H2020 Work Programme 2018-2020 for Space

EN
Horizon 2020
Work Programme 2018-2020
5.iii. Leadership in Enabling and Industrial Technologies -
Space
IMPORTANT NOTICE ON THIS WORK PROGRAMME
This Work Programme covers 2018, 2019 and 2020. The parts of the Work Programme that
relate to 2020 (topics, dates, budget) have, with this revised version, been updated. The
changes relating to this revised part are explained on the Funding & Tenders Portal.
(European Commission Decision C(2019)4575 of 2 July 2019)

Horizon 2020 - Work Programme 2018-2020
Leadership in Enabling and Industrial Technologies - Space
Part 5.iii - Page 2 of 123
Table of contents
Introduction .........................................................................................................5
Call - Space 2018-2020 ........................................................................................9
Earth observation..................................................................................................................... 9
DT-SPACE-01-EO-2018-2020: Copernicus market uptake................................................ 11
LC-SPACE-02-EO-2018: Copernicus evolution – Mission exploitation concepts ............. 13
LC-SPACE-03-EO-2018: Copernicus evolution - Preparing for the next generation of
Copernicus Marine Service ocean models ........................................................................... 17
LC-SPACE-04-EO-2019: Copernicus evolution – Research activities in support of cross-
cutting applications between Copernicus services ............................................................... 19
LC-SPACE-05-EO-2019: Copernicus evolution –a gap analysis to prepare future activities
for Copernicus data and information validation and quality enhancement.......................... 21
DT-SPACE-06-EO-2019: International Cooperation Copernicus – Designing EO
downstream applications with international partners........................................................... 25
LC-SPACE-18-EO-2020: Copernicus evolution: Research activities in support of the
evolution of the Copernicus services.................................................................................... 28
LC-SPACE-19-EO-2020: Copernicus evolution: new concept for an innovative and holistic
solution for Sentinels calibration & validation .................................................................... 31
LC-SPACE-24-EO-2020: Copernicus evolution: Mission exploitation concept for WATER
.............................................................................................................................................. 33
Artificial Intelligence and Space ........................................................................................... 36
DT-SPACE-25-EO-2020: Big data technologies and Artificial Intelligence for Copernicus
.............................................................................................................................................. 36
Space business, entrepreneurship, outreach and education............................................... 38
DT-SPACE-07-BIZ-2018: Space hubs for Copernicus ....................................................... 39
DT-SPACE-08-BIZ-2018: Space outreach and education................................................... 41
DT-SPACE-09-BIZ-2019: Space hubs (support to start-ups).............................................. 42
DT-SPACE-26-BIZ-2020: Space hubs (support to start-ups).............................................. 43
Space technologies, science and exploration........................................................................ 44
SPACE-10-TEC-2018-2020: Technologies for European non-dependence and
competitiveness .................................................................................................................... 46
SPACE-11-TEC-2018: Generic space technologies............................................................ 49
SPACE-13-TEC-2019: SRC – In-Space electrical propulsion and station keeping ............ 51
LC-SPACE-14-TEC-2018-2019: Earth observation technologies....................................... 53
SPACE-15-TEC-2018: Satellite communication technologies............................................ 55
SPACE-16-TEC-2018: Access to space .............................................................................. 58
SPACE-17-TEC-2019: Access to space .............................................................................. 60

SPACE-20-SCI-2018: Scientific instrumentation and technologies enabling space science
and exploration..................................................................................................................... 62
SPACE-28-TEC-2020: SRC - In-space electrical propulsion and station keeping -
Incremental technologies...................................................................................................... 63
SPACE-29-TEC-2020: Satellite communication technologies............................................ 66
SPACE-30-SCI-2020: Scientific data exploitation.............................................................. 69
Artificial Intelligence and Space ........................................................................................... 70
SPACE-12-TEC-2018: SRC – Space robotics technologies................................................ 70
SPACE-27-TEC-2020: SRC - Space robotics technologies ................................................ 72
Secure and safe space environment ...................................................................................... 75
SU-SPACE-21-SEC-2020: Space traffic management........................................................ 75
SU-SPACE-22-SEC-2019: Space Weather ......................................................................... 77
SU-SPACE-23-SEC-2019: Advanced research in Near Earth Objects (NEOs) and new
payload technologies for planetary defence......................................................................... 78
SU-SPACE-31-SEC-2019: Research and innovation network of governmental users of
secure satellite communications........................................................................................... 80
Conditions for the Call - Space 2018-2020........................................................................... 82
Call - EGNSS market uptake 2019-2020.........................................................90
LC-SPACE-EGNSS-1-2019-2020: EGNSS applications fostering green, safe and smart
mobility ................................................................................................................................ 91
DT-SPACE-EGNSS-2-2019-2020: EGNSS applications fostering digitisation ................. 93
SU-SPACE-EGNSS-3-2019-2020: EGNSS applications fostering societal resilience and
protecting the environment................................................................................................... 96
SPACE-EGNSS-4-2019: Awareness Raising and capacity building .................................. 98
SPACE-EGNSS-5-2020: EGNSS applications for public authorities' pilot ...................... 100
Conditions for the Call - EGNSS market uptake 2019-2020............................................ 102
Fast track to innovation..................................................................................104
European Innovation Council (EIC) prize: "Low cost Space Launch"....105
Other actions (2018-2020)...............................................................................106
1. ESA engineering support ............................................................................................... 106
2. InnovFin Space Equity Pilot (ISEP)............................................................................... 106
3. Programmatic Support Actions for the Strategic Research Clusters.............................. 107
4. In-orbit demonstration/validation – launch services ...................................................... 108

5. Improving the performance of Space surveillance and tracking (SST) at European level
............................................................................................................................................ 110
6. Galileo Evolution, Mission and Service related R&D activities.................................... 112
7. EGNOS, Mission and Service related R&D activities................................................... 113
8. GNSS evolution, infrastructure-related R&D activities................................................. 113
9. Cooperation among NCPs.............................................................................................. 114
10. Studies & Communication ........................................................................................... 115
11. Horizon 2020 project monitoring................................................................................. 116
12. Horizon 2020 tender evaluation, project monitoring and audits (EGNSS).................. 116
13. Copernicus evolution – Research activities in support of a European operational
monitoring support capacity for fossil CO2 emissions ...................................................... 117
14. In-orbit validation/demonstration – Mission design, integration and implementation 119
15. Awareness raising activities on Space funding opportunities...................................... 121
Budget...............................................................................................................122

Introduction
Space is important for Europe. It is both a strategic asset and enormous opportunity for our
society and economy. Space technologies, infrastructure, services and data provide the EU
with the tools needed to address societal challenges and big global concerns, such as climate
change, migration, mobility, energy security and many others. The security and well-being of
our citizens increasingly depend on information and services provided from space.
Space has a growing importance for the European economy. Space provides data and
connectivity for the digital economy. It boosts innovation and creates new sources of jobs and
growth, particularly through the development of value-added (downstream) products and
services, which opens new market opportunities for European companies, including SMEs
and start-ups, and contributes to the competitiveness of our economy. Space can help increase
the resilience of key sectors of the economy, such as transport networks, energy grids, or
financial and banking services. The importance of space for the functioning of European
society is expected to grow in the future as we move towards a more interconnected society
and digital data-driven economy which will increase the demand for space-based services.
To bring the benefits of space to the European citizens and unleash the potential of space as a
vector for growth, competitiveness and jobs creation in the wider European economy it is
necessary to stimulate the integration of space into European society and economy, foster a
globally competitive European space sector and ensure European autonomy in accessing and
using space in a safe and secure environment.
The Horizon 2020 interim evaluation confirmed that the objectives and challenges of LEIT-
Space remain highly relevant and are fully in line with the Space Strategy for Europe, adopted
by the Commission on 26th
October 2016. It sets out the following priorities:
 Maximising the benefits of space for society and the EU economy;
 Fostering a globally competitive and innovative European space sector;
 Reinforcing Europe’s autonomy in accessing and using space in a secure and safe
environment;
 Strengthening Europe’s role as a global actor and promoting international cooperation.
Horizon 2020 is a key instrument to progressing towards these goals. This must be done in
coordination with the activities of the operational space programmes Copernicus and EGNSS
(Galileo and EGNOS), with activities in other parts of Horizon 2020 and with the activities of
Member States and ESA.
The interim evaluation also found that industrial participation in LEIT-Space stands at 53%
with an SME participation around 28% including the Space part of the SME-instrument,
which is far above the 20% target. Furthermore, there is a healthy influx of new participants.
Indeed some 45% of the participants are newcomers from industry.

In line with this, and in the light of the strategic orientations of Horizon 2020 for the final
three years, the space part will:
 Support the market uptake and evolution of the Copernicus and EGNSS
(Galileo/EGNOS);
 Underpin space business, entrepreneurship, space technologies and science;
 Support security aspects and access to space;
Applicants are reminded that other space-related opportunities are available elsewhere in the
Horizon 2020 work programme. A non-exhaustive list includes: (i) the European Innovation
Council (EIC) pilot, in particular the SME-instrument, the EIC Horizon price on 'Low-cost
space launch', the Fast Track to Innovation (FTI) and the FET Open (Future and Emerging
Technologies); (ii) the Access to Risk Finance, in particular the InnovFin Space Equity Pilot
(ISEP) in the context of InnovFin Equity. In addition to these, more specific opportunities,
such as those linked to research infrastructures or societal challenges, are recalled in the
related topics in this part of the work programme.
Horizon 2020 space should be a tool in support of the European space sector in the global
context. The development of cutting edge space technology is increasingly taking place within
space science and exploration international partnerships. Ensuring access to these constitutes
an important success factor for European researchers and industry. The use of space will have
to take into account cooperation with international partners. Accordingly, international
cooperation aspects will be mainstreamed in the work programme as far as possible.
Topics of this part of the work programme will contribute to the following focus areas:
 Building a low-carbon, climate resilient future
 Digitising and transforming European industry and services
 Boosting the effectiveness of the Security Union.
Responsible Research and Innovation
Activities carried out under this Work Programme should be in line with Responsible
Research and Innovation (RRI)1
, thereby engaging society, integrating the gender and ethical
dimensions, ensuring the access to research outcomes and encouraging formal and informal
science education.
Open research data
Grant beneficiaries under this work programme part will engage in research data sharing by
default, as stipulated under Article 29.3 of the Horizon 2020 Model Grant Agreement
(including the creation of a Data Management Plan). Participants may however opt out of
1
https://ec.europa.eu/programmes/horizon2020/en/h2020-section/responsible-research-innovation

these arrangements, both before and after the signature of the grant agreement. More
information can be found under General Annex L of the work programme.
Guidance documents relating to certain call topics
For certain call topics, additional guidance for the applicant is available through "guidance
documents" published on the Funding & Tenders Portal.
Synergies with other funding opportunities in WP2020
Project proposers should consider and actively seek synergies with, and where appropriate
possibilities for further funding from, other relevant EU, national or regional research and
innovation programmes (including ERDF/ESF+ or the Instrument for Pre-accession
Assistance [IPA II]), private funds or financial instruments (including EFSI).
Examples of synergies are actions that build the research and innovation capacities of actors;
mutually supportive funding from different Union instruments to achieve greater impact and
efficiency; national/regional authorities actions that capitalise on on-going or completed
Horizon 2020 actions aimed at market up-take/commercialisation.
In order to explore options for synergies, project proposers could seek contact with
national/regional managing authorities and the authorities who developed the Research and
Innovation Smart Specialisation Strategies (RIS3)2
. For this purpose the 'Guide on Enabling
synergies between ESIF, H2020 and other research and innovation related Union
programmes'3
may be useful. Horizon 2020 project proposals should outline the scope for
synergies and/or additional funding, in particular where this makes the projects more
ambitious or increases their impact and expected results. Please note, however, that while the
increase in the impact may lead to a higher score in the evaluation of the proposal, the
reference to such additional or follow-up funding will not influence it automatically.
Guidance Document Call Topic/Other Actions
Copernicus evolution: guidance document for Horizon 2020
Work Programme 2018-2019
LC-SPACE-02-EO-2018;
LC-SPACE-03-EO-2018
LC-SPACE-04-EO-2019-
2020
Critical Space Technologies: guidance document for Horizon
2020 Work Programme 2018-2020
SPACE-10-TEC-2018-2020
Space Robotics Technologies - Strategic Research Cluster:
guidance document for Horizon 2020 Work Programme
2018-2020
SPACE-12-TEC-2018
SPACE-27-TEC-2020
2
http://s3platform.jrc.ec.europa.eu/map
3
http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/sources/docgener/guides/synergy/synergies_en.pdf

