FUNDING OPPORTUNITY
Over the past years, private initiatives led by new or established actors and aimed at developing space-based end-to-end safety/critical communication and surveillance services addressing specific needs of the aviation and maritime sectors have emerged in Europe and in Canada.
In preparation for the development and deployment of full-scale space-based communication infrastructures to address aviation and maritime traffic management and safety requirements from 2030 onwards, these Space Systems for Safety and Security (4S) opportunities aim at supporting industry in quickly maturing and demonstrating the solutions, through in-orbit testing and/or pre-operational service demonstrations that are essential to obtain the buy-in of public, regulatory and policy-making stakeholders and of private investors, necessary to the later deployment of these solutions.
Industry is invited to submit proposals to perform over the timeframe 2026-2028, depending on the maturity of their underlying concept/solution :
- 1. In-orbit testing and demonstration of innovative space-based system concepts, infrastructure and technologies,
- 2. End-to-end demonstration of selected critical services based on a pre-operational system configuration.
The development of key technologies and building blocks (for space, ground, user segments) can also be conducted within the activities.
KEY FOCUS AREAS
SPACE-BASED END-TO-END SOLUTIONS FOR AVIATION/ATM SAFETY AND CRITICAL COMMUNICATIONS
Industry is invited to submit proposals to quickly mature end-to-end satellite communications solutions that will enhance communication services for Air Traffic Management purposes.
The following areas are of particular interest:
- 1. Addition of aviation C-band to other already used aviation safety of life bands (e.g. L-band) for aviation regulated (safety) communications,
- 2. Addition of non-aviation bands/non-safety of life links (e.g. S-band, Ku and Ka bands/links) to aviation regulated safety of life bands/links for enhanced and ‘hyperconnected’ Air Traffic Management (HYbrid COmmunication Network – HYCON).
- 3. Command and control of drones, remote-controlled aircraft, HAPS, etc.
Other use cases and their solutions may be proposed, as far as they target enhanced communication services for Air Traffic Management.
SPACE-BASED END-TO-END SOLUTIONS FOR MARITIME SAFETY AND CRITICAL COMMUNICATIONS
Industry is invited to submit proposals to quickly mature and demonstrate end-to-end satellite communications solutions that will enhance maritime safety communication services in the following areas:
- 1. VHF Data Exchange System (VDES) representative end-to-end in-orbit demonstration of critical services (e.g. ice chart and navigational warnings distribution), and interoperability tests between VDE-SAT (and VDE-TER) operators.
- 2. Multi-band/multi-orbit systems providing enhanced capacity and resilience for maritime safety applications in a ‘hyperconnected’ way: in-orbit test bed and technology and service concept demonstrations.
- 3. Critical emerging use cases such as autonomous vessels.
Industry may also propose activities addressing other types of satcom systems (e.g. other narrowband systems, 5G) as far as they target to provide enhanced safety/critical/regulated communication services to maritime stakeholders.
SPACE-BASED END-TO-END SOLUTIONS FOR MARITIME SURVEILLANCE & DOMAIN AWARENESS VIA DETECTION AND PROCESSING OF VESSELS’ AIS RF EMISSIONS
Industry is invited to submit proposals aiming to assess and demonstrate the performance of emerging system concepts through a set of in-orbit demonstration of concepts and technologies delivering geolocating/tracking capabilities.
WHAT WE OFFER
ESA support will be based on a co-funding scheme where the funding levels will take into consideration product maturity and the risks involved.
WHO CAN APPLY?
This call is open to Industry within ESA Member States participating in the 4S Strategic Programme Line.
HOW TO APPLY?
There are two steps involved in applying to this announcement of opportunity:
- Outline Proposal: the first step is the submission of an Outline Proposal. Outline Proposals can be submitted at any time during the opening period and will be assessed promptly by ESA.
- Full Proposal: Following notification from ESA on the acceptance of the Outline Proposal, the Tenderer may decide to prepare a Full Proposal using the provided template. Only Full Proposals accompanied by a “Letter(s) of Authorisation of Funding” (AOF) from National Delegations confirming their support will be admitted for evaluation. The Full Proposals shall be delivered via “esa-star.”
Companies interested in proposing a project are strongly advised to contact their national delegations in advance to start the process of obtaining an Authorisation of Funding.
In addition, interested parties are advised to start the registration of their team on esa-star as soon as possible as it may take some time. If a team is made up of more than one company or organisation, each member will need to register.
TIMELINE
This funding opportunity opened in November 2025, for an initial duration of 1 year.
WEBINAR
A webinar took place on 3 December 2025 at 10:30 CET. You can view the presentation below.