Israel’s Space Olympiad Goes Global: Azerbaijani Students Join Final Round in Tel Aviv

For the first time ever, Israel’s national Space Olympiad is going international. This Thursday, May 29, the grand finale of the Ilan Ramon Israeli Space Olympiad will take place at Tel Aviv University’s Smolarz Auditorium, featuring, for the first time, a student delegation from Azerbaijan that won the national finals in their country.

More than 500 students from grades 4 through 9 will showcase breakthrough engineering and space solutions as part of a months-long educational journey, culminating in high-level presentations of space station prototypes and space suit designs.

Organized by the Israel Space Agency at the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, this flagship competition is now in its 12th year — and for the first time, it has gone international. This year, the competition engaged over 12,000 students from 536 schools across Israel and 70 schools in Azerbaijan.

A Four-Stage Funnel for Future Scientists

Structured as a four-stage program, preparation, online challenges, engineering projects, and the final, the Olympiad is designed to immerse young minds in the fields of space, science, engineering, teamwork, and creativity, while cultivating public speaking and critical thinking.

The international expansion began with a strategic partnership with AZERCOSMOS, Azerbaijan’s space agency, following the International Astronautical Congress in Baku in 2023. Following Azerbaijan’s success, more countries are set to join in future years, including the Czech Republic.

Diplomacy, Education, and Innovation in One Hall

Thursday’s finale will feature:

Voices of Vision

Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology Gila Gamliel called the Olympiad a symbol of hope and future cooperation:

Brig. Gen. (res.) Uri Oron, Director of the Israel Space Agency, added:

From gravity challenges to space suit airflow mechanics, students this year tackled a range of realistic problems, from building multi-functional living quarters on Mars to designing deployable solar arrays.

A Launchpad for the Future

Founded in memory of Ilan Ramon, Israel’s first astronaut, the Olympiad aims to expose students to science and technology fields once considered “out of reach,” and to ignite curiosity through hands-on experiences. With tens of thousands of graduates over the years, it continues to serve as a launchpad for the next generation of global scientists, engineers, and explorers.