Electric Propulsion - Strategic Research Cluster: guidance
document for Horizon 2020 Work Programme 2018-2020
SPACE-13-TEC-2019
SPACE-28-TEC-202
Contribution to focus area(s)
Focus Area 'Digitising and transforming European industry and services' (DT): EUR 58.00
million
Focus Area 'Building a low-carbon, climate resilient future' (LC): EUR 84.00 million
Focus Area 'Boosting the effectiveness of the Security Union' (SU): EUR 98.10 million

Call - Space 2018-2020
H2020-SPACE-2018-2020
Earth observation
Horizon 2020 Earth observation (EO) activities are considered an essential element to
accompany the investments made by the Union in Copernicus, the Union Earth observation
and monitoring programme. Through Copernicus and Earth Observation activities in the
Horizon 2020 the European Union also contributes to advancing the Global Earth Observation
Systems of Systems (GEOSS).
In particular, activities under the societal challenge for climate action, environment, resource
efficiency and raw materials focus on contributing to and drawing benefit from GEOSS. This
aims notably at the development of comprehensive and sustained global environmental
observation and information systems that stimulate the smart use of strategic resources,
support the development of evidence-based policies, foster new environmental and climate
services, and develop new opportunities in global markets. Activities under the Leadership in
Industrial Technologies part focus on the evolution of Copernicus and the exploitation of
existing European space infrastructure by promoting the development of innovative products
and services based on remote sensing, geo-positioning or other types of satellite enabled data
as well as geo-information generated already by services such as Copernicus services.
It is widely accepted that the combination of the aforementioned information sources with
data from outside the Earth Observation domain has a vast potential to generate new and
innovative applications and services. Activities under the present heading will focus on the
use of existing technologies that emanate from previous work programmes throughout
Horizon 2020, from Member States and from ESA to integrate them into their work and
progress their maturity towards operational use.
Currently most of the EO innovative applications are integrating different technologies.
Further developments in the frame of integration of Earth Observation (EO) systems with
EGNSS and other technologies are encouraged in order to deliver added value services fully
tailored to end user needs. Optimised system architectures have to be defined to fully exploit
the potential of synergies/complementary characteristics of the different systems, providing
significant benefits in a number of key market segments and operational scenarios.
Moreover, taking into account the wider relevance of EO to all parts of Horizon 2020,
proposals addressing application and uptake of EO for the development of innovative
applications addressing specific challenges can also be submitted to the Horizon 2020
Societal Challenges where related references are included. To that end, applicants to those
parts of Horizon 2020 can also access Copernicus data and information (licensing conditions
may apply).
To render the exploitation of Copernicus more efficient, the Union is putting in place a
number of Data and Information Access Services (DIAS) that will start operation in the

context of the Copernicus programme in 2018.4
The DIAS will offer access to Copernicus
data and information and offers computing resources and tools alongside the data to facilitate
working with the data without the need to download it. To maximise the impact of past H2020
initiatives, the Union intends to make all relevant and freely available tools developed under
H2020 available within the DIAS environments, helping them to become European 'algorithm
factories'. Activities under the Leadership in Industrial Technologies part are encouraged to
integrate the DIAS as enabling element in their work.
Widening the use of Copernicus data and enhancing the market uptake of Copernicus services
by delivering new applications relying on Copernicus services and Earth observation data.
Further evolution of Copernicus by developing innovative solutions to improve services and
by exploring mission concepts such as marine service ocean models and CO2 monitoring
capability in the context of implementing the Paris Agreement on climate change.
To facilitate access to opportunities for applicants, the following list includes some of the
dedicated Earth observation activities in this and other parts of Horizon 2020 work
programme:
Excellent science – Research Infrastructures
 INFRAEOSC-01-2018: Access to commercial services through the EOSC hub
 INFRAIA-01-2018-2019: Integrating Activities for Advanced Communities
Leadership in Industrial Technologies – space part:
 DT-SPACE-01-EO-2018-2020: Copernicus market uptake
 LC-SPACE-02-EO-2018: Copernicus evolution – Mission exploitation concepts
 LC-SPACE-03-EO-2018: Copernicus evolution – Preparing for the next generation of
Copernicus Marine Service ocean models
 LC-SPACE-04-EO-2019: Copernicus evolution – Research activities in support of cross-
cutting applications between Copernicus services
 LC-SPACE-05-EO-2019: Copernicus evolution – a gap analysis to prepare future
activities for Copernicus data and information validation and quality enhancement
 DT-SPACE-06-EO-2019: International Cooperation Copernicus – Designing EO
downstream applications with international partners
 LC-SPACE-14-TEC-2018-2019: Earth observation technologies
 LC-SPACE-18-EO-2020: Copernicus evolution: Research activities in support of the
evolution of the Copernicus services
4
Please see further information on the selected Copernicus cloud-based platforms for Data and
Information Access Services at: http://copernicus.eu/news/copernicus-dias-contracts-signed

 LC-SPACE-19-EO-2020: Copernicus evolution: new concept for an innovative and
holistic solution for Sentinels calibration & validation
 LC-SPACE-24-EO-2020: Copernicus evolution: Mission exploitation concept for
WATER
 DT-SPACE-25-EO-2020: Big data technologies and AI for Copernicus
 Other action 13: Copernicus evolution – Research activities in support to a European
operational monitoring system for fossil CO2 emissions
Societal challenges
 SC5-15-2018: Strengthening the benefits for Europe of the Global Earth Observation
System of Systems (GEOSS) – establishing 'EuroGEOSS'
 SC5-16-2019: Development of commercial activities and services through the use of
GEOSS and Copernicus data
Proposals are invited against the following topic(s):
DT-SPACE-01-EO-2018-2020: Copernicus market uptake
Specific Challenge: Copernicus, the Union's Earth observation and monitoring programme
produces a wealth of data and information services on the Earth, its lands, atmosphere, oceans
and inland waters, as well as on climate change and in support of disaster management and
security. Copernicus data and information services are available with a free and open data
licence.
Copernicus data is an integral part of the European Data Economy. Europe needs to
strengthen its position as provider of products and services based on data, enabling new
market opportunities.
Copernicus data value will be greatly enhanced by its integration with data assets contributed
by other vertical domains (i.e. not necessarily from the space/geospatial sector) as well as by
leveraging the synergies with EGNOS/Galileo to seize new market opportunities. Many
vertical domains, other than space, can benefit from the use of Copernicus.
Mature software technologies such as big data processing and linking technologies, machine
learning and artificial intelligence, are widely developed also within the LEIT-ICT Work
Programmes of H2020, shall be adopted to offer user-friendly solutions at the scale of the
large quantities of data involved. They shall be adopted to contribute to the digitization
challenges of the European industry by opening up innovative business avenues and to
support societal challenges.
Real-world industrial/commercial requirements, or societal needs, shall drive the Innovation
Actions so that the projects’ results can find their logical path towards market adoption.

Scope: Actions under this topic should be instrumental to help European companies innovate,
develop and bring to market new or improved products and services by exploiting Copernicus
data assets and, whenever relevant, the link with European satellite
positioning/navigation/timing technologies.
Copernicus data will be at the core of the data value chains and integration activates needed to
fulfil the industrial requirements that will drive the proposals.
Proposals should adopt state-of-the-art ICT technologies, such as big data processing and
linking technologies, machine learning and artificial intelligence to address the challenges of
making sense of large volumes of diverse data from distributed sources, at the scale required
to address European and global challenges.
Proposers are strongly encouraged to make use of existing European data infrastructures such
as (but not limited to) Copernicus’ DIAS platforms, European open data portals, industrial
data platforms, and explore synergies with EGNOS/Galileo signals and services whenever
those are relevant. Use and re-use of existing data and computing assets is also strongly
recommended.
The participation of industry is required to define the project’s industrial requirements from
the very beginning of the action and to take ownership of the results.
End users (i.e. professional experts and decision-makers as opposed to researchers or software
developers) should also be involved to rigorously test the project’s solutions to make sure the
human factor is considered appropriately.
Proposals must demonstrate that they have access to appropriately large, complex and realistic
data sets, in addition to Copernicus. The data assets to be used in the Action should be
described in the proposal.
Solid, quantitative and innovative business models should support the proposal giving
evidence of the expected industrial, commercial, or societal benefit, and demonstrating a plan
towards sustainability after the project’s end.
A clear distribution of IPRs amongst the members of the consortium is expected.
For proposals under this topic:
 The participation of at least one industrial partner is mandatory, and the participation of
SMEs and start-ups is encouraged;
 Involvement of post-graduate scientists, engineers and researchers and promotion of
gender balance is also encouraged, for example through professional work experience or
through fellowships/scholarships as applicable;
 A business plan and evidence of user engagement is compulsory and is to be provided as
part of the proposal, to demonstrate the user need and sustainability of the project.

The Commission considers that proposals requesting a contribution from the EU of between
EUR 1 and 3 million would allow this specific challenge to be addressed appropriately.
Nonetheless, this does not preclude submission and selection of proposals requesting other
amounts.
Expected Impact:
 Establishment of new sustainable data value chains with Copernicus data at their core
with a commercial value;
 Substantial increase in the market of the number of products and services enabled by
integrating Copernicus data across sectors with state-of-the-art innovative technologies,
able to generate growth and new jobs;
 Enhance European industry’s potential to take advantage of market opportunities and
establish leadership in the field, as well as boost business activity;
 Increased market share for European companies in the supply of innovative geospatial
products and services.
Type of Action: Innovation action
The conditions related to this topic are provided at the end of this call and in the General
Annexes.
LC-SPACE-02-EO-2018: Copernicus evolution – Mission exploitation concepts
Specific Challenge: The user requirements process undertaken by the Commission and the
Space Strategy for Europe has identified possible evolutions of the space observations
capabilities in the context of Copernicus. These are described below, and specific guidance
documents explaining the ongoing process to gather new user requirements will be provided5
.
The following three priorities have been identified for potential evolution of Copernicus in the
future:
A. Monitoring of the Polar Regions, notably the Arctic, specifically for sea ice and
environmental conditions
B. Agriculture monitoring, specifically for supporting the Common Agricultural Policy.
C. Forest monitoring, specifically for supporting the REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from
Deforestation and forest Degradation) process at international level.
The development, the implementation and eventually the operation of an enhanced European
capacity will need the involvement of various players, such as National Space Agencies,
European and Member States Institutions, International Organisations, the private sector,
operators of in-situ measurement stations, and of leading scientific experts in the identified
5
http://ec.europa.eu/growth/sectors/space/research/horizon-2020

fields such as data assimilation and modelling for the Arctic, agriculture monitoring and forest
monitoring. In particular, it will need to build on past activities of the European Space Agency
(ESA) and will need to be coordinated with the ESA's on-going and future programmes.
Initiating and consolidating the establishment of the community and thus reaching the critical
mass required for addressing such a challenging endeavour. It will also need to take into
account current and planned activities led by the Copernicus Programme (space component
and services, i.e. marine, climate, land/cryosphere) for future services as well as the current
H2020 projects relevant for example for Arctic monitoring (i.e. INTAROS).
Scope: The scope is identified according to the possible evolution scenarios indicated above.
Each proposal shall address only one of the following sub-topics.
A – Preparation of a European capacity for monitoring the Polar Regions
To advance a coordinated preparation of a mature European capacity there is a need to bring
together the key European stakeholders and competent entities which are:
 Engaged in activities that can answer questions raised in the user requirements gathering
process;
 Have the ability to network with suitable research actors to fill the knowledge gaps;
 Have the required expertise to assess the needs for an end-to-end operational system,
with due attention to potential international cooperation opportunities for tackling this
global challenge.
At the same time, there is a need for an accompanying scientific and technical support to
address:
 Ways to improve Copernicus' ability to describe the changing polar regions, including
the snow/ice coverage, salinity, sea ice, permafrost, the biogeochemical state of the
ocean, biodiversity in light of different scenarios of availability of additional
complementary data from space;
 Identification of research gaps regarding integration/assimilation of space based data into
sea state, ocean physics, biogeochemistry and ice models;
 Ability to provide not only sea-ice mapping but also sea-ice forecasts for maritime
purposes, and as essential climate variable and/or essential ocean variable;
 Assessment of access to adequate and sustained in-situ observing systems and the
necessary research gaps to fill in terms of assimilation/modelling capacity.
Activities shall thus encompass the coordination of ongoing efforts, include mutual
identification of research and infrastructural gaps, and facilitate a cooperation of further
research and development to be undertaken to reach sufficiently mature capacities for an
operational integration as a subsequent step.

