The Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST) in Saudi Arabia, in partnership with the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), has launched the third edition of the Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) 2026 International Research Competition to encourage global research and innovation in next-generation wireless communications.
The competition aims to attract researchers, academics and innovators from around the world to develop advanced concepts and solutions for non-terrestrial networks, strengthen next-generation wireless communication technologies, and support the integration of terrestrial and non-terrestrial network systems.
The competition is open to researchers, graduate students and recent PhD graduates. Participants are invited to submit research papers focusing on non-terrestrial network concepts and technologies, their role in advancing sustainability, and their potential to expand future connectivity solutions. All entries will be reviewed by an international panel of leading scientists and experts in the non-terrestrial networks field.
The winners will be announced in October 2026 during the Global Space Connectivity and Sustainability Events, which will be hosted by CST in Riyadh. CST said research papers must be submitted through the EDAS platform by August 10, 2026.
The top 10 submissions will be shortlisted to present their research during a dedicated session at the event, where they will compete for cash prizes of $15,000 for first place, $10,000 for second place and $5,000 for third place.
According to CST, the previous two editions of the Non-Terrestrial Networks competition attracted significant international participation, receiving more than 80 research papers from over 270 researchers representing 47 countries and 114 universities and research centers. The submissions were evaluated by 33 scientific reviewers, highlighting growing global interest in non-terrestrial network technologies and related research.
The Non-Terrestrial Networks competition forms part of CST’s broader efforts to promote research and innovation in future communications technologies and strengthen international research collaboration to develop integrated and sustainable communications solutions aligned with the evolving communications and space sectors.
