Discover Université Grenoble Alpes

Background and Issues

The project brings together a consortium of 26 partners from five French regions, including institutions of higher education, research centers, industry representatives, local governments, and training organizations.

To meet the needs of the space industry, COMETES aims to:

• Train 11 ,000 learners over five years, through both initial and continuing education.
• Create about ten new degree programs. 
• Raise awareness among 300,000 people about space-related issues.

France 2030 Goal

• Playing our full part in the space adventure

Main Areas of Focus

• Expand, diversify, and increase the representation of women in career paths leading to careers in the space industry.
  Awareness-raising through social media, career guidance events in partnership with high schools and the “Campus des métiers et des qualifications d’excellence” (Campuses for Trades and Excellence in Qualifications), and training for secondary school teachers.
• Strengthen the initial training offerings from the first year after high school through the eighth year after high school.
  Development of vocational training modules and new degree programs for technicians, operators, engineers, and researchers, incorporating the challenges of sustainable space (space technologies, instrumentation, systems engineering, space and society, etc.).
• Roll out continuing education programs to support career transitions in industry.
  Strengthening the continuing education program “Systems Engineering Applied to Space” dedicated to New Space, combining technical expertise, innovation, and applications, with a recognized certification to ensure the program’s long-term viability.
• Hands-on training at university space centers (CSU).
  Hosting students from the third year of a bachelor’s degree through the eighth year of a master’s degree for practical projects in payload design and production, miniaturization, and AI-driven automation, using state-of-the-art equipment and facilitating collaboration among CSU centers.
• Create and share digital resources for hybrid and distance learning.
  Development of micro-content, MOOCs, serious games, simulators, and digital twins; support for instructors to ensure sustainable use.
• Promoting an inclusive, innovative, and sustainable vision for the space sector.
  In partnership with industry leaders and competitiveness clusters, COMETES raises awareness about the opportunities offered by New Space and trains professionals committed to the ecological transition.

The Grenoble University Space Center (CSUG) at the Heart of the COMETES Project for the Future of Space Exploration

The CSUG plays a central role in the project, coordinating all educational activities (including the creation of new content, modules, and study tracks) across the academic components of Université Grenoble Alpes: Grenoble INP - UGA, Faculty of Science - UGA, and the University Institute of Technology - UGA. 

It is expanding continuing education in space engineering and has been allocated additional resources to strengthen hands-on training by participating in the design and deployment of a training constellation of nanosatellites, in collaboration with several national centers. 

Initiatives to promote the space sector and raise awareness about it will also be implemented.

Through these training initiatives and by involving even more industry partners in CSUG projects with the support of the UGA Foundation, COMETES will help showcase the space expertise of the Grenoble site and the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region throughout France.

The Project at a Glance

Truck Driver / Pilot	University of Toulouse
Partners / Consortium Members	Airbus Defence and Space ArianeGroup Bordeaux INP ENSEIRB MATMECA CNES COMAT Toulouse University and Institutional Consortium Air and Space Academy, ESTIA Université Grenoble Alpes Foundation Van Allen Foundation Grenoble INP - UGA INSA Toulouse, ISAE-ENSMA ISAE-SUPAERO ISAE-SUPMECA Côte d’Azur Observatory ONERA Occitanie Regional Education Office Nouvelle-Aquitaine Region Occitanie Region Toulouse INP Université Côte d’Azur University of Montpellier University of Toulouse Université Grenoble Alpes University of Toulouse - Jean Jaurès
Funding Sources	France 2030
Amount of Funding	Total project cost: 45 M€, of which 20 M€ is funded by France 2030. 2.5 M€ for UGA, Grenoble INP - UGA, and the UGA Foundation.
Project Duration	5 years
Launch Date	March 2025