B – Preparation of a European capacity for improving agriculture monitoring
To advance a coordinated preparation of a mature European capacity in this agriculture
monitoring field, there is a need to bring together the key European stakeholders and
competent entities which are:
 engaged in activities that can answer questions raised in the user requirements gathering
process and under an extended scope of activity;
 have the ability to network with suitable research actors to fill the knowledge gaps;
 have the required expertise to assess the needs for an end-to-end operational system,
with due attention to potential international cooperation opportunities for tackling this
challenge from local to global levels in a cost efficient way.
address:
 Ways to improve Copernicus' ability to support precision agriculture, the monitoring of
crop extension and composition, the monitoring of hydrological stress and water needs
for irrigation, the forecast of agricultural yields from local and national up to global scale
the assessment of crop diseases and nutrient deficiency in light of different scenarios of
availability of additional complementary data from space;
 Identification of research gaps regarding integration/assimilation/utilization of space
based data for agriculture monitoring at global, European and farmer levels.
Activities shall coordinate ongoing efforts, include mutual identification of research and
infrastructural gaps, identify a clear delineation between a core service and a downstream
application and facilitate a cooperation of further research and development to be undertaken
to reach sufficiently mature capacities for an operational integration as a subsequent step.
C – Preparation of a European capacity for improving forest monitoring
To advance in a coordinated preparation of a mature European capacity in this forest
monitoring field, there is need to bring together the key European stakeholders and competent
entities which are:
 engaged in activities that can answer questions raised in and beyond the support to the
REDD process;
 have the ability to network with suitable research actors to fill the knowledge gaps;
 have the required expertise to assess the needs for an end-to-end operational system at
least on a scale of REDD region, with due attention to potential international cooperation
opportunities for tackling this challenge from local to global levels.

address:
 How to improve Copernicus' ability to support forest management and sustainable
logging, the evaluation of forest damage and disturbance, the detection of burned areas,
the assessment of forest biomass and health in light of different scenarios including the
availability of additional complementary data from space;
 Identification of research gaps regarding integration/assimilation/utilization of space
based data for forest monitoring, at global, European, national and local levels.
Activities shall coordinate ongoing efforts, include mutual identification of research and
Both Copernicus Services Evolution and Copernicus Space Component Evolution should be
taken into account and aligned optimally. While focusing primarily on the Services Evolution,
the coherence between the space component and the service related requirements should also
be ensured.
amounts.
This topic contributes to the Horizon 2020 focus area "Building a low-carbon, climate
resilient future"
Expected Impact: Laying the foundation for complementing the existing Copernicus services
and the current Copernicus observation capabilities for operational capacities for:
A. Arctic as a contribution to an integrated pan-Arctic observing system;
B. operational agriculture monitoring from local to global levels;
C. operational forest monitoring from local to global levels, respectively;
Improved the interaction in the context of the evolution of Copernicus with:
A. Europe's Climate Change challenge and Maritime activities and sustainable development
in the Arctic;
B. Europe's Common Agriculture Policy, of Global Food Security Challenges, as well as
farmer level support;
C. UN REDD process and associated policies, of EU Forest Strategy, as well as of the local
forest manager needs;

Lay the foundation for the operational integration of all relevant European capacities as a
subsequent step.
Type of Action: Coordination and support action
Annexes.
LC-SPACE-03-EO-2018: Copernicus evolution - Preparing for the next generation of
Copernicus Marine Service ocean models
Specific Challenge: The overarching challenge is to prepare the next generation of the
Copernicus Marine Service in line with the evolution of requirements, policies and national
expectations and also benefiting from advances in space, IT technologies and modelling and
in accordance with the Copernicus institutional context.
The Copernicus Marine Service has now entered in full-scale operations. It delivers in support
to European policies, International conventions (i.e. on climate) and also in support to
Member States, observations, forecasts and reanalysis of the past of the ocean, at global scale
but also on all European regional seas. It delivers a unique, consistent and integrated overview
from the open ocean up to the coasts both in terms of physics and biogeochemistry.
At policy level, many directives related to the marine environment call for integrating in a
coherent way all EU policies (the Water Framework Directive, Marine Strategy Framework
Directive, the Habitats Directive, Maritime spatial Planning, etc...). EU Ministers have
welcomed the Communication on International Ocean Governance, adopted by the
Commission and the High Representative in November 2016, calling it a "timely and relevant
contribution to achieving […] better coordination and cooperation to ensure that oceans are
safe, secure, conserved and sustainably used and managed." Ministers stressed the urgent
need for the EU and its Member States to step up efforts to protect the oceans and seas.
Hence, requirements from the coastal sector interested in integrated coastal zone management,
spatial planning, natural risk mitigation, climate change impact mitigation or habitats and
living resources monitoring were addressed. From the several improvement paths identified, a
high priority is the evolution of Copernicus Marine Service global and regional systems to
better describe ocean phenomenon with high dynamics at fine spatial scales to provide
enhanced boundary conditions to coastal models (both physics, biogeochemistry or marine
ecosystems) thus strengthening the links with downstream coastal monitoring activities from
the public or private sectors.
Mesoscale to sub-mesoscale features such as fronts, meanders, internal waves eddies and
filaments, as well as turbulent mixing are of fundamental importance for the exchanges of
heat, fresh water, CO2, dissolved oxygen and nutrients between the surface and ocean
interior, and in transition areas connecting the open ocean to coastal seas. The representation
of tidal physics and wave-current interaction is also needed for a more complete
representation of dynamical processes.

Small-scale dynamics is essential to better understand and represent ocean and climate
interactions both for physics and biogeochemistry. Development of high-resolution global
ocean models would also ultimately benefit to the development of higher resolution climate
models needed for more skilful climate predictions.
The need for high-resolution global ocean models is also driven by the need for numerical
models to develop a resolution capacity compliant with the spatial (and time) scales from
present (Sentinels) and future EO satellites (e.g. wide-swath altimetry, geostationary sensors,
surface currents).
Scope: Numerical codes shall be prepared to achieve smallest target effective resolution in the
kilometric range constrained by high-resolution EO datasets. The following activities are
required:
 Deliver global ocean analyses and forecasts at a kilometric scale with additional process
complexity;
 Production of ocean forecasts and analyses that exploit upcoming HR satellite datasets;
 Develop advanced numerical schemes with improved accuracy and stability;
 Exploit the opportunities of new high performance computing (HPC) technology;
 Allow easy interfacing of the Copernicus service with local coastal models, allowing for
two-way data exchange between coastal systems and the Copernicus Marine System;
 Assess the impact of solving the ocean dynamics at kilometric scales on the role of
ocean on climate (e.g. vertical exchange of heat, representation of over flows);
 Assess the impact of solving the ocean dynamics at kilometric scales on the coupling
with biogeochemistry and on the carbon, oxygen and nutrient cycles.
 Assess the adequacy and quality of satellite-derived ocean data into the coastal models,
thus providing an opportunity for validation and integration with local ocean conditions.
A guidance document explaining the ongoing process to gather new user requirements is
published together with this work programme6
.
The Commission considers that proposals requesting a contribution from the EU of EUR 5
million would allow this specific challenge to be addressed appropriately. Nonetheless, this
does not preclude submission and selection of proposals requesting other amounts.
resilient future".
Expected Impact: Expected outcomes should be to:
6

 Provide a significant contribution from the Science community to address the precedent
list of unsolved issues related to a higher resolution of the ocean description;
 Deliver developments based on the NEMO ocean model to easily transition to the
Copernicus operational environment as this world-class ocean model already forms the
basis of the majority of analysis and forecast products;
 Prepare the necessary steps for further validation and integration into Copernicus and
transition to operations;
 Identify priorities for next developments both in EO processing, in-situ contribution
(additional data sources), assimilation and modelling capacities;
 Identify required coordination with other Copernicus services related to land,
atmosphere or climate if so required;
Type of Action: Research and Innovation action
Annexes.
LC-SPACE-04-EO-2019: Copernicus evolution – Research activities in support of cross-
cutting applications between Copernicus services
Specific Challenge: Copernicus produces a wealth of data and information regarding the Earth
sub-systems (land, atmosphere, oceans) and cross-cutting processes (climate change,
emergency and security). The wealth of information delivered by the Copernicus operational
programme is not fixed but needs to evolve further with recognised and emerging user
requirements and state of the art methodologies. The potential for new products and
applications needs to be exploited, especially as regards cross-cutting cases not yet realised. A
process has been set-up by the Entrusted Entities, together with the Copernicus User Forum
and Copernicus Programme Committee, operating the core services to review the evolution of
the services and any emerging adaptation needs as to their urgency, closeness to the
operational delivery process, and availability of capacities. Specific and well-targeted
applications involving the outcome from multiple core services need to be developed in the
mid-term. R&D activities are to be conducted such that results are available in a sufficiently
timely manner to support an informed discussion, if and under which conditions the proposed
new applications should be integrated into the operational service portfolio of the Copernicus
programme. Furthermore proposers should highlight where results could also be valuable for
GEO, considering Copernicus as the European contribution to this global initiative.
Scope: Proposals shall demonstrate the technical operational feasibility of one specific cross-
cutting thematic application. The proposers are expected to demonstrate that their proposal is
relevant for the enhancement of Copernicus core services and capitalise from the
corresponding product portfolio.

The output of this research and innovation action should provide a proof-of-concept or a
prototype including a benchmarked selection of concurring methodological approaches,
where feasible, that shall complement and broaden the panoply of information made currently
available by the core services and which can act as reference for the independent assessment
of Copernicus services evolution, in light of product extensions and service improvements.
These applications may concern areas in relation to domains such as energy, agriculture and
forestry, health, water resources, security, natural environments and manmade disasters,
resilience of built environment, cultural heritage, coastal monitoring, urban planning, climate
adaptation, biodiversity and eco-system preservation, exploration and mineral resources, and
others. Proposals are encouraged to use the Copernicus Data and Information Access Services
(DIAS), or other existing data access solutions instead of setting up their own download and
processing infrastructure. They are also encouraged to integrate third-party data (including in-
situ data) and envisage data assimilation into models and products made available on the
Copernicus platform of the Copernicus services..
The proof-of-concept or prototype should allow demonstrating the relevance and suitability to
implement the proposed application later on at European level in a cost efficient manner, i.e.
potentially with operational Copernicus funding. To allow a discussion of such potential
operational funding, the activity should also result in one or more possible scenarios on how
this application could potentially be integrated into the existing service architecture.
Proposers are invited to investigate synergies with the Knowledge and Innovation
Communities (KICs), in particular Raw Materials and Climate7
.
Proposers are advised to consult information on the Copernicus programme in general at
http://copernicus.eu, the evolution topics identified there, the guidance document provided8
together with this work programme, as well as the availability of Copernicus Sentinel Data,
access to Copernicus Contributing Mission data available via the Commission’s website9
.
The proposal should:
 Demonstrate to what extent the proposed evolution could be a candidate for the
operational Copernicus service in terms of cost-benefits, calendar and operational
feasibility;
 Specify the conditions for making available, for use and exploitation, the results
(including IPR) to the entities implementing the EU Copernicus programme, including
its contractors and service providers;
 Foster innovation and enhance applications which exploit Copernicus service
information from across the service domain.
7
Please see further information on ongoing projects with KICs financed by the Copernicus programme
at: http://copernicus.eu/; https://eitrawmaterials.eu/eit-rm-academy/; http://eit.europa.eu/newsroom/eu-
earth-observation-programme-copernicus-opens-its-database-worlds-largest-climate-action
8
9
http://www.copernicus.eu/main/data-access

 Participation of industry, in particular SMEs, is encouraged;
 Coordination and partnership with KICs is encouraged;
 Involvement of post-graduate scientists, engineers and researchers is also encouraged,
for example through professional work experience or through fellowships/scholarships
as applicable.
amounts.
resilient future".
Expected Impact:
 Enable Copernicus services to better serve cross-cutting applications on European scale;
 Enhance European industry’s potential to take advantage of emerging market
opportunities and capacity to establish leadership in the field;
 Reinforce the link with academic and scientific sector for scientific exploitation of
Copernicus data;
 Boost competitiveness of the industrial actors in EU and national procurements;
Annexes.
LC-SPACE-05-EO-2019: Copernicus evolution –a gap analysis to prepare future
activities for Copernicus data and information validation and quality enhancement
Specific Challenge: Copernicus is a European system for monitoring the Earth. Copernicus
consists of a complex set of systems which collect data from multiple sources: earth
observation satellites and in situ sensors such as ground stations, airborne and sea-borne
sensors. The processed data are made available to the users as reliable and up-to-date
information through a set of services related to environmental and security issues. The
services address six thematic areas: land, marine, atmosphere, climate change, emergency
management and security. They support a wide range of applications, including environment
protection, management of urban areas, regional and local planning, agriculture, forestry,
fisheries, health, transport, climate change, sustainable development, civil protection and
tourism.

