Two M-GEO students from ITC, Aditi Ravi and Saurabh Bhagchandani, recently participated in the first Benelux Space Startup Competition in Rotterdam and won a prize for their innovative business idea.
Sponsorship and support
Their participation was sponsored by the OneSpaceHub (OSH) consortium, established in 2023 to support entrepreneurs in the space sector in the Netherlands. ITC plays a key role in this program, which is led by the NL Space Campus and supported by RVO’s One Single Hub initiative. The program connects entrepreneurs with a nationwide network of experts and aims to enhance the coordination, visibility, and availability of support across all stages of the entrepreneurial journey.
Competition details
The competition provided a platform for participants to pitch their startup ideas related to space technology and innovation. Over two days, participants attended guest lectures and received guidance from established organizations in the space sector. The final pitches were presented on May 2nd, 2025.
Aditi and Saurabh, along with their team "Dock & Stock," pitched an idea for a space-debris recycling furnace. This platform, designed to dock with existing space stations, would collect and process space debris, extracting useful elements such as aluminum, iron, steel, and nickel. These materials would then be sold to in-space manufacturing companies.
Award and future opportunities
The "Dock & Stock" team won a prize sponsored by the European Space Resources Innovation Centre (ESRIC) – a free ticket to the Space Resources Week in Luxembourg from May 19th to May 21st, 2025. This event will address science, technology, and innovation in the space resources sector.
More information
We are proud of Aditi and Saurabh's achievements and look forward to their future contributions to the field of space technology and innovation. For more information about the OneSpaceHub consortium and the Benelux Space Startup Competition, please visit OneSpaceHub and Space Resources Week or check our previous news article.
