taste Martian ice-cream at GoodLood! 🍦

See you today!

Day 1: mission accomplished. 🚀

The first day of is officially in the books — and what a start!
Rovers, brilliant minds, bold ideas and a whole lot of space energy filled Kraków today. 🪐
And this is just the beginning!

Ready for Day 2? 👀