The Emerging Space Leaders (ESL) Grant Programme is run by the International Astronautical Federation (IAF), the global space-sector body based in Paris. Each edition selects up to 40 students and young professionals and covers their travel, stay and registration for the International Astronautical Congress (IAC), the sector’s largest annual gathering, which moves to a different host city every year. Grantees present at least one paper or sit on the IAF Next Generation Plenary, attend either the Space Generation Congress or the UN/IAF Workshop, and take part in a cross-cultural communications and presentation workshop.
Applicants must also be current students at a recognized university or young professionals employed in a space-related field; the IAF weights selection toward candidates from nations with emerging space capabilities and interests. The 2026 edition takes grantees to the 77th IAC in Antalya, Türkiye, and the 78th IAC runs in Poznań, Poland, from 27 September to 1 October 2027.
Benefits & funding
- 40 grants in the 2026 edition, ten more places than the previous year.
- Return economy flights between the grantee’s country of residence and the congress city, booked by the IAF (2026 travel window: 30 September – 10 October).
- Budget accommodation for the stay, plus a per diem for meals and local expenses starting on the day of arrival.
- Full IAC registration, and a place at either the Space Generation Congress or the UN/IAF Workshop (limited places).
- A place in the Cross-Cultural Communications and Presentation Workshop.
- Virtual mentoring from early June and on-site mentoring during the congress, plus visibility on IAF channels.
- Not covered: social events, technical tours and gala dinner tickets. Grantees arrange and pay for their own visas and insurance.
Eligibility
- Aged 21 to 35 on 1 January of the congress year (2026 edition: on 1 January 2026).
- Either a student currently attending a recognised university, or a young professional currently employed in a space-related field.
- Working toward a career in the development and use of space systems, space science research, or the policy, legal, social and cultural aspects of space activity.
- Must present at least one paper, orally or interactively, or take part as a panellist in the IAF Next Generation Plenary.
- Open regardless of home country or country of current residence. The IAF encourages applications from nations with emerging space capabilities, and country of citizenship carries 5–20 of the 140 selection points.
- Aimed at candidates who could not otherwise attend an IAC for financial, sponsorship or other reasons.
- Grantees need a passport valid through May of the year after the congress, an economy-class itinerary within the stated travel window, and insurance covering health, medical emergency, evacuation and trip cancellation.
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
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Age requirement
21–35 yrs
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Application process
- 1Watch for the annual call, published around December, and register on the IAF grant platform at iaf-grant-programme.org.
- 2Complete the online application form with personal, educational and employment background.
- 3Upload an endorsement document from a professor, employer or institutional official, signed and stamped.
- 4Write an abstract of up to 400 words for the paper you intend to present, copy it into the application system, and submit it to the IAC technical programme on the IAF website by the same deadline.
- 5Add two reference letters, four essay answers of up to 400 words each, a one-minute video in English with your face visible throughout, and a handwritten signed declaration that you will attend.
- 6Submit everything before the deadline (2026 edition: 30 January 2026, 23:59 Paris time). Recipients are notified by the beginning of May.
Program timeline
2025-12
2026 call announced and application materials published
Application deadline, 23:59 Paris time
Jan 30, 2026
Recipients notified by the beginning of the month
2026-05
Virtual mentoring begins
2026-06
Travel window opens for the 2026 grantees
Sep 30, 2026
77th IAC opens in Antalya, Türkiye (closes 9 October)
Oct 5, 2026
78th IAC runs in Poznań, Poland (closes 1 October); the next call is expected around December 2026
Sep 27, 2027