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Preparing demonstration missions for collaborative Earth Observation and Satellite… (Space Partnership)

Full title in the source: Preparing demonstration missions for collaborative Earth Observation and Satellite telecommunication for Space solutions (Space Partnership)

Opens 9 Mar 2027

The EU's Horizon Europe programme expects to make 4 awards of €5 million – €10 million each, from a total budget of €26 million. Applications close on 2 Sep 2027 (EU calls usually close at 17:00 Brussels time). Organisations in EU member states and Horizon Europe associated countries such as Türkiye can usually take part; the topic conditions control.

Expected outcome

The topic encompasses actions within the scope of the co-programmed European Partnership on Globally Competitive Space Systems (‘Space Partnership’) in the areas of satellite communication (SatCom), Earth Observation (EO) and New Commercial Space Transportation Solutions and is part of cohesive activities in the domain of digital developments under the grand heading of “digitalisation for commercial space solutions”.

Digitalisation is a major enabler for enhancing the value of an End-to-End EO and SatCom system. Under the area of Using Space on Earth related to SatCom and EO, below this topic focusses on the Mid to High TRL level developments of key technologies [1] required to strengthen competitiveness in these domains, contributing to the preparation of EO and SatCom demonstration missions.

Projects are expected to contribute to one or several of the following outcomes:

• Favouring a competitive and sustainable European Space Sector;

Scope

The areas of R&I, which needs to be addressed to tackle the above-mentioned expected outcomes are:

• R&I on End-to-End SatCom Mission capabilities, secure satcom services and satellites as network nodes, and digital on-ground infrastructure to test and enhance operational efficiency;

• R&I on Earth Observation equipment, subsystems, applications and services, improving data processing for performance or timeliness, smart multi-sources EO data fusion, fostering interoperability among EO missions, miniaturisation of instrument designs and EO ground segment interfaces, digitalised technology steps such as high-performance cloud-based architectures and active and adaptative optics and/or higher-power electronics;

• R&I on building blocks and processes common to EO and SatCom systems, such as on-board processing capabilities, maturing high performance processing payload H/W to support space network capabilities and reducing environmental impact of future missions, maturation of technologies and products improving system security and threats identification, characterization and possible mitigation and RF and optical hybrid ground stations for anchoring services.

Who can apply

Consortium of at least 3 independent legal entities from 3 different EU Member States or associated countries, at least one in a Member State (Horizon Europe standard rule). Country restriction: participation is limited to legal entities established in Member States, Norway and Iceland.

Applicant categories are a starting point. The official call decides eligibility.

Topics

STEP-Digital/deep tech

Timing

Single-stage call. Next deadline 2027-09-02. The portal states the exact cut-off time (EU calls usually close at 17:00 Brussels time).

How to apply

1. Read the full topic on the Funding & Tenders Portal: expected outcome, scope, type of action and the topic conditions, including any country restrictions.
2. Register each participating organisation in the Funding & Tenders Portal to get a PIC.
3. Consortium of at least 3 independent legal entities from 3 different EU Member States or associated countries (Horizon Europe standard rule; Türkiye is associated). Confirm in the topic conditions.
4. Prepare Part A (administrative forms and budget, completed in the portal) and Part B (the technical description on the official template for this type of action).
5. Submit in the portal before the cut-off time on the deadline day. Late submissions are not accepted.

From the call text

Who can apply

Not stated in the call text we hold — check the official page

Company stage

Not stated in the call text we hold — check the official page

Single applicant or consortium

Read the topic conditions on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal for eligible countries, consortium requirements, budget and the application route.

Where applicants must be based

Read the topic conditions on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal for eligible countries, consortium requirements, budget and the application route.

Where to apply

Read the topic conditions on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal for eligible countries, consortium requirements, budget and the application route.

Read the EU application guide

Where these facts come from

Official sources

Official call page

Facts on this page come from the funder’s official data, taken on 14 Nov 2026. The funder's own documents, including later amendments, always take precedence.

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