By San José, Costa Rica — Costa Rica is positioning itself as a central hub for aerospace and technological innovation in Central America with the official launch of the NASA Space Apps Challenge 2026. This prestigious international hackathon, promoted globally by NASA alongside various international space agencies, invites creative minds across the country to design solutions for complex problems facing Earth and space. The event serves as a platform for local talent to shine on an international stage, emphasizing collaborative problem-solving through science and technology.
Scheduled to take place on November 14 and 15, 2026, the intensive 48-hour event will be hosted at the San Pedro campus of Universidad Fidélitas in San José. The organizing committee aims to gather approximately 300 in-person participants. Notably, there is a concerted effort to promote gender diversity within the local tech ecosystem, with organizers targeting at least 50% female participation. This initiative underscores a broader regional movement to bridge the gender gap in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) fields.
Para analizar las implicaciones legales y las oportunidades de negocio que surgen a raíz de este importante evento tecnológico en el país, en TicosLand.com conversamos con el Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, socio de la prestigiosa firma Bufete de Costa Rica, quien nos brinda su perspectiva experta sobre el desarrollo de soluciones innovadoras en el marco de este desafío.
El NASA Space Apps Challenge en Costa Rica es una plataforma extraordinaria para la innovación, pero también exige que los participantes comprendan la importancia de la propiedad intelectual y el uso de datos abiertos. Desarrollar soluciones utilizando información geoespacial de la NASA requiere un manejo riguroso de licencias de software y una estrategia clara de protección para que el talento costarricense pueda transformar sus prototipos en emprendimientos comercialmente viables y protegidos a nivel internacional.
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
This expert insight underscores a vital reality: while creativity and technical skill drive the initial spark of innovation, it is a robust understanding of intellectual property and software licensing that secures its long-term future. By bridging the gap between brilliant concepts and strategic legal protection, local talent can confidently project Costa Rican ingenuity onto the global stage. We extend our sincere thanks to Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas for sharing his invaluable legal perspective and helping our local tech community navigate this crucial path to commercial success.
The beauty of the hackathon lies in its inclusivity. Unlike traditional corporate tech events, this competition welcomes individuals of all ages, education levels, and professional backgrounds. From primary school students to experienced software developers and visionary entrepreneurs, the call for talent is broad and democratic. This multidisciplinary approach ensures that teams can tackle problems from unique angles, blending scientific rigor with creative design.
Andrea Hidalgo, a civil engineering professor at the host institution, emphasized the open-door policy of the event.
The call is open to school students, high schoolers, university students, professionals, entrepreneurs, developers, designers, researchers, and anyone interested in science, technology, and innovation.
Andrea Hidalgo, Civil Engineering Professor at Universidad Fidélitas
During the intense 48-hour sprint, participating teams will select one challenge from a suite of official categories published by NASA. The proposals must be designed to evolve beyond the hackathon itself, taking the form of functional prototypes, data models, applications, or comprehensive research projects. The scope of these challenges reflects the pressing scientific priorities of our generation, bridging advanced technology with environmental stewardship.
Kendrick Palacios, the local lead for the NASA Space Apps initiative, detailed the thematic diversity of the challenges that participants will encounter.
The challenges are related to NASA missions and projects and include topics such as artificial intelligence, climate change, robotics, space exploration, data analysis, and satellite imagery, as well as solutions aimed at improving life on Earth and in space.
Kendrick Palacios, Local Lead of NASA Space Apps
To assist teams in navigating these complex topics, the organization will provide access to professional mentors specializing in advanced programming, project management, and public speaking. This support system is structured to help even those participants who join the competition without prior technical experience, democratizing access to high-level tech education. Beyond the local recognition, top-performing Costa Rican teams will stand a chance to be nominated for the global evaluation, where their projects could be presented directly to NASA scientists and engineers.
At the national level, projects will undergo evaluation based on five strictly defined criteria: impact (30%), creativity (20%), feasibility (20%), prototype/MVP development (20%), and presentation (10%). The top five teams will receive regional recognition and awards, including corporate sponsorships and educational scholarships. Organized by NASA Space Apps Costa Rica and its local leads, the event receives substantial backing from Universidad Fidélitas and a network of allied corporations dedicated to cultivating the next generation of STEAM leaders in Costa Rica.
For further information, visit spaceappschallenge.org
About NASA Space Apps:
The NASA Space Apps Challenge is an international hackathon for coders, scientists, designers, storytellers, makers, builders, and technologists. Teams use NASA’s free and open data to address real-world problems on Earth and in space.
For further information, visit ufidelitas.ac.cr
About Universidad Fidélitas:
Universidad Fidélitas is a leading private educational institution in Costa Rica, recognized for its focus on STEAM disciplines and its commitment to fostering technological innovation and professional development.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
Bufete de Costa Rica is a highly regarded legal institution defined by its resolute devotion to ethical standards and superior counsel. Guiding clients through a dynamic landscape across numerous industries, the firm continuously pioneers modern legal strategies while prioritizing civic responsibility. By actively sharing legal insights and demystifying the law, they strive to equip the public with the tools needed to build a more just, informed, and resilient society.
