Join the GFSSM International Qualifying Round 2026
Demeter 2095 - Pioneering the Deep Space Resource Hub!
Sign Up Now GFSSM International Qualifying Round 2026
The International Qualifying Round of the Global Future Space Scholars Meet (GFSSM) will be held virtually.
Participation in the International Qualifying Round is optional for each country or region. The goal is to provide support, and countries or regions can choose to either:
- Organize their own national selection process to choose teams, or
- Directly send teams to the International Qualifying Round organized by the GFSSM International Organizing Committee.
Teams will be required to finalize and submit their proposals, including presentation materials, in alignment with the Request for Proposal (RFP) provided by the IDSDO.
For a clearer understanding of our initiatives and learning approach, we invite you to explore the "How It Works" section.
The theme for the International Qualifying Round 2026
Demeter 2095- Pioneering the Deep Space Resource Hub!
- Participating teams will receive the Request for Proposal (RFP) issued by the International Deep Space Development Organization (IDSDO). They will be tasked with designing a large industrial space city named "Demeter" located in the asteroid belt.
- This space city will act as a resource hub, leveraging the resources of the asteroid belt to support the continuous development of the inner solar system and to promote in-depth exploration of the outer solar system.
- Here, students will find their unique niche regardless of their passion, whether it be business, science, computer science, engineering, social sciences, design, arts, psychology, or English public speaking.
- They are encouraged to challenge themselves with imaginative business ideas and engineering feats for the future space city. The space city must not only be well-designed but also capable of fulfilling specified tasks, demonstrating strong commercial viability and sustainability.
Time Table of International Qualifying Round 2026
(Team Registration Deadline is March 15, 2026)
5th November 2025
Registration Opens of International Qualifying Round
- There are no limitations on the number of teams or divisions that may register from any country or region.
- Participants should select their division and assemble their teams accordingly.
- Once a team is registered, the relevant Request for Proposal (RFP) for their selected division will be forwarded to the team by the national or regional organizing committee.
From November 2025 ~ March 2026
Preparation
- The student teams will carry out the design work for the International Qualifying Round and submit their proposals.
- Throughout this preparation phase, the International Organizing Committee will provide English-language instructional courses and reading materials, which will be distributed to registered teams through national or regional coordinators or official organizing partners.
- National or regional coordinators may also organize workshops and training camps to support students in completing their design assignments.
- Teams will prepare their proposals during this period and submit them through their national or regional coordinators or official organizing partners.
15th March, 2026
Team Registration Closes
If any national or regional coordinators need an extension on the registration deadline, please contact the International Organizing Committee to discuss alternative arrangements.
31st March, 2026
Proposal Submission Deadline
- Teams should submit the following items through their national or regional coordinator to the designated email address:
- Bid Proposal
- Pitch Video
- Detailed instructions are provided below.
- If any national or regional coordinators need an extension on the submission deadline, please contact the International Organizing Committee to discuss alternative arrangements.
April-May, 2026
Award Announcement & Invitation to the Final Round Release
In April to May 2026, the Award Announcements for the International Qualifying Round will be released, and teams selected for the GFSSM Final Round will receive formal invitations.
The International Qualifying Round awards include:
The International Qualifying Round awards include:
- Excellent
- Merit
- Pass
- Best Team in Proposal (USD 1,000 Bonus)
- Best Team in Innovation Design (USD 500 Bonus)
- Best Team in Systematic Design (USD 500 Bonus)
13th -17th August, 2026
GFSSM Final Round and International Space Education Summit (Beijing, China)
- Teams that excel in the Qualifying Round and earn an invitation will have the opportunity to progress directly to the Final Round, along with financial support from the International Organizing Committee to facilitate their participation.
- At this juncture, students from different countries and regions will forge partnerships, overcome language and cultural barriers, and work on challenge tasks collectively.
- This is an event you definitely won't want to miss!
Initiate Your Sign-Up
Prior to submitting the registration form, kindly verify your eligibility and familiarize yourself with the competition guidelines.
- If your institution is not yet a GFSSM Local Organizing Committee, you need to apply to join.
- Visit the "Organizers" page on the GFSSM official website to see which countries or regions are currently participating in GFSSM.
- Fill out the "Accreditation Form" online to complete the application process.
- Participation is open to current high school students in grades 7 through 12.
- Form a team with a diverse range of skills and expertise, including science, technology, commerce, marketing, and communication.
- Note that while multiple teams from the same country or region can participate, each team should be composed of individuals with a variety of backgrounds to ensure a competitive edge.
