Digitalisation of the Water Sector
The European Space Agency's Digitalisation of the Water Sector grant funds space-enabled digital solutions to advance water management, quality, and resilience through satellite-based research and innovation.
Funder: European Space Agency
Due Dates: May 12, 2026 (APQ submission opens) | August 30, 2026 (APQ submission deadline)
Funding Amounts: Up to €600,000 for proof-of-concept studies; pilot project funding assessed case-by-case. ESA co-funding: 50–80% for companies, up to 100% for non-commercial research/public sector.
Summary: Supports innovative, space-enabled digital solutions for water sector sustainability and resilience, leveraging satellite technologies.
Key Information: APQ is the required first step; only two APQs per bidder per year; Letters of Intent from pilot users required at Outline Proposal stage.
Description
This initiative from the European Space Agency (ESA) aims to accelerate the digital transformation of the global water sector by supporting the development and demonstration of space-enabled services and products. The call targets solutions that use satellite Earth observation, navigation, and communication technologies to address urgent water management challenges—including water sustainability, sanitation, resilience, and infrastructure monitoring. The overarching goal is to foster scalable, commercially viable services that improve water quality, operational efficiency, and resilience against climate and demographic pressures.
