European Space Agency: Space For Sustainable, Connected and Liveable Cities

Key Features

ESA invites proposals for feasibility studies and demonstration projects to leverage space-based services and applications for smart cities.

Programme:     Innovate UK

Award:     Up to 80% of project costs

Opens: 12th Feb 2025

Closes: 30th Sep 2025

Overview

This European Space Agency Call for Proposals invites proposals for feasibility studies and demonstration projects for services that leverage space-based services and applications for the smart cities sector. Successful bidders may have the opportunity to work closely with Space for Smart and Green Cities Task Force members who are supporting this call in the development of the proposed service.

Scope

Cities are facing numerous challenges that arise from rapid population growth, as well as the rapid effects of climate change. Over 140 experts from 65 countries came together in Riga, Latvia from 16 to 19 April 2024, to draft the outline of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)’s Special Report on Climate Change and Cities. Several challenges and opportunities were identified for scoping this report. These included urban development, urban emissions, urban carbon cycle, air pollution, digital communication, transport, heat islands and urban overheating.

The challenges described are, to varying degrees, common to all cities. However, each city has its own unique set of questions and issues to address. This fragmented situation became evident during the several bilateral discussions that the European Space Agency (ESA) had with cities and towns participating in the Smart and Green Cities Task Force.

Topics of Relevance

The most recurring use cases, as identified by city practitioners, have been categorised below.
It is also important to note that some cities have expressed a willingness to act as pilot users, validating the developed solutions in pre-operational scenarios.

Sustainable Cities (Urban Sustainability)
  • Requalification of abandoned industrial areas
  • Local energy production
  • Circular economy
Connected Cities (Urban Infrastructure)
  • City walkability
  • Optimising traffic flow
  • Improving street lighting management
  • Affordable housing
Liveable Cities (Urban Environment)
  • Climate change and emissions
  • Urban park management

Value of Space

Satellite Earth Observation (SatEO): SatEO for mapping and monitoring environmental conditions such as urban sprawl, air quality measurements, soil quality, heat signatures, fire detection, and boundary delineation and change detection. It can also support the development of digital elevation, surface models and topography measurements.

Example of applications supported by SatEO include:

  • Mapping of urban sprawl and spatial analysis enabling planners to design efficient infrastructure, optimise land use, and monitor environmental changes.
  • Integration of satellite derived air pollution data with ground-based monitors to develop spatially resolved maps of air pollution.
  • ‘Digital Twin’ generation for urban asset management and planning.
  • Provision of mapping information, feature characterisation, boundary delineation, and change detection.
  • Monitoring and managing natural resources to assist in site selection for new housing or other types of urban infrastructure projects.

SatEO can also provide time-series data which are important for assessing the impact of new projects.

Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS): GNSS enables ubiquitous high accuracy and seamless positioning.  GNSS is an essential asset to geo-locating data measured in urban areas, such as pollution, environment and light.

Examples of applications supported by GNSS include:

  • Providing context-specific navigation and proximity notifications to help citizens and visitors know what is happening around them.
  • Supporting smart traffic management by monitoring vehicle movements and traffic patterns. Real-time traffic updates and navigation assistance to help alleviate congestion.
  • Location based services and navigation analytics to keep visitors safe and crowds flowing.
  • Providing route optimisation for better flow of traffic and easier walkability.
  • Enhancing navigation for emergency services ensuring faster response times, making streets safer.

Satellite Communication (SatCom): SatCom plays a vital role in providing robust and reliable connectivity to support smart city infrastructure, addressing unserved and underserved areas by terrestrial communications. A smart city uses the Internet of Things (IoT) to collect real time data to better understand how demand patterns are changing. This allows faster response and lower-cost solutions. Ubiquitous connectivity is a key requirement for the evolution of smart cities, ensuring the same quality of services in both city centres and rural areas.

Examples of applications include:

  • Smart parking systems to provide a robust connection between a network of vehicle occupancy sensors and a cloud-based management system.
  • Smart waste management systems to notify authorities when containers are full, optimising pick-up schedules.
  • Massive IoT to connect sensor readings e.g., smart streetlights, smart buildings, air pollution sensors, and surveillance cameras.

Eligibility

Funded participation to ESA Business Applications is open to any company and/or organisation, be it as group of users, public body or non-governmental organisation, residing in any of those states that subscribe to the BASS programme (this includes the UK).

ESA look for promising business ideas addressing topics of relevance or related areas that propose:

  • Market opportunities and customer needs
  • Commercially viable service concepts
  • Feasible technical solutions
  • Value from space data or technology
  • Teams with business, technical, and financial expertise

Funding Costs

ESA offer funding and support to companies, both for business case assessment and for the development of new, space-based services. The offer includes:

  • Zero-equity funding (50-80% depending on SME Status and Member State Approval)
  • Technical and commercial guidance
  • Access to our network and partners
  • ESA brand credibility

ESA will bear up to the above defined percentage of the acceptable project cost, and the remainder has to be financed by the Tenderer and/or other partners through private and/or public sector direct or indirect, in cash or in-kind co-financing.

The applicable funding level of the individual prime- or subcontractors is subject to authorisation by the involved National Delegation(s). Therefore bidding teams are requested to obtain a Letter of Authorisation from all their national delegations before submitting a Full Proposal.

If you would like to find a project partner, or how to contact the UK National Delegation, contact Innovate UK Business Connect’s Space team.

Interested in applying for this competition?

Book an appointment to speak to one of our advisors to discuss your eligibility to apply for this Grant Funding opportunity.