A number of in-situ research infrastructures built by national or international programmes
provide not only data of national interest, but also essential data for Copernicus. This is
particularly true for observations done at global and European regional level. There is a need
to develop mechanisms to help giving recognition to those observations by research
infrastructures which support operational Copernicus services in meeting their objectives. In
particular, in situ networks providing data for calibration and validation activities give a
fundamental contribution to the Copernicus Services and the Copernicus Space component. It
is therefore mandatory to map the requirements (type of measurements, geophysical
parameters acquired, resolution in space and time, data uncertainty and quality, timeliness…)
for in situ data and compare it to the existing observation system to find gaps.
The scope and potential of such contribution expands continually as research infrastructures
evolve e.g. as European Research Infrastructures Consortium (ERICs), international partners
gradually make their data available and as the relevance of no-space data is increasing in the
context of Big Data applications.
Beyond the content generated by the infrastructures described above, most of them operate a
bespoke and thus heterogenic IT infrastructure to collect, compute, store and distribute their
data. Harmonisation and evolution initiatives are underway in the form of:
 the cloud infrastructures (EOSC) providing access to any type of data as well as virtually
unlimited data processing and preservation capacity;
 the supercomputing facilities High Performance Computing (European Union HPC
Strategy);
 the pan-European GÉANT network for scientific excellence, research, education and
innovation already use by ESA and EUMETSAT to distribute a large portion of the data
provided by the different contributing missions;
 the Copernicus Data and Information Access Services (DIAS) that offer access to
Copernicus data and information alongside tools, storage and processing offerings.
At the same time there is also the need for a new, integrated and comprehensive Copernicus
in-situ infrastructure which could be designed as an interface layer to make the collection of
disparate observing networks (with different goals, methods, and governance) homogenously
available to Copernicus users and operators in a cost-effective way.
The sustainability of in-situ observing systems remains a major concern, particularly at global
and European level, and discontinued funding can pose a high risk for Copernicus.
There is a need to assess the current state of affairs in the areas described above and to
propose a roadmap by establishing an inventory and performing an in-depth gap analyses in
two main areas:
1. in-situ data and its use in Copernicus by looking in particular at identified areas where
the operational Copernicus data and information provision could be improved;

2. On the basis of the work under 1, and taking into account the already ongoing initiatives
in the IT domain, the areas where additional adaptations or additions to the currently
implemented IT infrastructures would be needed or beneficial to facilitate the use of the
related data within Copernicus.
Scope: The main purpose of this action is to devise a sustainable and cost effective
Copernicus products validation framework capable of meeting present and future
requirements for data and information validation and quality enhancement delivered by
Copernicus services and Space Component.
The proposal should take into account the on-going activities in the Copernicus in-situ
component with the European Environmental Agency (EEA) as the Entity entrusted by the
European Commission to coordinate and develop this fundamental Copernicus component10
.
The scope of this call encompasses the following steps:
1. Establish a complete inventory of the current and foreseen (when possible) use of in-situ
data by the entities entrusted with the production and distribution of Copernicus data and
information with a clear identification of the available and accessible in-situ and research
data sources in Europe (at national, European or international level) and in the current
and future non-European partner countries for Copernicus (US, Australia, South
America, Africa, India).
2. Perform a gap analysis mapping the Copernicus needs versus the in-situ observations for
the following activities:
 sensor calibration (including vicarious calibration), algorithm calibration and
products validation (mainly level 2 data) for the Copernicus space component,
Sentinel and essential missions11
, present and future;
 products validation for the Copernicus Services;
 cross-cutting multi purposes products validation, not tailored on specific service or
component.
3. Gaps shall be characterised as a minimum by identifying:
 Missing data (completely or partially);
 Data accuracy and uncertainty;
10
https://insitu.copernicus.eu/library/reports/ResearchInfrastructuresandCopernicusFinalversion
Nov2017.pdf
https://insitu.copernicus.eu/library/reports/state-of-play-report-observations-december-2017-2
11
Essential missions are the ones with a well-known and demonstrated involvement in the services
production chains: the actual involvement should be demonstrated in the proposal.

 Procedural issues (such as delivery delay, obsolescence of the infrastructure, lower
quality of data, automatic processing, standardization and coordination with
Copernicus services).
4. For the identified in-situ infrastructures the following points should be analysed to help
reveal any existing gaps:
 the maturity level and missing steps to become operational for Copernicus (e.g.
new design, pure research, pre-operational ….) and the priorities due to their impact
on Copernicus;
 the sustainability of the existing observations, update of observing infrastructure to
cover missed parameters and improve the accuracy of the measurements and the IT
specific needs e.g. connection to get the data, tools to exploit and process them,
distributing data and products taking into account the already existing activities or
projects like EOSC, HPC, GEANT and DIAS;
 Related ongoing projects (H2020, ESA, JRC, EEA…) and their respective
budget(s) when available.
5. Propose a priority list of elements to be addressed and a set of related research road-
maps that allow addressing the identified gaps. This should include relevant inter-
dependencies between research areas, such as:
 Research into expansion of in-situ networks or improved in-situ data accuracy and
quality, formats etc. to sustain and improve the Copernicus data and information
veracity and accuracy;
 Research into potential expansion of Copernicus and Copernicus-derived services
building on additional in-situ resources and non-environmental data;
 To propose a potential evolution of existing infrastructures as a Copernicus
interface layer to make the collection of disparate observing networks
homogenously available and accessible to the Copernicus users and operators;
 Propose a detailed roadmap for the implementation of the Copernicus interface
layer considering the different starting level: e.g. transition, new research, research
to make them operational etc.
Proposals are expected to integrate relevant and knowledgeable actors from at least the four
core domains covered by this topic:
1. Copernicus services
2. Copernicus space data providers
3. In-situ national and European (research-) infrastructures

4. European e-infrastructures
as applicable.
The Commission considers that proposals requesting a contribution from the EU in the range
of EUR 2 million would allow this specific challenge to be addressed appropriately.
Nevertheless, this does not preclude submission and selection of proposals requesting other
amounts.
Expected Impact:
 To complete a comprehensive overview of the status of research infrastructures already
used by Copernicus;
 To enable the identified research infrastructures to better respond to Copernicus
operational needs;
 To enable the identify missed in situ observation required to improve the accuracy of the
satellite Copernicus products and monitor their quality in operation;
 Reinforce the cooperation among different Copernicus actors (entrusted entities, space
data providers, in-situ data providers and research infrastructures) on the in-situ data
network.
Annexes.
DT-SPACE-06-EO-2019: International Cooperation Copernicus – Designing EO
downstream applications with international partners
Specific Challenge: Copernicus, the Union's Earth observation and monitoring programme
produces a wealth of data and information regarding the Earth sub-systems (land, atmosphere,
oceans) and cross-cutting processes (climate change, emergency and security). Cooperation
with international partners is key to promoting the uptake of Copernicus globally, exploiting
possibilities for integrating in-situ, space data and information technologies. Building the
Copernicus full, free and open data policy, the Commission seeks to facilitate access to
Copernicus data and information for interested international partners. Administrative
cooperation arrangements on Copernicus data access and earth observation data exchange
have already been signed with the United States and Australia, and discussions towards

similar cooperation have been started with other countries and regions (including Africa,
Latin American countries and Asia-Pacific countries).
Cooperation with partner countries should be fostered with a view to using Copernicus data to
jointly develop algorithms, services and/or products which serve local user needs and/or
enhance the Copernicus global product quality.
Proposals are encouraged to use the Copernicus Data and Information Access Services
(DIAS), or other existing data access solutions instead of setting up their own download and
processing infrastructure. They are also encouraged to integrate third-party data (including in-
situ data) and envisage data assimilation into models and products made available on the
Copernicus platform of the Copernicus services..
For such applications and developments to succeed in the market or with public users, the
products need to be shaped according to users’ needs and their value to users must be openly
demonstrated to the wider user community. This needs to be achieved in an environment
integrated at the level of the user, in order for users to accept the innovative potential which
the product promises. This will require also specific attention to be given to the various
processes in place in the users’ workflows which incorporate the EO information.
Furthermore, the transition of R&D product prototypes to viable commercial product lines
after the end of the EU funded phase remains a challenge to be addressed early on during
product development.
Scope: Proposals shall address a wide variety of applications stemming from the use of Earth
observation and their smart integration with other related technologies. Copernicus should be
considered as part of the solution which may include other space or non-space inputs. This is
likely to lead to greater value, opportunities and especially market uptake. Applications shall
be sustained by a production process capable of delivering to the user a product which is
validated and accepted as a marketable product in the international partner country.
International collaboration has a key role to play in this context, as it enhances access to
markets beyond the national borders, notably by enabling space application providers to
absorb market-related tacit knowledge and know-how of their partners. Corresponding
validations and customisations are to be undertaken, and the business case for the application
is to be demonstrated. Service level models are to be developed, with appropriate quality of
service definitions for the application. Application products are expected to adopt open
standards for data documentation, data models and services including data processing,
visualisation and cataloguing on a large scale.
Tasks shall include joint calibration and validation activities or integration of local in-situ
systems to enhance the quality of data and service products. It is important to exploit the
added value of integration of EO observation technologies (both satellite, airborne and ground
based) with positioning ones, and ICT (enhancing new frontiers opened by cloud computing)
from international partner countries through the development of applications, and encourage
their insertion into the market.
The choice of EO application is left to the proposer.

