Focus Area
Education, Innovation & Youth Empowerment
Location
Austria
Beneficiaries
Austrian middle and secondary school students, educators, and the future scientific leadership pipeline.
Safavi's Role
Sponsor and strategic philanthropic partner
Key Impact
First-ever Austrian pilot of NASA’s Moonshot education program; trilateral partnership between Austria’s Ministry of Education, NASA’s Space Center Houston, and The Safavi Impact Institute.
Project Overview
The Moonshot Education Initiative brings NASA-aligned, STEM-driven curriculum to Austrian students through a historic partnership between the Safavi Impact Institute, Austria’s Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research, and NASA’s Space Center Houston. The program, delivered by Novi Education, represents the first official implementation of this cutting-edge space curriculum within Austria’s national education system.
The initiative aims to cultivate curiosity, scientific literacy, and future-ready innovation in young learners—preparing them for meaningful roles in the global space economy and scientific research. Through experiential learning and immersive courses modeled on NASA’s training and exploration frameworks, Austrian students are invited to take part in the next generation of moonshot thinking.
Beneficiary Profile
The initiative targets:
Austrian middle and secondary school students, selected through a nationwide competition across pilot schools
Educators and school leaders, who will receive implementation support and training
National education authorities, gaining access to globally benchmarked STEM curriculum
Future STEM professionals and space researchers, nurtured from an early age through advanced education access
By aligning with Austria’s national priorities in science and innovation, the initiative also contributes to broader societal goals—such as building sovereign tech capability, improving youth engagement in scientific careers, and strengthening international education diplomacy.
Safavi's Role
The Safavi Impact Institute serves as the lead strategic funder and philanthropic convener of the Moonshot initiative. Its role includes:
Sponsoring the full pilot implementation of the NASA Moonshot curriculum in Austria
Facilitating cooperation between public and private sector partners (e.g. the Austrian government, Space Center Houston, and Novi Education)
Providing institutional legitimacy, visibility, and sustained advocacy for education innovation
Offering students and educators access to resources, opportunities, and networks typically unavailable through traditional schooling systems
This marks the first time in Austria’s history that a philanthropic initiative has brought a NASA-developed educational curriculum into the national policy conversation.
Media
Project Gallery
Photo Credit: Space Center Houston
Impact Achieved
Its pilot phase, the program has already generated substantial momentum:
Official signing ceremony between Safavi Impact Institute, NASA’s Space Center Houston, and Austria’s Ministry of Education (June 2024)
Nationwide school competition launched to select inaugural participants
International media coverage and ministerial endorsement positioning the initiative as a flagship for 21st-century education in Austria
Built foundational infrastructure for ongoing delivery by Novi Education, a globally accredited partner of Space Center Houston
While in
The program is poised to significantly impact how STEM education is delivered in Europe, with Austria becoming a model for future regional expansion.
Purpose & Signifigance
The Moonshot Initiative reflects Safavi’s core belief: educating youth is the highest-leverage way to solve society’s most urgent challenges. By introducing mission-driven, scientifically grounded curricula at the school level, Safavi helps spark imagination, critical thinking, and ambition in future innovators.
In a world shaped by AI, and space exploration, this program ensures that students—regardless of geography—are equipped not only with knowledge, but with moonshot mindsets. It also signals Safavi’s commitment to cross-border collaboration, equitable access to opportunity, and reimagining traditional education systems for exponential impact.
Future Outlook
As the Austrian pilot rolls out, next phases include:
Curriculum deployment and educator training across the selected pilot schools
Student access to immersive experiences, such as virtual space missions and STEM labs
