Digital enablers and building-blocks for Earth Observation and Satellite telecommunication for Space solutions (Space Partnership)

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 for current and future satellite networks interoperability including both space and ground-based assets, and digital on-ground infrastructure to test and enhance operational efficiency;
• R&I on Earth Observation equipment, subsystems, applications and services, improving the End-to-End timeliness of an EO system and enhanced resolution, miniaturisation of instrument designs and digital techniques and technologies to support operations and harmonisation enabling interoperability among multiple EO missions;
• R&I on building blocks and processes common to EO and SatCom systems, such system resources usage optimisation, high-performance processing payload H/W to support space network capabilities including an improvement in downlink and tasking capabilities of the European infrastructure, RF and optical hybrid ground stations for anchoring services and quantum technologies adaptation for space application.

Proposals may contribute to one or more of the above R&I areas, however the main area addressed must be clearly and unambiguously identified in the proposal text.

Proposals are expected to promote cooperation between different actors (industry, SMEs, research institutions and infrastructures 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 strengthen 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 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.