Preparing demonstration missions for collaborative Earth Observation and Satellite telecommunication for Space solutions (Space Partnership)
Preparing demonstration missions for collaborative Earth Observation and Satellite telecommunication for Space solutions (Space Partnership) funds industry and researchers to test technology for competitive space systems.
Funder: European Commission
Due Dates: March 9, 2027 (Opening) | September 2, 2027 (Deadline, 17:00 Brussels time)
Funding Amounts: €5 million–€10 million per project; €26 million total topic budget; four expected grants
Summary: Supports mid- to high-readiness technologies preparing collaborative Earth observation and satellite communications demonstration missions.
Key Information: Participation is restricted to legal entities in EU Member States, Norway and Iceland, with additional ownership and control restrictions.
Description
This Horizon Europe Innovation Action supports the preparation of demonstration missions for collaborative Earth observation (EO) and satellite communications (SatCom). Funded by the European Commission under the European Partnership on Globally Competitive Space Systems, it aims to strengthen a competitive, sustainable European space sector and Europe's share of the global connectivity market.
The topic funds mid- to high-readiness technologies for secure end-to-end SatCom missions, digital ground infrastructure, EO equipment and services, and technologies common to both domains. Priorities include data processing and fusion, interoperability, onboard processing, artificial intelligence, system security and reduced environmental impact. Projects are expected to promote cooperation between industry, SMEs, research institutions, infrastructures and academia, accelerating commercial use through ground-based or in-orbit demonstrations. Activities should achieve TRL 7–8 by completion, using the space-sector ISO 16290:2013 definition.
