Digitalisation of the Water Sector
ESA funds projects using satellite and digital technologies to enhance water sustainability, monitoring, and infrastructure resilience in the global water sector.
Funder: European Space Agency
Due Dates: May 12, 2026 (APQ submission opens) | August 30, 2026 (APQ submission deadline, 13:00 CET)
Funding Amounts: Up to €600,000 per Proof-of-Concept Study; Pilot Projects funded case-by-case. ESA typically covers 50–80% of eligible costs depending on SME status and Member State approval.
Summary: Supports innovative digital and space-based solutions to enhance water sustainability, resilience, and infrastructure via satellite technologies.
Key Information: Only two APQ submissions per calendar year per tenderer; National Delegation authorisation required for Full Proposal.
Description
This European Space Agency (ESA) call supports the development and demonstration of digital and space-based solutions to address global water sector challenges, including water scarcity, pollution, and infrastructure strain. The program seeks projects leveraging satellite Earth observation, navigation, and communication technologies, combined with digital tools such as IoT, AI, and edge computing, to improve water quality monitoring, resource management, predictive maintenance, and infrastructure resilience. The initiative aims to foster sustainable business models, unlock private investment, and drive operational transformation in the water sector.
