Digital solutions for autonomy for space transportation systems, design and simulation tools - Digital enablers and building blocks (Space Partnership)

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”. Under the area of Access to Space related to New Space Transportation Solutions, this topic focusses on the maturation of disruptive/game changing digital technologies [1] required to strengthen competitiveness in this domain. Project results are expected to contribute to one or several of the following expected outcomes:

• Improved space transportation systems and launcher sustainability, reduced costs and operational constraints as well as enhanced system monitoring and autonomy;
• Innovative technologies for New Space Transportation Solutions, including addressing software and digital tools.

This will contribute to developing, deploying global space-based services applications and data and contribute to fostering the EU's space sector competitiveness and sustainability, as stated in the expected impact of this destination.

Scope:

To tackle the above-mentioned expected outcomes, R&I is expected to address the maturation of disruptive/game changing digital technologies required to strengthen competitiveness in this domain and sustainability by assessing the impact of these technologies (e.g. by allowing the monitoring of sustainable solutions). More specifically, R&I in one or more of the following areas are expected to be addressed:

• Autonomy, data fusion, navigation, mission planning, and more specifically advanced algorithms for process automation and autonomous flight termination systems;
• Eco-design guidelines for end-to-end aspects and software design tools, and more specifically digital models of the launch system through the use of Model-Based System Engineering, and modelling/simulation of space activity impact on atmosphere;
• Landing solutions for reusability, specifically navigation data fusion for autonomous landing.

Proposals are expected to promote cooperation between different actors (industry, SMEs, research institutions and academia) and consider opportunities to quickly turn technological innovation into commercial use in space. It is expected that projects make use of existing EU technologies and/or building blocks, including at component level, contributing to EU non-dependence and strengthening competitiveness, and this should be clearly presented in the proposal. Furthermore, proposed activities should be complementary to H2020 and Horizon Europe funded projects, national activities and activities funded by the European Space Agency (ESA). This topic contributes to the implementation of the co-programmed European Partnership on ‘Globally Competitive Space Systems’ (GCSS). In this topic, the integration of the gender dimension (sex and gender analysis) in research and innovation content should be addressed only if relevant in relation to the objectives of the research effort. Technology Readiness Level - Technology readiness level expected from completed projects Activities are expected to achieve TRL 7-8 by the end of the project. The reference TRL definition is the ISO 16290:2013 applicable to the space sector.

[1] Identified in the Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) of the co-Programmed European Partnership on Globally Competitive Space Systems (https://www.space-aisbl.org/sria/)

Submissions open on 09 March 2027.

Part of call HORIZON-CL4-2027-03

Type of action: HORIZON Innovation Actions

Programme period: 2021 - 2027

Priorities: DigitalAgenda, PART-COPROGR, AI

"> General conditions

1. Admissibility Conditions: Proposal page limit and layout

described in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes.

Proposal page limits and layout: described in Part B of the Application Form available in the Submission System.

2. Eligible Countries

described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes. A number of non-EU/non-Associated Countries that are not automatically eligible for funding have made specific provisions for making funding available for their participants in Horizon Europe projects. See the information in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide .

3. Other Eligible Conditions

If projects use satellite-based earth observation, positioning, navigation and/or related timing data and services, beneficiaries must make use of Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS (other data and services may additionally be used).

In order to achieve the expected outcomes, and safeguard the Union’s strategic assets, interests, autonomy, and security, it is important to avoid a situation of technological dependency on a non-EU source, in a global context that requires the EU to take action to build on its strengths, and to carefully assess and address any strategic weaknesses, vulnerabilities and high-risk dependencies which put at risk the attainment of its ambitions. For this reason, participation is limited to legal entities established in Member States, Iceland and Norway and the following additional associated count