- Choose between two divisions based on your team's experience and size preference:
- Division 1: Space Explorers Division (6-7 members)
- Complete a simplified version of the RFP task.
- Best for teams with less experience or those who prefer a smaller team size.
- Division 2: Space Scholars Division (10-12 members)
- Complete the standard version of the RFP task.
- Ideal for teams with more experience or those who prefer a larger team size.
- The Request for Proposal (RFP) for “Demeter” will be provided to the relevant national or regional organizing committee or official partner, who will distribute it to the registered teams.
- Using the RFP guidelines, teams will design a large industrial space city in the asteroid belt. The Demeter project focuses on utilizing asteroid resources to support the sustainable development of the inner solar system and enable deeper exploration of the outer solar system.
What Materials Are Required to Be Submitted?
- The submission should be in PDF format of an English-language PowerPoint presentation, with a maximum limit of 30 pages.
- PowerPoint Template for Proposal Bidding: Participants can utilize the PowerPoint template supplied by the organizers (included with the RFP). This template encompasses a proposal structure, key design points analysis, design focus guidance, and design recommendations for the team’s use. Teams are motivated to be creative using this template or to develop their own distinctive slide design approach.
- Provide a YouTube URL for the 5-7 minute Pitch Video.
- Team Introduction: Present basic information about the challenge team members.
- Clear Theme: Ensure the video closely follows the design requirements outlined in the RFP, utilizing PowerPoint to clearly convey the key design elements of the proposal.
- Data Analysis & Interpretation: If applicable, clearly present and explain any relevant data collection and analysis in the video.
- Video Recording Requirements: Participants should dress professionally, maintain good posture, and ensure the video has clear visuals and audio.
- Note: The content must be positive and free from any hate speech, violence, pornography, or racial comments.
When and How to Submit?
- 31st March, 2026
- If any national or regional coordinators need an extension on the submission deadline, please contact the International Organizing Committee to discuss alternative arrangements.
- The team contact person/team leader should send the PDF version of the team's proposal, along with the video link, to the national or regional organizing committee's email address.
- Please use the following format: "Proposal_Team Name_Country/Region Name". For example: "Proposal_TianGong Parabola_Canada".
- The national or regional organizing committee will then forward the materials to the organizing committee's email address.
More
- During this preparation period, the international organizing committee offers English-language guidance courses (comprising videos and teaching materials) to assist all participating teams, which will be accessible via email upon completion of registration.
- Additionally, organizers in each country or region may also offer a range of courses, workshops, and short-term training camps to aid students in successfully completing the design task.
- Teams are allowed to use generative AI to organize thoughts, discover new perspectives, or find examples for effective expression. However, it is prohibited to directly incorporate the output of generative AI as part of the business plan or presentation video. Similarly, the use of images and videos created by AI-integrated software is also forbidden. Please note that information generated by AI may not always be accurate and could potentially involve the use of copyrighted material. Please use generative AI responsibly and adhere to ethical standards.
- Important Rules: Teams are not permitted to use others' ideas and works (including digital images, illustrations, audio clips, movies, photos, designs, etc.), whether they are copyright-free, royalty-free, or generated by AI. You must create your own work. Please be aware that using someone else's creations will result in the disqualification of your team.
- The Academic Committee's team of experts will conduct a thorough evaluation of each proposal to determine how well it meets the design criteria. They will assess the proposals based on a sequence of evaluation factors including Rationality, Completeness, Economy, and Consistency, assigning scores for performance in each area.
- Following this evaluation, the experts will provide detailed feedback centered around the scoring points to the student teams. This feedback will help the teams understand the strengths of their designs as well as areas where they can improve.
- Following the deadline for team submissions, the juries will assess the proposals and offer their comments.
- Notable teams will earn award certificates, while all participants will be granted a certificate of participation.
- The leading three teams will receive cash prizes: $1,000 for the Best Team in Proposal, and $500 each for the Best Team in Innovation Design and the Best Team in Systematic Design.
- Teams that succeed in the evaluation will be invited to compete in the Final Round in Beijing in August.
Let's begin the adventure now!
Are you ready to embark on this thrilling journey of space exploration?
Assemble your dream team and together, draw the blueprint for humanity's future home in deep space!
To register, form a team of 6-7 participants or 10-12 participants (depending on the chosen division).
Click the button to submit the registration form online by 15th March, 2026.
Assemble your dream team and together, draw the blueprint for humanity's future home in deep space!
To register, form a team of 6-7 participants or 10-12 participants (depending on the chosen division).
Click the button to submit the registration form online by 15th March, 2026.
