Can space assets support your R&D?

Can space assets support your R&D?

For the majority of businesses looking for funding, applying to the European Space Agency (ESA) might not be an obvious course of action and readers may be wondering “How could space assets be part of my R&D project?” 

The ESA Business Applications offers funding and support to businesses from any sector who intend to use space (satellite navigation, earth observation, satellite telecommunication, space weather, space technologies) to develop new commercial services.  Currently, ESA has a series of “Space for…” calls for projects in a number of sectors:  

• Construction Monitoring 

• Electromobility 

• Digital Infrastructure  

• Textile Industry  

• Olympic Games 

• Intermodal Transport 

• Insurance Technology  

Whatever the sector, the ESA support teams that have identified a market opportunity that’s attractive and has real potential for engaging customers. Motivation, business experience and industry domain expertise are key. Ideas should propose: 

• Attractive market opportunities, identified customer needs and customer engagement 

• Commercially-viable service concepts 

• Technically feasible solutions 

• Added value of space data or technology 

• Motivated teams with business, technical, and financial expertise 

Currently advertised calls range in scope and focus: 

Space for Construction Monitoring (Closing 18 February) 

Funding available for feasibility and demonstration projects. Proposals should focus on high resolution (temporal and spatial) monitoring of construction sites using satellite data and technology, at an affordable price point to enable improved monitoring of construction sites and earth-moving activities.  

Space for Electromobility (Closing 21 February) 

Feasibility project funding available for teams looking to develop sustainable space-based services and applications that address challenges related to the electromobility ecosystem. Topics of relevance include: expansion of charging infrastructure and driving EV uptake. 

Space for Infrastructure: Digital Infrastructure (Closing 28 February) 

The sixth thematic area under the “Space for Infrastructure” thematic call for proposals is digital infrastructure. Funding available for feasibility and demonstration studies in digital infrastructure technologies that provide the foundation for an organisation’s information technology and operations by bringing together physical and virtual technologies such as computer, storage, network, applications, and IaaS, PaaS and SaaS platforms.  

Space for a Sustainable Textile Industry (Closing 14 March) 

This call invites proposals for feasibility studies for space-based solutions and services to enhance transparency, sustainability and resilience across the cotton value chain and wider textile industry. Solutions should address environmental costs of current agricultural practices, identify opportunities to improve livelihoods of farmers and support the creation or restoration of protected areas.

Space for Olympic Games (Closing 31 December) 

Funding for feasibility and demonstration studies aiming to develop new space-based services for the digital transformation and sustainability of the sport sector, specifically in the organisation, management, and further exploitation of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Topics of interest include crowd management, athlete performance and training, and smart and green Olympic cities. 

Space for Intermodal Transport (Opening in February) 

Intermodal transport involves transferring passengers or goods using multiple transportation modes without handling goods during transfers. This opportunity offers funding to European teams (UK eligible) interested in developing sustainable space-based services and applications for intermodal transport. The Call will accept proposals for Feasibility Studies and Demonstration Projects.  

Space for Insurance Technology (Opening in April) 

Funding for six-month feasibility studies known as ‘Kick-Starts’, which can lead to larger-scale projects and pilots. Kick-Starts are funded at 75% by ESA, up to a maximum of €75K per contract. Topics of interest include AI trust and risk management. 

For further details of some of these funding calls, click here.

How to apply

The eligibility criteria varies for each call, so potential applicants must check that their project fits. 

Dependent on the specific “Space for…” call that’s applied for, businesses can apply for funding in two main ways: through an Open Call for Proposals or through Competitive Tenders.  

Open calls – You propose your ideas directly to ESA, setting out the opportunity you wish to pursue. These applications will each be considered on their own merit. There is a generic open call for proposals, permanently open and where you are free to propose services/applications in any sector. There may be thematic calls, open for a limited period and addressing specific needs or themes identified with one or more of our partners. Activities are always in Direct Negotiation. 

Competitive tenders – You submit your proposal in response to one of ESA’s regular open competitions. These are directed at a specific problem or opportunity raised by us. Each application received is assessed in competition with other proposal applications. 

In both cases, you are expected to already be engaged in commercial or developmental activities within your target sectors. If you are an individual person or company, you may wish to partner with others in order to increase your ability to deliver end-to-end solutions. 

The size and nature of any potential funding involved is subject to authorisation by the involved National Delegation(s). As a result, bidding teams need to obtain a Letter of Authorisation from their national delegations, and include it as part of their full proposal. 

Next steps

Developing a robust application requires time and dedication. For further information on any of these opportunities, please reach out to the TBAT team. If you require expert assistance in scoping a suitable R&D project for a future ESA application, comprehensive grant writing services, or a thorough review of your own application prior to submission, we would be delighted to assist you. 

Not sure if the ESA is right for you? Get in touch for support in identifying a suitable funding call for your application.