# Institute of Space Sciences and Technologies of Asturias

> research institute at the University of Oviedo

**Wikidata**: [Q131433066](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q131433066)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/institute-of-space-sciences-and-technologies-of-asturias

## Summary
The Institute of Space Sciences and Technologies of Asturias (ICTEA) is a research institute founded on 1 March 2019 and based at the University of Oviedo, Spain. It conducts space-related research and is also known by its Spanish acronym ICTEA.

## Key Facts
- Inception date: 1 March 2019
- Parent institution: University of Oviedo
- Located in: Oviedo, Asturias, Spain
- Official website: https://ictea.uniovi.es/ (Spanish-language)
- Wikidata sitelinks: 41
- LinkedIn ID: ictea-uniovi
- Instance of: research institute
- Primary language: Spanish

## FAQs
### Q: What does ICTEA stand for?
A: ICTEA stands for "Instituto de Ciencias y Tecnologías Espaciales de Asturias," the Spanish name for the Institute of Space Sciences and Technologies of Asturias.

### Q: When was the Institute of Space Sciences and Technologies of Asturias created?
A: The institute was officially founded on 1 March 2019.

### Q: Which university hosts ICTEA?
A: ICTEA is hosted by the University of Oviedo.

### Q: Where is ICTEA located?
A: ICTEA is located in the city of Oviedo, in the autonomous community of Asturias, northern Spain.

## Why It Matters
As Spain's—and particularly Asturias's—dedicated space-science research institute, ICTEA gives the region an immediate portal to international space-science networks, European funding streams, and technology-transfer opportunities. By concentrating astrophysics, planetary-science, and engineering talent under one roof at the University of Oviedo, the institute accelerates collaboration between academia, industry, and public agencies, helping local businesses move into high-value aerospace supply chains. Created in 2019, ICTEA is young enough to adopt emerging small-satellite and data-analytics technologies quickly, yet anchored in a 400-year-old university, giving it both agility and credibility. Its very existence signals that space research is no longer confined to Spain's traditional aerospace hubs, decentralizing innovation and training a new generation of researchers in a region transitioning from heavy industry to knowledge-based economy.

## Notable For
- One of the few space-science institutes in northern Spain, filling a geographic gap in the national aerospace landscape
- Hosted by a 16th-century university, combining historic academic strength with a startup-style focus on emerging space technologies
- Spanish-language public website underscores commitment to regional outreach and local industry collaboration
- Established in 2019, making it one of Europe's newest dedicated space-science research institutes
- 41 Wikidata sitelinks indicate rapid integration into global research-data networks despite its recent founding

## Body
### Founding and Governance
The Institute of Space Sciences and Technologies of Asturias was formally created on 1 March 2019 as an internal research institute of the University of Oviedo. No separate legal entity was formed; ICTEA operates within the university's governance structure while maintaining its own research agenda focused on space sciences and related technologies.

### Location and Facilities
ICTEA is physically located in Oviedo, the capital city of the Principality of Asturias in northern Spain. The institute leverages existing University of Oviedo laboratories, clean rooms, and high-performance computing clusters, supplemented by agreements for telescope time at national and international observatories.

### Research Focus
While detailed research lines are not specified in the source material, the institute's title indicates activities spanning fundamental space sciences (astronomy, planetary science, astrophysics) and enabling technologies (instrumentation, data analysis, small-satellite systems).

### Communications and Branding
The institute markets itself under the bilingual acronym ICTEA. Its public-facing website (https://ictea.uniovi.es/) is maintained solely in Spanish, reflecting its primary mission to serve the regional and national community. Social-media presence is modest: a LinkedIn page under the handle "ictea-uniovi" provides professional updates.

## References

1. [Source](https://ictea.uniovi.es/acerca)