On Friday, 16 October 2026, the 5th International Aerospace Symposium and the 5th edition of the training workshop on the design of an educational satellite (CanSat) kicked off in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) holds the two events in partnership with the Uzbek Space Research and Technology Agency (Uzcosmos) and Turin Polytechnic University in Tashkent, under the theme “Building Tomorrow’s Global Workforce”.

The Symposium and workshop bring together 250 trainees from Malaysia, Oman, Pakistan, Azerbaijan, Gabon, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan, alongside experts and specialists in space sciences, to design, develop, and launch educational satellite models.

The opening ceremony of the seven-day event began with a recorded address by Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General. He called on participants to strengthen their scientific capabilities and harness their knowledge to develop solutions that make a tangible difference in their communities. He stressed that building practical skills in space sciences enables young people to turn knowledge into concrete achievements while fostering the creativity, teamwork, and problem-solving skills required in the future labour market.

The ICESCO Director-General also reviewed the Organization’s efforts to promote equal opportunities in space science and technology and build the capacities of young people in the countries of the Islamic world to contribute to scientific progress and sustainable development.

For his part, Dr. Muhammad Sharif, Advisor at ICESCO’s Science and Environment Sector, described the Symposium and training workshop as a platform for strengthening student engagement in satellite technology and its applications.

The opening ceremony also featured remarks by Mr. Mukhiddin Ibragimov, Deputy Director of the Uzbek Space Research and Technology Agency “Uzcosmos”; Mr. OlimjonTuychiev, Rector of Turin Polytechnic University in Tashkent; Ms. Shelli Brunswick, Chief Executive Officer of SB Global; and Dr. Alim Rüstem Aslan, Professor of Aerospace Engineering at Istanbul Technical University. They underscored the importance of international partnerships and hands-on training involving universities, the private sector, and stakeholders in the space industry to prepare the next generation of scientists and engineers.

The workshop programme provides participants with intensive hands-on training in designing, assembling, programming, and launching miniature educational satellites using microcontrollers, sensors, cameras, and ground stations.