Applicants are advised to consult further information on the availability of Copernicus
Sentinel Data, access to Copernicus Contributing Mission data, as well as issues
recommended to be detailed in the proposals via the Commission’s Copernicus website12
.
 Participation of at least one partner from a country that has signed a Copernicus
Cooperation Arrangement13
is required;
 Involvement of post-graduate scientists, engineers and researchers is encouraged, for
example through professional work experience or through fellowships/scholarships as
applicable;
 Participation of partners involved in international GEO initiatives is encouraged.
amounts.
This topic contributes to the Horizon 2020 focus area "Digitising and transforming European
industry and services".
Expected Impact:
 Establish sustainable supply chains for innovative EO value added products and services
with demonstrated commercial value with international client communities;
 Complete integration, based on international standards, into the customer’s existing
business processes and processing chains, as well as the economic viability of the
application is to be demonstrated;
 Enhance the European industry’s potential to take advantage of market opportunities and
establish leadership in the field and to boost business activity;
 Lead to new or improved products, processes or services on the market that are capable
of generating within 3 years after the end of public funding a significant turnover for the
participants, and create new jobs;
 Lead to an improved quality of the Copernicus global product, thereby enhancing the
stating of Copernicus data and information in a global environment and GEOSS.
12
http://www.copernicus.eu/main/data-access
13
See Copernicus.eu for list of countries concerned

Annexes.
LC-SPACE-18-EO-2020: Copernicus evolution: Research activities in support of the
evolution of the Copernicus services
Specific Challenge: Copernicus operational services are not static, but need to evolve with
recognised and emerging user requirements and EU policies.
R&D activities which are suitable for this call are identified to this end by the Commission,
together with the Entrusted Entities, for each service. The challenge is to clearly demonstrate
if and under which conditions an evolution of the operational service portfolio is appropriate
and in line with the Copernicus Programme.
Scope: The proposal should tackle only one of the following sub-topics. For the chosen sub-
topic the proposal should clearly identify one (or more) core product(s) to be developed as a
completely new or improved product.
The Commission, together with the Entrusted Entities, has identified for each service (sub-
topic) the areas of Copernicus R&D interests:
1. Copernicus Emergency Monitoring Service (CEMS): resilience to climate risk,
population exposure risk (e.g. in coastal areas, flood prone areas, areas exposed to
droughts…). The proposed activities need to consider the existing CEMS framework and
describe how they can contribute to a fully integrated risk cycle monitoring service
2. Copernicus Monitoring Atmosphere Service (CAMS): Up-to-date emissions of reactive
gases and aerosol based on inverse modelling, Improve atmosphere monitoring using
data assimilation and preparation for upcoming sentinels (with a focus on Sentinel-4),
Integrated soil-vegetation-atmosphere modelling and data assimilation for representing
emission and deposition of atmospheric pollutants.
3. Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S): exploitation of seasonal forecasting systems
as natural integrator of Copernicus Services, enhancement of predictive skills at seasonal
timescales, consistent climate re-analysis of the Earth system, improvement in predicting
variations of the climate system over the next few years and decades, linkages between
current extreme weather events such as droughts, heat waves or floods to anthropogenic
climate change and/or natural climate variability.
4. Copernicus Marine Environmental Monitoring Service (CMEMS): Advanced marine
data assimilation techniques for physics (e.g. ensemble methods, assimilation of future
satellite observations like swath altimetry and surface currents), improvement of
biogeochemical products for the carbon cycle (CO2 ocean component), water quality and
food security (food web modelling, habitats), with assimilation of satellite and in-situ
data, improved biogeochemical models, coupled physics and biogeochemistry models
and use of new in-situ observations (e.g. BGC Argo) to validate biogeochemical models.

5. Copernicus Land Monitoring Service (CLMS): essential ecosystem variables for natural
capital accounting, HRL for agriculture, forest and urban monitoring, CLC+,
environmental compliance, support to sustainable development goals, exploitation of
mid and high resolution satellite combination for continuous environmental change
monitoring.
6. Security New concepts for applications based on the integration of relevant information
derived from space or non-space sources, current services or other value-added
applications, targeted to support civil protection and security. New algorithms for
automated monitoring and detection of changes and patterns of life. Those activities
should also aim at bridging the gap between demand and supply, complementing the
offer of the Copernicus Security services and enlarging its user base.
Actions should take into account the existing portfolio of the services and clearly define to
what extent main model, algorithm, tool and technique should be improved to generate new or
better products.
Actions aim at demonstrating the technical operational feasibility of the selected product(s).
The proposed development should be modular and scalable. The project should provide a
proof-of-concept or a prototype (e.g. system element) demonstrating the feasibility of the
integration in the existing core service. This new “system element” should also guarantee the
expandability required for the integration of new data from potential space or no-space new
mission/sensors.
During the development of the project, the team taking into account the delineation between
Copernicus core services and downstream services, should clearly identify the right context of
the proposed product(s). The border delineation takes into account the principles of
subsidiarity and proportionality, the avoidance of duplication, and the facilitation of user
uptake.
The proposal should also investigate to what extent the proposed evolution could be a
candidate for the operational Copernicus service in terms of cost-benefits, calendar and
operational feasibility.
R&D activities should aim at a better integration of space research with other non-space
domains (e.g citizen science including social media) focusing in particular on policy areas
addressing global and societal challenges highlighting horizontal synergies and
multidisciplinary approaches. In particular, proposals should clearly mention which of the UN
Sustainable Development Goals the project will support.
New IT tools should be considered and innovative solutions should be proposed for a better
data exploitation, processing and distribution, e.g.: cloud and HPC computing, distributed
computing, Artificial Intelligence, machine learning (e.g. for automatic feature recognition),
ensemble modelling, model coupling & nesting, software as-a-service.

Additionally, the operationalisation of the research results should receive active attention
during the course of the project to strengthen the readiness for an operational deployment in
the future, including the conditions for making available, for re-use and exploit the results
(including IPR) to the entities implementing the EU Copernicus programme. The software
should be open licensed in order to use, copy, study, and change it in any way.
Proposers are advised to consult information on the Copernicus programme in general at
https://www.copernicus.eu/en, the availability of Copernicus Sentinel Data, access to
Copernicus Contributing Mission data at the Commission’s website
(https://www.copernicus.eu/en/access-data).
It should be noted that funding of the H2020 project in no way commits the Commission or
the Copernicus service operators to deploy the outcomes from the research in the Copernicus
operational services.
through fellowships/scholarships as applicable.
At least one proposal per sub-topic shall be selected for funding.
EUR 1 and 1.5 million would allow this specific challenge to be addressed appropriately.
amounts.
Expected Impact:
 Increased coverage of EU policies, clearly identifying which and how the project intends
to address them;
 Integration of different observation capacities with a clear demonstration of an increase
in the service performance (compared with the existing one);
 The proposed proof-of-concept or prototype, as outcome of the project, should clearly
demonstrate an improvement of the Copernicus service evolution.
Annexes.

LC-SPACE-19-EO-2020: Copernicus evolution: new concept for an innovative and
holistic solution for Sentinels calibration & validation
Specific Challenge: Copernicus is addressing all domains of the Earth environment, including
the atmosphere, the land (including inland waters) and the oceans. The EU environmental
programme Copernicus implements six services that benefit significantly from measurements
acquired by EO satellites, the so-called Sentinels series. The first generation of Sentinels
includes 6 families of satellites (from S1 to S6), each family having 4 members (from A to D)
and additional satellites providing complementary measurements to the existing fleet are
foreseen in the context of the expansion of the Copernicus programme.
The utility of the large and growing volume of satellite observations and derived data
products for operational services is crucially dependent on the proper calibration of the
instruments and validation of the products. Global monitoring over extended periods is
expected to require even more rigorous inter-calibration in the future.
These routine calibration/validation (cal/val) exercises are required in order to relate the space
measurements to internationally recognized standards to ease comparability of satellite
measurements taken at different times and locations, by different instruments and to facilitate
cross-validation with other types of measurements and model output.
Cal/val activities are a fundamental aspect of the entire Copernicus programme as the
essential connection between Space Component, in-situ Component and Services. Data
sharing and data exchange principles and processes should be well defined and promoted by
the Programme.
The dimension and breadth of such an operational programme calls for a commensurate
instrumental support to perform the required cal/val procedures. Such procedures are
currently implemented through existing infrastructures, which are strictly tied to individual
missions, set up in an ad hoc manner by different agencies and institutions to provide the
basic needed support.
The lack of sustainability in the maintenance of the calibration and validation infrastructures
is clearly not in balance with the dimension of the Copernicus space component and its
ambitions for evolution in future. Often there is a strong dependency on research
infrastructures which is not fit-for purpose in the context of an operational Programme such as
Copernicus.
Moreover, the lack of sustainability goes along with a lack of a holistic approach, e.g., a
minimum set of standard instruments to be operated through optimised sites or "supersites",
which would in addition enable an economy of scale. Such “supersites” of fiducial reference
measurements may have to be domain specific to cover various geophysical media, but also
across domains as the case for the atmosphere in particular. Many issues are at stake when
setting up a ground-based network of fiducial reference measurements including the need for
optimization depending on the foreseen applications.

Scope: The action should define an innovative and holistic strategy for the cal/val activities
for and across all existing and planned Sentinels in an operational perspective to better access
to the necessary infrastructure for Fiducial Reference Measurements.
A number of specific questions need to be addressed:
1. The clear identification of cross-Sentinels calibration requirements (from level 0 to level
1 data) and of validation requirements (from level 1 to level 2 data).
2. The clear identification of different cal/val sources: e.g. other satellites, on board
calibration, in situ networks, regular airborne campaign, ad hoc site characterization with
an overview of existing relevant networks, their distribution and current resourcing.
3. The comparative evaluation of various methodologies including those which are
operational and those which are in a pre-operational status, evaluation of the steps
needed to bring the latter to an operational level.
4. The project should design a comprehensive operational approach for medium and long
term cal/val strategy for and across all existing and planned Sentinels with a particular
focus on:
a. The definition of appropriate reference networks and gap analysis with respect to
existing ones, an assessment of the sustainability and operational status of the
existing networks, an assessment of "interoperability" needs between networks;
b. The definition of the characteristics and the location of optimised sites or “Sentinel
supersite(s)”, or where necessary of supersite definition per domain (land,
atmosphere and ocean);
c. An evaluation of the direct impact on level 3 products when relevant;
d. A proposed solution that should be modular and expandable in light of the potential
future Sentinels in the context of the Copernicus evolution.
5. The linkage between EU and non-EU aspects of the networks needs and identifying the
necessary non-EU partnerships to prioritise.
6. The definition of a long-term strategic reference scenario for the implementation of the
required infrastructure.
Efforts should be made to establish counterparts and strong linkages with the international
community working on issues relating to Calibration and Validation, in particular with the
European Space Agency and EUMETSAT and established standards in place through the
CEOS Working Group on Cal/Val and Quality Assurance for Earth Observation framework
(QA4EO) as well as the operational elements in place through the WMO Global Space-based
Inter-calibration System (GSICS).

The project should take into account relevant on-going coordination activities performed by
the European Environment Agency (EEA) as the Entity entrusted by the European
Commission to coordinate activities within the Copernicus In Situ component.
The project should also propose recommendations and establish a roadmap to develop this
innovative “Sentinels cal/val concept” with specific reference to the “Copernicus supersite(s)”
definition and their distribution, including considerations on data quality check,
harmonization, traceability, distribution and conservation process of related information.
gender balance is encouraged, for example through professional work experience or
Expected Impact:
 Consistent approach for the calibration and validation for and across Copernicus
Sentinels
 Coordination of networks and space agencies and institutions contributing to Copernicus
Sentinels cal/val activities
Annexes.
LC-SPACE-24-EO-2020: Copernicus evolution: Mission exploitation concept for
WATER
Specific Challenge: In the frame of the space strategy and with the willingness to ensure the
sustainability and the development of an enhanced capacity for the evolution of the
Copernicus programme, several mission concepts are developed to support areas such as
agriculture, forest, water resources, climate change, or polar challenges. In addition, the
design and evolution of the current generation of Sentinels will have to be prepared to ensure
the enhanced continuity of the current Copernicus services. Existing and planned space
component capacities will be also potentially available in terms of contributing missions.
Data and product information related to water and hydrological / hydrodynamic processes are
already developed or used in several Copernicus services: the global land service, the pan-
European and local land service, the emergency service, the climate and the marine
monitoring service. Their developments are performed separately and in the specific purpose

of each service without considering the global understanding and better representation of the
water cycle from regional to global scale.
Additionally, the user requirements process undertaken by the European Commission has also
identified many requirements on data and products to water issues (in a broader sense: from
water reservoirs to rain, river runoffs, ice or water in soil and groundwater) to support many
policies areas: the EU Water Policy - Framework Directive (2000), the Bathing Water
Directive (2006), the Flood Risk Directive (2007), but also indirect support to policies related
to the Agriculture, inland transport, food security, energy and hydropower that commonly
focus on a local-regional scale. The efforts made at international level for water management
should also be taken into account, including the UN Water coordination mechanism and the
World Bank Water Partnerships. The Sustainable Development Goal no.6 (Clean Water and
Sanitation) ensuring availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation is fully
embedded into this international context.
Those requirements can only be fulfilled by addressing all issues relating to the global water
cycle. The coordination and integration of the water monitoring approach should be improved
inside the Copernicus land service and along all the other services. The portfolio should be
reinforced with the view of monitoring with a better consistency inland waters on and beneath
the Earth surface (mapping water storage and water transport processes, as well as
hydrodynamic processes, water quality, hydrological cycle, connection with ocean processes,
…) providing a real support to policy actors and to decision-makers.
The development, the implementation and eventually the operation of an enhanced European
space capacity including possible innovative expansion missions and the enhanced continuity
of Sentinels is an opportunity to better address this crosscutting issue.
It will need the involvement of various players: such as National Space Agencies, European
and Member States Institutions (e.g Member States’ Water Authorities), International
Organisations, the private sector, operators of in-situ measurement stations, and of leading
scientific experts in the identified fields such imagery processing, aquatic optics, data fusion
and data assimilation of in-situ measurement stations and networks and hydrological /
hydrodynamic modelling for different water storage and flux components.
Initiating and consolidating the establishment of this community and thus reaching the critical
mass required for addressing such a challenge will need to take into account:
 The catalogue of products in the Land component of Copernicus (i.e. High resolution
layers with water and wetness layers, riparian areas, water products from the global land
service at EU and global scale…);
 Current and planned activities led by the Copernicus Programme (space component and
services, i.e. land, emergency, climate, marine) for future services;
 The relevant H2020 and ESA projects.

