[ MISSION BRIEF ]
What is
ASCENT?
ASCENT is a research and educational innovation project dedicated to fostering aerospace entrepreneurship through a new, interdisciplinary learning model. It draws from MIT's Catalyst Program, customising the methodology for Spain's education system and aerospace sector needs. The aerospace field faces transformative pressures: the New Space expansion and the requirement to redesign air transport addressing climate concerns. These challenges demand cross-cutting, multidisciplinary solutions, where education plays a key role.
50%
of Catalyst projects advance to commercialisation
More than 3x MIT's overall
15% research-commercialisation average.
// PARTNERS
Who runs it
ASCENT is a joint initiative between Universidad Politecnica de Madrid (UPM) and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Teams comprising MIT and UPM professors and students apply Catalyst methodology to real aerospace contexts, incorporating professionals from academia, research, and industry.
[FELLOWS]
Fellows
Degree, master, and PhD students from UPM and MIT, from any academic discipline.
[FACULTY]
Faculty and mentors
From academia, industry, startups, and business schools, acting as ecosystem connectors.
[ADVISORY]
Advisory panels
Domain experts who evaluate and challenge teams at key milestones.
[PARTNERS]
External partners
Companies, laboratories, and public-sector organisations engaged as real-world stakeholders.
// FACULTY
Team
The faculty leading the 2026 pilot cohort.
Javier Cubas Cano
Profesor Titular UPM
Enrique Gutiérrez Álvarez
Profesor Permanente Laboral UPM
María Navas Loro
Profesora Ayudante Doctor UPM
// LEGACY
What ASCENT produces
Beyond each individual cohort, ASCENT produces educational publications and establishes a sustainable aerospace entrepreneurship training program. The aim is to strengthen Spain's innovation and startup ecosystem through open materials and a repeatable model.
This enduring UPM-MIT collaboration extends well beyond any single cohort, creating a structured path from research discovery to venture launch.
OUTPUT MANIFEST
Educational publications on aerospace entrepreneurship methodology
A sustainable aerospace entrepreneurship training program
Strengthened innovation and startup ecosystem in Spain
An enduring UPM-MIT collaboration extending beyond each cohort
// FUNDING
MIT-UPM Seed Funds
ASCENT is a project funded by the MISTI Global Seed Funds (GSF) under the 2023–2024 call.
MISTI GLOBAL SEED FUNDS (GSF)
MISTI Global Seed Funds support early-stage international research collaborations between MIT and partner institutions like UPM. The program provides seed funding to help launch joint projects, enabling faculty and researchers to build long-term partnerships. Funds are mainly used for travel, workshops, and meetings to strengthen cooperation and develop innovative global research initiatives.
upm.es/gsfs/SFS19597