CELESTE – Cutting Edge Leap to Excellence in Space and Optics Technologies

CELESTE is a visionary initiative of the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC) aimed at positioning the Canary Islands as a centre of excellence for pioneering research and technological development in two interrelated domains: Advanced Optical Systems and New Space.

The project seeks to create a self-sustaining Centre of Excellence (CoE) within IACTEC, the IAC division dedicated to technological development and business cooperation, strengthening the region’s capacity to generate cutting-edge knowledge, advanced technologies, and long-term innovation ecosystems.

A strategic European project

CELESTE officially started on 1 January 2025 and will run until the end of 2030. It is funded through European support and complemented by regional and insular public investment, and it has been recognised as a strategic project in the field of Astrophysics, Space and Aeronautics.

The project is closely aligned with the Smart Specialisation Strategy for the Canary Islands (2021–2027), which strongly supports international leadership in Astrophysics and Space Sciences and highlights the positive socio-economic impact of scientific and technological activity in the region.

International collaboration and excellence

A cornerstone of CELESTE is its collaboration with world-leading institutions, including the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS). These partnerships provide access to key expertise in:

• Advanced astronomical instrumentation design
• Quantum and optical communication technologies for secure space-to-Earth data transmission
• Development of ultra-high-precision optical elements
• Strategic and managerial know-how for sustainable research and innovation structures

Through these collaborations, CELESTE strengthens knowledge exchange, talent mobility, and long-term scientific cooperation at European and international levels.

Objectives and scope

CELESTE focuses on building the core structure required for the long-term autonomy of a self-sustaining Centre of Excellence by:

• Securing stable agreements with international partners and ensuring financial sustainability
• Fostering advanced training, mobility, and exchange programmes to attract and consolidate talent
• Establishing and operating a new set of high-tech laboratories dedicated to space and optical technologies
• Building a robust ecosystem that connects research, technology development, industry, and society

The project targets both scientific advancement and technological development, with a clear orientation towards innovation, capacity building, and future industrial and commercial transfer.

CELESTE laboratories

The scientific and technological activities of CELESTE are structured around a network of specialised laboratories hosted within IACTEC. These laboratories constitute the core infrastructure of the project and provide complementary capabilities across optics, photonics, opto-mechanics, adaptive optics, satellite payloads, and quantum communications.

The laboratories integrated into CELESTE are:

• Quantum & Optical Communications Lab, focused on free-space optical and quantum communications, laser systems, adaptive optics, integrated photonics, and real-environment validation of communication technologies.
• SPACE-Lab, dedicated to the design and development of satellite payloads for astrophysics, communications, and Earth observation, with experience in small satellite missions and space instrumentation.
• LIOM (Laboratory for Innovation in Opto-Mechanics), specialising in disruptive optical and mechanical technologies for next-generation telescopes and instruments, integrating advanced optics, photonics, artificial intelligence, and machine learning.
• Adaptive Optics Lab, focused on the development of adaptive optics systems for astronomy and optical communications, addressing atmospheric turbulence, wavefront sensing, and next-generation high-resolution instrumentation.
• Advanced Optical Systems Lab, a unique facility dedicated to the design, manufacturing, and testing of high-precision optical components and coatings for applications in astronomy, space, communications, and other high-tech sectors.

Together, these laboratories operate as an integrated ecosystem, enabling CELESTE to cover the full development cycle from research and design to validation and application.

From research to impact

By reinforcing the technological capabilities of IACTEC and expanding its laboratory infrastructure, CELESTE contributes to the development of next-generation optical systems, space instrumentation, and quantum technologies. These advances support applications in astrophysics, Earth observation, communications, and New Space missions, while fostering opportunities for collaboration with industry and stakeholders.

Ultimately, CELESTE aims to ensure that cutting-edge optical and space technologies developed in the Canary Islands generate long-term scientific, technological, and socio-economic impact, strengthening the region’s position as a reference hub for excellence in space and optics.

CELESTE officially started on 1st January 2025 and will run until the end of 2030. It is funded by the European Union under Grant Agreement nº 101136736 with complementary funding by the Canary Islands regional government (Gobierno de Canarias) and insular public investment (Cabildo de Tenerife), and it has been recognised as a strategic project in the field of Astrophysics, Space and Aeronautics.

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the Research Executive Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.