Scope: The main goal is to analyse current and planned EO space capacities together with
innovative processing, modelling and computing techniques to reinforce the existing portfolio
offered under Copernicus and to propose an integrated approach for a coherent and consistent
inland water monitoring system.
A specific attention should be paid to Copernicus core services providing an economy of scale
at EU level, how to avoid also duplication of effort between the six services and to support
and benefit from the innovation power of the market driven the industry. Through this
Copernicus evolution action, specific elements should be addressed:
 improved quality of inland water variables with remote sensing at high and very high
resolution (spatial, temporal and radiometric) considering specific pre-processing cloud
screening and atmospheric correction, providing objective harmonized measured over
different water (e.g. with gradients of trophic status, optical properties), water storage
and flux components types with methods from regional to global applicability, building
on a multi-sensor and sensor-independent approach to retrieve seamless and gap-filled
products;
 development of high level biogeochemical products, beyond basic variables for water
quality and food web modelling or analysis;
 development of mixed EO / model approach leading to enhanced key variables with
hindcast and forecast features, continuity of altimetry water-levels and water storage
consistent between land and ocean, integrative approach of water at atmosphere (e.g.
precipitation) combined with land and ocean, water hydrological cycle and its
hydrodynamics provided seamlessly along the hydrographic networks, lakes and rivers
including the transition from land to ocean;
 Development of temporal and change detection approaches based on the analysis of
existing times series of satellite observations of inland waters, including water
availability, water quality, water storage, water fluxes, temperature, ice conditions of
rivers, lakes, basins and coastal areas, including socio-economic data of the catchment
area;
 Development of innovative methodologies for uncertainties characterisation (including
in-situ data and crowd sourcing).
This should result in the assessment, for the long term, of the best mission concept for water
with expected performances, combining existing, next generation and expansion missions
under study plus in-situ or non-space observation capacities.
Activities should coordinate ongoing efforts, include mutual identification of research and

The coherence between the space component and the service related requirements should be
ensured.
gender balance is encouraged, for example through professional work experience or
Expected Impact:
 Increased coverage of EU policies clearly identifying which and how the project would
like to address them;
 Based on Copernicus services and existing and future Copernicus missions, define a
scenario with the use of new operational capacities and to improve the interactions with
non-EO communities on the inland water domain.
Annexes.
Artificial Intelligence and Space
The adoption of Big Data technologies and AI in the space industry represents a significant
opportunity to innovate. Handling large volumes of Copernicus Earth observation data and
intelligent image analysis support are two examples.
DT-SPACE-25-EO-2020: Big data technologies and Artificial Intelligence for
Copernicus
Specific Challenge: Copernicus is producing increasingly large data volumes that require
specific Big Data technologies and Artificial Intelligence (AI) methods to analyse it and
manage it.
The adoption of Big Data technologies in the space industry represents a significant
opportunity to innovate. As an example, performance and/or automation of processes can
benefit and greatly improve the capabilities to deliver timely services.
In addition, solving the big data management challenges of the integration, processing and
analysis of Copernicus data with other distributed data sources from other industrial domains

other than Space will open up new market avenues and strengthen European leadership in
earth observation applications and technologies.
Copernicus’ data and applications are part of the European Data Economy and its value
chains. As such, this call is promoting the collaboration of ICT actors, both from industry and
academia, with the earth observation/space stakeholders.
Scope: Development of big data technologies and analytics, and AI methodologies addressing
industrial requirements and/or societal challenges with Copernicus’ earth observation data at
their core, scaling up to the increased data volumes of Copernicus’ archives. They shall aim to
develop new, enabling, operational solutions to improve capabilities and performance of the
Copernicus value chain: from access and discovery of data and information to integration with
other data sources and analysis to delivery and applications. Proposals can address individual
elements of the value chain or the value chain as a whole, and should provide quantitative
measures of the progress beyond the state of the art.
Proposals are also required to seek end user involvement to drive the research with their
requirements and test the developed solutions, with a clear path to the exploitation of the
results.
Proposals are strongly encouraged to make use of existing European data infrastructures such
as (but not limited to) Copernicus’ DIAS and to develop solutions that can be plugged into
DIAS and/or other existing European data infrastructures to enhance their capabilities and
offer.
Whenever relevant, proposals are invited to explore the synergies with EGNOS/Galileo
signals and services.
The “other distributed data sources” should be available to the project and described in the
proposal.
amounts.
Expected Impact:

 Increased capacity of processing and analysing large volumes of Copernicus earth
observation data, with powerful tools that demonstrate their applicability in real-world
settings;
 Increased performance and/or automation of processes involving the processing of
Copernicus data;
 Enhanced, innovative applications to support the Copernicus DIAS platforms;
 Demonstrated adoption of results of the Copernicus data analysis in decision-making (in
industry and/or society).
Annexes.
Space business, entrepreneurship, outreach and education
Space start-ups in Europe are faced with a great difficulty in accessing finance including risk-
capital. Moreover, despite their high technical skills, start-ups in Europe are lagging behind
when it comes to business expertise.
The emergence of a business- and innovation-friendly ecosystem needs to be supported at
European, regional and national levels. This could be promoted through network hubs that
bring together the space, digital and user sectors. The objective is to open up space to non-
space entrants, including: i) innovative European ICT entrepreneurs and user sectors (such as
energy, transport and others building on existing clusters or hubs), ii) ESA's space solutions
and iii) initiatives in the Member States (e.g. innovation clusters, boosters). There should be
support for the exchange of best practices and common specifications, and capacity building
maximising benefits for all Member States.
Support for SMEs, start-ups and young entrepreneurs should be stepped up and coordinated
with efforts launched by business incubators as well as prizes and competitions, such as the
Copernicus and Galileo Masters.
With a view to supporting commercialisation, access to finance for space in the context of the
Investment Plan for Europe and Union funding programmes14
should be promoted. The
Investment Plan for Europe, in particular through its European Fund for Strategic Investment,
can play an important role in supporting innovative projects. Thematic finance for space
entrepreneurship mainly by means of equity (e.g. venture capital, business angels) could help
foster such an approach and shall take in due consideration the need for enhanced support of
the downstream space sector.
14
Notably Horizon 2020, COSME, the European Structural Investment Funds.

Awareness-raising and outreach activities should also be multiplied, notably at local and
regional levels, to inform the industry, including SMEs, and financial intermediaries about the
business opportunities offered by Union initiatives and programmes.
To maintain and further strengthen Europe's world-class capacity to conceive, develop,
launch, operate and exploit space systems. To ensure this, there is need for support to
competitiveness of the whole supply chain and actors from industry to research organisations
based on the following three pillars: a) fostering the emergence of an entrepreneurial
ecosystem, b) opening up new sources of financing, c) encouraging awareness-raising and
outreach activities about new business opportunities and making sure this will benefit
businesses in all Member States.
Activities shall be in synergy with user uptake actions launched under Copernicus and with
the ESA Space Solutions.
DT-SPACE-07-BIZ-2018: Space hubs for Copernicus
Specific Challenge: The Commission has identified the need to support the creation of
voluntary participative networks related to Earth observation and Copernicus. The Copernicus
Relays and Academy have been set up under their own funding and act as channels of
promotion and target, targeting intermediate and end-user communities.
The Commission does not finance the members of the Copernicus Relays and Academy
directly. The Commission finances:
 The Copernicus Support Office, which provides non-financial support to members of the
two networks (e.g. speakers, advice, promotional material);
 The Copernicus User Uptake Framework Partnership Agreement, through which the
Commission co-finances user uptake activities with Member States. Some of these
activities might be organised by members of the Copernicus Relays or Academy, but
will focus exclusively on stimulating the use of Copernicus data and information (e.g.
awareness events, booths).
The Commission wishes to provide financial support to these two networks in order to
strengthen their R&D dimension. These networks need to be better linked with research and
innovation activities and with the ESA Space Solutions. Moreover, the expertise and tools
developed by the Copernicus Relays and the Copernicus Academy need to be used also at the
service of research and innovation with a view to boosting their innovation potential: and the
uptake of space in general.
Scope: Support the activities of the Copernicus Relays and the Copernicus Academy by:
 Organising joint initiatives of interest to the network and its members, such as events
and educational opportunities;

 Sharing communication tools to ensure updates about the latest Copernicus events,
lectures, new members, new training tools, best practices, and new funding
opportunities;
 Develop publications and reference lectures for training on Copernicus data and
information use, under a public license and Including Copernicus-related material and
modules in existing courses;
 Fostering user uptake and spin-off strategies of the members, notably by interacting with
the Copernicus entrusted entities, Copernicus partners and local actors;
 Supporting the organisation of events and initiatives at local level to promote Copernicus
to potential users.
Proposals shall demonstrate that they avoid overlap with the various activities financed under
Copernicus, such as the Copernicus support office and Copernicus User Uptake Framework
Partnership Agreement.
Expected Impact:
 Strengthen the synergies and cooperation between members by sharing knowledge
building, education experiences, best practices and Copernicus-related research and
applications outcome and by enabling developed innovations to ‘hit the market’ as
quickly as possible;
 Build up a knowledge culture and a strategic think-tank around the benefits of the
Copernicus programme and its potential for both public services needs and societal
challenges;
 Increase awareness about Copernicus toward all potential user communities.
 Expand these two networks to other European Regions and to other space technologies
(e.g. Galileo) and activities from other major space and innovation actors (such as those
of regional clusters, national space agencies and the ESA).
Annexes.

DT-SPACE-08-BIZ-2018: Space outreach and education
Specific Challenge: One of the main challenges for the sustainability of the European space
industrial fabric and the delivery of cutting-edge scientific achievements is to maintain highly
qualified scientists, engineers and technicians including their lifelong learning. Space science
and technology constitute important inspirational tools for exciting and motivating young
people, and encouraging them to choose space related careers. Space is also a domain that
easily captures the interest of students towards education paths in the fields of science,
technology, engineering and mathematics.
Positive exposure to and experiences in the space domain can contribute moreover to building
long-term partnerships between peoples from different cultural backgrounds and countries
inside and outside Europe. The challenge is to design and run sustainable education and
outreach activities which can act as catalysers, both inside and outside the classroom,
motivating teachers and students at different ages and education levels.
Scope: The main delivery of the action shall be an initiative capable of attracting the interest
of a significant number of students towards space and space-related themes, while creating at
the same time a relevant impact on their families and the general public in terms of news
coverage, social-media interest, stakeholders’ involvement. The action shall engage academia
and educators involved in different education levels, targeting different demographics
including young children and teenagers.
The key advancements of the European space programmes should be given a privileged
position, but the main objective should remain attracting the interest of students for space,
space-related subjects and steer them towards education paths in the fields of science,
technology, engineering and mathematics.
Proposals should take into account similar activities of ESA and national education
programmes. They could focus in the context of the classroom or outside the normal
classroom environment, making use of space educational centres or online resources,
including contests and public exhibitions (for instance in science museums). Particular
attention should be paid to stimulating interest amongst female students and reaching children
in underprivileged communities.
Activities shall also aim at identifying links with the Knowledge and Innovation Communities
(KICs) of the European Innovation Institute of Technology (EIT) and possible scope for
dedicated activities for space.
Expected Impact:

 Promote the network European space education and outreach actors and reach out to a
significant number of students, their families and the general public.
 Achieve a significant coverage by media and attention by stakeholders and help increase
the political support for European space programmes and initiatives within the EU and
national Parliaments.
 Increase the number of students that opt for a technical career related to space when
compared to the general population of students in their cohorts;
 Promote research in collaboration with universities.
 Reinforce links between space and the EIT KICs and explore options for a dedicated
space KIC.
Annexes.
DT-SPACE-09-BIZ-2019: Space hubs (support to start-ups)
Specific Challenge: The challenge is to increase the number of initiatives for start-ups, scale-
ups and entrepreneurs in the space downstream and upstream sectors (such as Incubators,
Accelerators, Hackathons or AppCamps), provide solutions to accelerate the growth of space
scale-ups and the commercialisation of their products, engage small and medium enterprises
in space innovation, especially those not traditionally involved in it, and reduce as much as
possible the entry barriers to SMEs for Horizon 2020 to develop space-enabled solutions.
Scope: To organise effective initiatives at local level for:
-support start-ups, scale-ups and entrepreneurs in the areas of applications, especially in
connection to Galileo and Copernicus (although not exclusively),
-spinning-in/-out (i.e. application of marine, atmosphere and terrestrial solutions to challenges
in space and vice versa) and solutions in support of the commercialisation of space.
Initiatives shall be complementary to the actions developed at EU level (such as the SME
Instrument, Copernicus and Galileo Masters, Copernicus Accelerator, Copernicus Incubation
Programme, European Institute of Technology (EIT) Knowledge and Innovation
Communities (KICs)) and should aim to build bridges between local and European initiatives.
They shall also integrate training/raise awareness on the data, information, resources and tools
available within the DIAS environments and embrace best practices from these environments,
as an enabling element in support of the development and scaling-up of start-ups.

