Técnico launches the first MBE in Space Systems
The first edition of the Master of Business Engineering (MBE) in Space Systems started on 29 September at Técnico – Oeiras Campus. This pioneering programme, the first of its kind in Portugal and among the first in Europe, aims to meet the demands of the global space sector by combining engineering, management and innovation with a strong connection to industry and international research.
The course, designed by Técnico+, follows an immersive, project-based methodology and, over 12 months, will combine three intensive in-person weeks with online modules in areas such as astrodynamics, space physics, satellite communications, artificial intelligence and Earth observation.
At the opening session, Rodrigo Ventura, programme coordinator and Associate Professor of Robotics and AI at Técnico, emphasised the relevance of space as a driver of innovation: “This is a course oriented to real problems, project-based, and with a very strong link to industry. Most of the students come from industry itself, bringing with them the challenges that will be worked on throughout the year. Space remains the last frontier of civilisation, as we move towards commercial space stations, the Moon, the space economy and, finally, Mars and beyond.”
The speech by Pedro Amaral, Vice-President for Enterprise Interface, Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Técnico, stressed the novelty of the model: “This is the first MBE in Portugal. It is not a degree higher or lower than a scientific master’s; it is a different step: an innovative approach that takes risks and places industry and the international academic community at the heart of the teaching process.”
According to Pedro Amaral, the aim is “to bring science and technology to the centre of the economy, enabling students to transform technological knowledge into new businesses and development models.”
Manuel Heitor, member of the programme’s technical and scientific coordination, placed the programme in the current European context: “We are facing a new phase for higher education and for space in Europe. The European Commission has proposed multiplying by five the investment in space and defence in the next framework programme. The challenge is to train professionals capable of responding to this new context, in which space creates more and better jobs and is increasingly critical for the security of European citizens.”
The former Minister for Science, Technology and Higher Education also stressed that the MBE in Space Systems is a pioneering experience in Europe, noting that “this is a new model of postgraduate education, student-centred, project-based and with strong interaction with industry, but also with the defence forces and non-governmental organisations. It is a challenge that requires the quality of the students, as well as multidisciplinary collaboration within Técnico.”
The programme launch also included contributions from international experts who reflected on technological advances and the economic impact of the space sector. Zachary Manchester (Carnegie Mellon University / MIT) addressed the development of new satellite technologies, while Jordi Laguarda and Juan Matias Laco (ICEYE) shared experiences on synthetic aperture radar and its industrial applications. Su-Yin Tan (University of Waterloo) highlighted innovation in Earth observation and geospatial technologies, and Dianne Gomes (Boston Consulting Group) discussed the relationship between business strategy and the space economy, showing how the sector creates new business opportunities and integrates into global value chains.
The MBE in Space Systems is framed within the Atlantic Constellation, a European Earth observation initiative that reflects the ambition to strengthen security, sustainability and resilience from space.
The programme takes place during a period of increased Portuguese investment in the space sector, estimated at around €500 million between 2021 and 2026, a figure greater than the total invested in the previous 25 years.
At the core of the programme are the projects developed by participants in partnership with companies, start-ups and institutions, addressing concrete challenges linked to ongoing missions and European strategies, including initiatives funded by NextGenerationEU and the European Resilience from Space programme.
The programme also benefits from the support of strategic partners — such as CEiiA, the start-up N3O, CoLAB +Atlantic and SME MUVU — in collaboration with the Portuguese Air Force and its Aerospace Innovation and Technology Centre. Additional alliances include international stakeholders such as ESA, EUSPA, ICEYE and Neuraspace, as well as academic collaborations with MIT Portugal, CMU Portugal and UT Austin Portugal.