people worldwide still lack access to essential health services.
AstroAid Global Summit 2026
AstroAid Foundation · In partnership with METU
Space technology for global health equity.
An international convening connecting space capability, AI, health expertise and humanitarian action to advance global health equity.
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Hours
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Minutes
The imperative
Healthcare should not depend on geography.
The Summit begins with a global reality: billions still lack access to essential health services. AstroAid convenes the people who can connect orbital infrastructure, public-health expertise and human compassion at scale.
AstroAid mission
From orbital intelligence to human impact.
Use satellite technology and AI-driven analytics to save lives in underserved communities.
Telemedicine
Disease surveillance
Disaster response
AI analytics
Preliminary Programme
Three days. One path to impact.
A multidisciplinary programme connecting policy, space, technology, healthcare, humanitarian action, emerging talent and partnership-building.
23–25 November 2026
Programme subject to confirmation and updates.
Monday, 23 November Align
Policy, Ethics & Humanitarian Action
Set the policy, governance and humanitarian foundations required to turn space-enabled healthcare from ambition into equitable action.
01
Main stage
Opening addresses
Welcome from the AstroAid Foundation and METU.
Invited Keynote Speeches
Visionary Leadership Panel
Invited leaders from global health, space, international organisations and government discuss the policy choices required to deliver equitable, space-enabled healthcare.
AstroAid Policy Lightning Talk
Short interventions on the policy, governance and international cooperation needed to turn ambition into action.
AstroAid Pilot Project — Policy & Legal Perspectives
An update and discussion from the AstroAid Policy and Legal team about the Foundation’s CubeSat Pilot Project.
Case Study: Easter Island, Chile
A practical case study examining the potential of space-enabled technologies to support isolated and underserved communities.
02
Abstract sessions
Session 1: Policy, Ethics and Global Governance
- Science and technology policy
- Applied ethics in emerging technologies
- Health equity, access and responsible innovation
- Keynote contribution from PATH
Session 2: Humanitarian Operations and Resilience
- Humanitarian dialogue
- Connectivity for remote and crisis-affected communities
- Remote sensing and Earth observation for health and humanitarian response
- AstroAid roadmap exercise
03
Workshop room
Disaster Management Seminar, led by the METU Disaster Management Research Center
Applied Ethics Seminar
Pilot Project Workshop: Policy and partnership design
04
Optional evening activity
METU campus visit
Signature experiences
Not another conference.
Four applied environments place participants inside the decisions, systems and partnerships that will shape space-enabled healthcare.
Space-Enabled Crisis Simulation
A live decision environment combining satellite mapping, remote diagnostics, drones and AI-supported response.
Health Orbital Data Showcase
Explore how Earth observation and AI can strengthen outbreak prediction, situational awareness and public-health decisions.
Telemedicine Hub Demo
Step inside a simulated remote clinic connected to specialist care through resilient satellite communications.
Partner Lab
Shape pilot concepts, humanitarian-response blueprints and tangible collaboration opportunities with institutional partners.
Who you will meet
One room. Every system that matters.
The Summit is designed for people with the authority, expertise and imagination to turn collaboration into measurable progress.
01Space agencies
02Health institutions
03National ministries
04International Organizations & NGOs
05Pharma & biotech
06AI & data leaders
07Universities
08Investors
09Start-ups
10Young professionals
Host university & institutional partner
A campus built for big ideas.
Middle East Technical University
Space, robotics, disaster resilience and health research — under one roof.
Discover METU ↗25K+students
31+research centres
45 km²Ankara campus
150K+alumni worldwide
METU SPACE
Türkiye’s next-generation space technopark.
A new hub for advanced space systems, research excellence and industry collaboration.
Innovation talent
Research that moves beyond the laboratory.
International campus
A welcoming university community in the capital.
01
CHERI
Smart lunar robotics selected for the Chang’e-8 mission.
02
Ax-3
Contributing to Türkiye’s first human spaceflight research.
03
Multidisciplinary
Aerospace, AI, electronics, resilience and biomedical engineering.
AstroAid in action
A global foundation with field-level perspective.
AstroAid’s work spans policy rooms, research institutions, international conferences and practical health-technology conversations across continents.
Global policy
Vienna
Engaging with the international space community and the United Nations ecosystem.
Institutional collaboration
Cairo
Building bridges with national space and research institutions across Africa.
Space industry
Sydney
Connecting with innovators and partners at the world’s leading space gatherings.
Science & innovation
Daejeon
Bringing the health-equity mission into global technology and research conversations.
Shape the programme
From research to shared impact.
Bring forward research, policy insight and deployable ideas across space technology, global health, AI, resilience, cybersecurity and humanitarian response.
Submission deadline
10 September 2026
Submit your abstract ↗
Plan your visit
Ankara welcomes the world.
Türkiye’s capital is diplomatic, cosmopolitan and accustomed to international visitors. METU’s international offices will support invited participants with practical guidance.
Venue
METU Culture and Convention Center
Ankara, Türkiye
Check the official requirements for your passport.
Entry rules vary by citizenship and passport type and may change. Use the official Ministry of Foreign Affairs guidance.
Official visa information ↗Modern, connected and easy to navigate.
The Turkish Lira is the official currency. Cards are widely accepted, while some cash remains useful for smaller purchases.
Professional, welcoming and internationally oriented.
Casual Western-style clothing is common. Smart professional dress is appropriate for Summit sessions; modest attire is expected when visiting active places of worship.
The Summit is designed for leaders and practitioners from space, health, government, international organisations, humanitarian action, academia, industry, investment and the next generation of professionals.
Sponsorship platform
Position your organisation where space meets global health.
Build international visibility, strategic influence and new application pathways alongside decision-makers, researchers, innovators and future talent.
Start a sponsorship conversation ↗Official host university film
Experience METU in Ankara
Discover the METU campus and the environment welcoming the AstroAid Global Summit 2026.