Expected Impact:
 Generation of new initiatives at local level (such as Incubators, Accelerators,
Hackathons, Appcamps) complementing those at EU level;
 Creation of new start-ups and applications notably through awareness raising activities
and initiatives to facilitate technology transfer;
 Generation of new services oriented solutions allowing innovative financial support
frames;
 Growth of the number of start-ups in Europe;
 Growth of scale-ups in Europe;
 Increase the commercialisation of scalable and cost-efficient solutions.
Annexes.
DT-SPACE-26-BIZ-2020: Space hubs (support to start-ups)
Specific Challenge: The challenge is to increase the number of initiatives for start-ups, scale-
ups and entrepreneurs in the space downstream and upstream sectors (such as Incubators,
Accelerators, Hackathons or AppCamps), provide solutions to accelerate the growth of space
scale-ups and the commercialisation of their products, engage small and medium enterprises
in space innovation, especially those not traditionally involved in it, and reduce as much as
possible the technical and financial entry barriers to SMEs for Horizon 2020 to develop or
adopt space-enabled solutions.
Scope: To organise effective and sustainable initiatives at European level for:
 supporting start-ups, scale-ups and entrepreneurs in the areas of applications, notably
with regard to EGNOS/Galileo and Copernicus;
 spinning-in/-out and solutions in support of the commercialisation of space.
Actions should be complementary to other actions developed at EU level (such as the
European Innovation Council pilot, Copernicus and Galileo Masters, Copernicus Accelerator,
Copernicus and Galileo Incubation initiatives, European Institute of Technology (EIT)

Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs)) and should aim to build bridges between
local and European initiatives.
Actions implemented under this topic should also support start-ups, scale-ups and
entrepreneurs in accessing finance, as well as blended funding to enhance financial
sustainability and viability of businesses within the space sector.
Actions should, moreover, support the work of the Copernicus Academy.
They should also integrate training/raise awareness on the data, information, resources and
tools available within the DIAS and embrace best practices from these environments, as an
enabling element in support of the development and scaling-up of start-ups.
Expected Impact:
 Generation of new initiatives at local level (such as Incubators, Accelerators,
Hackathons, Appcamps) complementing those at EU level;
 Creation of new start-ups and applications notably through awareness raising activities
and initiatives to facilitate technology transfer;
 Generation of new services oriented solutions allowing innovative financial support
frames;
 Growth of scale-ups in Europe;
 Increased access to finance and funding opportunities;
 Enhanced financial sustainability of start-ups and scale-ups;
 Increased survival rates of start-ups;
 Increased commercialisation of scalable and cost-efficient solutions.
Annexes.
Space technologies, science and exploration
Support to generic and mission-oriented R&D technology at low and mid TRL levels is
important for addressing non-dependence and competitiveness of the European Space
industry. Generic technology development allows longer-term, innovative and breakthrough
technologies to emerge. IOD/IOV (in-orbit-demonstration/validation) addresses mission
specific or application-oriented needs and permit industries to mature marketable products.

On the low TRL side, support for future and emerging space technologies are expected to
initiate new lines of disruptive technologies through collaborations between advanced
multidisciplinary science and cutting-edge engineering often involving innovative SMEs. This
will turn the excellent science base of Europe into a competitive advantage by establishing
early stage European leadership in promising future space technology areas that would be
capable of renewing the basis for future European competitiveness and growth.
The COM-ESA-EDA Joint Task Force process on critical space technologies ensuring
European non-dependence is well-established and valued by stakeholders. The updated list of
actions should be the basis for the work programme in this area.
Mission or application oriented technologies RD&T actions should anticipate, in the medium
and long-term, the necessary evolutions in order to maintain the capacity of established
European programmes (Galileo, Copernicus) and prepare for new ones (e.g. GOVSATCOM,
SST). In addition, actions related to technologies and standardisation enabling
competitiveness of the EU space industry, and allowing adaptations to new challenges in
Earth observation and satellite communication missions (e.g. small satellites, constellations,
new manufacturing processes) need to be supported.
This work programme relies, where applicable, on a roadmap-based approach providing
European industry and research community with a long-term vision. This is implemented in
conjunction with activities of Member States and ESA, for instance building on the ESA
Technology Harmonisation process, to ensure greater complementarity. Examples of multi-
annual research agendas implementing common roadmaps are the two established Strategic
Research Clusters on Space Robotics and Electric propulsion which should be supported in
the programming period.
Space science and exploration serve as a breeding ground for new innovative ideas and is
instrumental in order for Europe to remain competitive in the sector. Thus, there is dedicated
support to exploitation of space science and exploration data and development of scientific
instrumentation.
Synergies with other parts of the Work Programme shall be sought. There is scope in the
areas of Key Enabling Technologies or Future Emerging Technologies to consider potential
application to Space, therefore improving cross-Horizon 2020 coherency.
Opportunities, on a regular basis, for In Orbit Demonstration / Validation (IOD/IOV) of
technologies or products would enable the ultimate required qualification before using them
on a real mission. The work programme should aim at setting up a regular cost-effective
IOD/IOV service offering flight tickets. Such service should rely on a European approach
including access to space aspects and building on complementarity with other European
initiatives.
The rapidly evolving international geo-political environment and the continuing globalisation
necessitate measures to defend and enhance Europe's competitiveness in Space technology
and science and its autonomous access to critical technologies. There is need to deliver on

generic and mission-oriented space technologies and critical non-dependence issues
including access to space and in-orbit demonstration/validation as well as support to space
science.
SPACE-10-TEC-2018-2020: Technologies for European non-dependence and
competitiveness
Specific Challenge: The space sector is a strategic asset contributing to the independence,
security and prosperity of Europe and its role in the world. Europe needs non-dependent
access to critical space technologies, which is a sine qua non condition for achieving Europe’s
strategic objectives. "Non-dependence" refers to the possibility for Europe to have free,
unrestricted access to any required space technology. Reaching non-dependence in certain
technologies will open new markets to our industries and will increase the overall
competitiveness of the European Space sector.
Research in technologies for European non-dependence and competitiveness has been
undertaken within the frame of the Commission-ESA-EDA Joint Task Force (JTF) on Critical
Technologies for European non-Dependence, launched in 2008.
In 2016, the JTF established the List of Actions for 2018-2020 (hereinafter JTF List of
Actions 2018-2020), aiming at enhancing the TRL of the technologies identified in the list.
Scope: Actions from the JTF List of Actions 2018-2020 shall be implemented sequentially in
2018 and in 2019 as the following subtopics.
Group A (2018):
 JTF-2018/20-3 – High Capacity FPGAs [U12]
 JTF-2018/20-8 – ASICS: 28nm Deep Sub-Micron (DSM) [U22b]
 JTF-2018/20-16 – Active discrete power components [U14]
 JTF-2018/20-18 – RF components [N27]
 JTF-2018/20-19 – Passive components [U13]
 JTF-2018/20-22 – High temperature packaging [N49]
Group B (2019):
 JTF-2018/20-2 – ASICS for mixed signal processing [U11]
 JTF-2018/20-11 – Design and qualification of µcontroller for space applications [N52]
 JTF-2018/20-12 – Design and prototype of nvRAM for SPACE with serial interface
((quad)-SPI) [N53]

 JTF-2018/20-21 – High density (1000 pins and beyond) assembly capabilities and PCBs
[U17]
 JTF-2018/20-28 – Photonics components [U15]
 JTF-2018/20-31 – Advanced laser crystals for high power space applications [N63]
Group C (2020):
 JTF-2018/20-5 – Very high performance microprocessors [U20]
 JTF-2018/20-9 – Design and prototype of ultra-reprogrammable SoCs [N50]
 JTF-2018/20-14 – Fiber optic or photonic integrated technology gyro-based inertial
measurement unit (IMU) [U6]
 JTF-2018/20-16 – Active discrete power components [U14]
 JTF-2018/20-17 – Power amplification: travelling wave tube materials [U7]
 JTF-2018/20-23 – SW tool: automatic generation of code [N64]
 JTF-2018/20-33 – Advanced materials and material technology for combustion
chambers [U4]
Context information and high-level requirements, including description of scope, initial and
target TRLs, and, where applicable, references and information of related activities, are
provided in the JTF List of Actions 2018-2020. Accordingly, a technical guidance document,
based on the JTF List of Actions 2018-2020, is published on the Funding & Tenders Portal
outlining all relevant information to the selected actions.
Activities shall be complementary and create synergy with other European activities in the
same domain either in the space or non-space fields. Technological spin in and/or bilateral
collaborations should be enhanced between European non-space and space industries,
including technology research institutes and academia.
To this end, proposals shall include the following tasks:
 Analysis of relevant available roadmaps, including roadmaps developed in the context of
actions for Key Enabling Technologies supported by the Union;
 Analysis of how their selected critical space technologies can contribute to different
space applications or, where applicable, to non-space sectors (such as through
technology transfer or spin off);
 Commercial assessment of the supply chain technology in the space or non-space
domains and, if applicable, a business plan for commercialisation with a full range
(preload) of recurring products

With a view to achieving the non-dependence objective, applicants must
 Describe the technologies and/or technology processes to be used and show that they are
free of any legal export restrictions or limitations, such as those established in the
International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) or equivalent instruments applicable in
other jurisdictions;
 Set up a suitable technology development process aiming at avoiding export restrictions
of non-EU states.
The involvement of post-graduate scientists, engineers and researchers and the promotion of
gender balance is encouraged, for example through professional work experience or through
fellowships/scholarships as applicable.
amounts.
Proposals under this topic may be subject to security scrutiny if they could potentially lead to
security-sensitive results that should be classified (see guide for classification available at the
Funding & Tenders Portal).
Expected Impact:
 To reduce the dependence on critical technologies and capabilities from outside Europe
for future space applications, as identified in the JTF List of Actions 2018-2020;
 To develop or regain in the mid-term the European capacity to operate independently in
space, e.g. by developing in a timely manner reliable and affordable space technologies
that in some cases may already exist outside Europe or in European terrestrial
applications;
 To enhance the technical capabilities and overall competitiveness of European space
industry vendors on the worldwide market;
 To open new competition opportunities for European manufacturers by reducing
dependency on export restricted technologies that are of strategic importance to future
European space efforts;
 To improve the overall European space technology landscape and complement and/or
create synergy with activities of European and national either in the space or non-space
fields.
Annexes.

SPACE-11-TEC-2018: Generic space technologies
Specific Challenge: In the mid- and long-term the competitiveness of the space sector and its
ability to serve the Union's internal and external policies, including the Space Strategy for
Europe and the Common Security and Defence Policy, depends on the continuous
incorporation of advanced basic technologies of common interest to all applications, including
cross-cutting technologies such as power management, thermal control, materials and
structures.
Advancements in these technology domains are necessary to enable new spacecraft or mission
concepts with higher performances, higher power demand, lower mass and cost, such as
higher data throughput systems and mega-constellations. As well, they can contribute to
mitigate the risks related to the European dependence in space technologies. Moreover, a
number of related challenges have parallels to terrestrial challenges, for example in the fields
of aeronautics, energy, environment, advanced materials and production methods.
Complementarity and synergy with on-going or planned European developments both in the
space and non-space sectors is a challenge to address.
Scope: Activities shall advance, or spin-in from other fields, space technologies in the domain
of power management, thermal control, materials, structures and processes. Incremental or
potentially disruptive advancements can be both targeted.
Proposals based on low TRL technologies are solicited. The target is to demonstrate these up
to medium TRL (4-6).
Each proposal shall address only one of the following sub-topics:
a) Innovative solutions for very high power systems, including solutions for power
generation, storage, control and distribution able to support highly dissipative missions
requirements. Innovation is sought in the areas of the high power electrical propulsion (> 20
kW) consistent with activities under the "In-space electrical propulsion and station keeping"
SRC, very high throughput satellites, high power active antennas in high frequency bands,
high capacity battery cells, low-cost ultra-capacitors, technologies for flexible/foldable arrays
(aiming at >25 kW, addressing mechanical architecture and flexible solutions), regenerative
fuels cells, low cost direct drive units, solar cells;
b) Innovative thermal control solutions for high temperature missions: high power
communications, high voltage and high power systems, pose growing challenges to the
thermal budget of the spacecraft or re-entry vehicle. Innovation is sought in the area of
materials and thermal control solutions (e.g. heat pumps, advanced loop heat pipes,
mechanical pumped loops, flexible self-regulated heaters), addressing thermal protection,
thermal regulation, thermal stability, materials with variable emissivity/absorptivity;
innovative thermal control surfaces, conductive/dissipative carbon fibre reinforced plastic
(CFRP) panel;
c) Spacecraft bus stability and line-of-sight technologies: critical sensors and actuator
solutions for high stability and line-of-sight control at spacecraft platform level, including

sensors and actuators, focusing on competitiveness through efficiency and miniaturisation
(and hybridisation);
d) Advanced materials, structures and production techniques (e.g. additive
manufacturing): activities shall address technologies applied to space flight elements
manufacturing with a focus on low-cost on-ground manufacturing processes in support to
mega-constellations or on on-orbit manufacturing processes in support to space exploration;
e) Ground systems with massive processing: data processing capabilities of missions for
different applications, including ground control stations for remote sensing operations;
processing power and speed, post-processing, data fusion, data networks, configuration life-
cycle management and operations (particularly for constellations, including mega-
constellations), integration of new technologies in ground systems and data processing (big
data archiving and retrieval, smart data optimisation, automated data processing, distributed
data platforms, artificial intelligence, full automation), distributed data exploitation platform.
Low cost solutions based on components off the shelf (COTS) are encouraged.
Participation of industry, in particular SMEs, is encouraged too.
same domain either in the space or non-space fields. Technological spin in and/or bilateral
collaborations should be enhanced between European non-space and space industries.
actions for the development of Key Enabling Technologies supported by the Union;
 Analysis of how their selected space technologies can contribute to different space
applications or, where applicable, to non-space sectors (such as through technology
transfer or spin off);
(preload) of recurring products.
amounts.
Expected Impact:
 Development or spinning-in of new enabling technologies to space systems;
 Lead to radical improvements in performance, enabling emerging missions, as for
instance high data throughput satellites or constellations.

 Lead to drastic improvements in efficiency, versatility, functionality and autonomy.
Annexes.
SPACE-13-TEC-2019: SRC – In-Space electrical propulsion and station keeping
Specific Challenge: The challenge of this strategic research cluster (SRC) is to enable major
advances in Electric Propulsion (EP) for in-space operations and transportation, in order to
contribute to guarantee the leadership through competitiveness and non-dependence of
European capabilities in electric propulsion at world level within the 2020-2030 timeframe,
always in coherence with the existing and planned developments at national, commercial and
ESA level. The specific challenge of this action is to enable faster maturation of promising
disruptive thruster concepts and technologies, as a necessary step towards demonstration
actions. The detailed challenges are elaborated in the guidelines document 'EPIC Roadmap'15
Scope: A disruptive electric propulsion technology is a technology that disrupts a status quo
in the space sector. It could replace the dominant technology by providing radical
improvements in performance or costs which are perceived as valuable by a customer or part
of the market, or it opens up new opportunities not possible with the incumbent technology.
Emerging technologies that are potentially ‘disruptive’ often underperform compared to the
dominant technology in early development phases – the underlying physics may not be fully
understood for example and more R&D is required to properly ascertain performance
attributes. Examples can be: disruptive improvement of performances, enabling of new
operational scenarios, reducing costs of the full system etc.
Proposals shall cover one of the following two subtopics:
 Thruster concepts or technologies for disruptive electric propulsion systems such as
Helicon Plasma Thrusters (HPT), Electron Cyclotron Resonance plasma thrusters
(ECR), Magneto Plasma Dynamic thrusters (MPD), Pulsed Plasma Thrusters (PPT),
micro-propulsion electric thrusters, or any other innovative electric thruster concepts and
relevant technologies for disruptive electric propulsion systems.
 Transversal concepts and technologies for disruptive electric propulsion systems, such
as power condition electronics, direct drive, magnetic nozzles, alternative propellants,
testing techniques, materials.
Proposals may target any part of the technology readiness levels (TRL) scale, in particular:
 Breakthrough technologies starting at low or very low TRL (<4), aiming to promote
promising and potentially disruptive thrusters concepts in the field of Electric
15

Propulsion. This should allow increasing of the current TRL, which in the long term
could change the Electric Propulsion landscape.
 Promising technologies starting at higher TRL (≥4) in the field of Electric Propulsion,
enabling significant improvements of Electric Propulsion system performances, cost and
fit to the market. The objective here is to allow to efficiently and effectively increase the
TRL. Proposal for higher TRL should include the best possible combination of a market
analysis and an application impact analysis.
Proposals shall include a market analysis detailing the targeted applications and the specific
key advantages of the proposed technology. Every disruptive effect shall be specifically
correlated with its final application
Proposals shall not be based on technology lines mentioned in the call topic COMPET-3-
2016-a for incremental EP technologies16
.
The involvement of post-graduate scientists, engineers and researchers is encouraged, for
applicable.
The Commission considers that proposals for the disruptive technologies requesting a
contribution from the EU of EUR 1 million for activities starting from TRL < 4 and of EUR 1
to 2 million for activities starting from TRL ≥ 4 would allow this specific challenge to be
addressed appropriately. Nonetheless, this does not preclude submission and selection of
proposals requesting other amounts.
Expected Impact:
 To promote and accelerate the development of potentially breakthrough EP or EP-related
concepts and technologies in order to be able to provoke a disruption in the propulsion
landscape in the medium to long-term.
 To foster the necessary long term evolutions needed to provide Europe with competitive
and innovative electric propulsion products in order to maintain the European capacity to
compete in the worldwide arena of electric propulsion satellites.
 To enable the identification and targeting of future markets and applications which are
not yet addressed by the current well-established products or their expected
improvements.
Annexes.
16
Hall Effect Thrusters (HET); Gridded Ion Engines (GIE); High Efficiency Multistage Plasma Thrusters
(HEMPT)

LC-SPACE-14-TEC-2018-2019: Earth observation technologies
Specific Challenge: The challenge is to mature application-oriented technologies in the
domains of Earth Observation (EO) which are expected to underpin competitiveness and
contribute to the integration of space in society and economy.
The overarching objective is to improve the performance of EO systems, building on previous
activities supported by the Union, Member States and ESA.
Activities in EO will focus on improving timeliness and reactivity of observations, their
resolution and swath, the performance of sensors and the underlying technologies, while
addressing the new challenges associated to larger data collection in remote sensing missions,
including at ground segment level (e.g. massive data processing, machine learning,
knowledge-based systems).
Moreover, some technologies and building blocks such as deployable antennas and/or
(electrically) steerable antennas and mechanisms/structures, high mechanical/thermal stability
aperture solutions, high efficiency power components, data processing and networks, or data
links can provide synergies with SATCOM application domains.
Scope: The aim of this topic is to demonstrate, in a relevant environment, technologies,
systems and sub-systems for Earth observation from satellites as well as from high altitude
platforms. Proposals should demonstrate significant improvements in such areas as
miniaturisation, power reduction, efficiency, versatility, and/or increased functionality, and
should demonstrate at the viable extent complementarity to activities already funded by
Member States and the European Space Agency. Proposals should also ensure system
readiness for operational services and provide leverage on industry competitiveness,
particularly on export markets.
Each proposal shall address only one of the following subtopics:
a) Very high resolution optical EO for LEO and/or high resolution optical EO for
GEO/HEO instrument technologies, with focus on improving payload (e.g. radiometric and
spectral parameters, spatial resolution, swath), including detectors, materials and solutions for
stable and large optomechanical elements and systems (e.g. lightweight telescope mirrors with
metre-level diameter) focal planes, wave front error and line of sight control, high
performance actuators, multispectral filters for large focal plane;.
b) Competitive remote sensing instruments and space systems: innovations supporting
readiness advancements for next generation systems in the optical and radio frequency
domains (active/passive), technologies enabling advanced system solutions (including small
satellites possibly in convoy with existing space assets), on-board image processing and
detectors for video imaging with increased swath and resolution, technologies for super- and
hyperspectral imaging instruments with high performance, radio occultation sensors, low cost
high resolution telescopes and radar imaging systems;

c) Disruptive technologies for remote sensing, as technology building blocks for innovative
LiDAR (Light Detection And Ranging) and radar instruments (including cost-effective wide-
swath altimetry and imaging systems), super-spectral and hyperspectral payloads with wide
spectral and/or coverage, limb sounders and gravimetry payloads; high quantum efficiency
photo detectors and high-precision optical beam scanning and pointing; advanced infrared
(IR) technologies (optical filters, detectors and electronics);
d) On-board data processing: integrated multi-instrument on-board payload data processing
for resource-constrained missions; solutions for high observation reactivity and real-time
applications such as very high performance payload processing; on board data/image
optimisation and compression for advanced video and image pre-processing as well as smart
on-board data/image analysis; data flow optimisation for new missions, including impacts on
the evolution of associated ground segment, for enhancement of overall processing power and
speed over the full chain and for supporting massive data processing and machine learning in
EO applications;
e) Advanced SAR/Radar technologies: step up maturity in new sensing concepts and
technologies such as large and active antennas and reflectors, including multi-frequency
concepts; enablers for digital beam-forming and beam-hopping interferometric systems, and
for other concepts, such as large swath maritime surveillance radar, active sensing/processing
of SAR ships, data fusion integration with new generation Automatic Identification Systems
(AIS);
Low cost solutions based on components off the shelf (COTS) are encouraged.
Participation of industry, in particular SMEs, is encouraged.
same domain.
 Analysis of relevant roadmaps, including roadmaps developed in the context of actions
for the development of Key Enabling Technologies supported by the Union, and where
available, roadmaps developed by the European Space Agency and European national
space programmes;
applicable.

amounts.
Expected Impact:
 Improvement in the capability, including through miniaturisation and power reduction,
precision, efficiency or other characteristics with respect to existing Earth observation
missions, opening new avenues for future space systems;
 Substantial improvement in state-of-the-art technologies in key areas such as optical and
radar systems, radio occultation sensors, sounders, LiDARs for Earth observation, and
related key technologies, as for instance detectors and antennas;
 Enabling synergic use of heterogeneous Earth Observation constellations;
 Strengthening Europe's position in industrial competitiveness in technologies for Earth
observation payloads and missions;
 Greater industrial relevance of research actions and output as demonstrated by deeper
involvement of industry, including SMEs, and stronger take-up of research results.
 Fostering links between academia and industry, accelerating and broadening technology
transfer.
Annexes.
SPACE-15-TEC-2018: Satellite communication technologies
Specific Challenge: The context and customer field of satellite communication services is
currently undergoing changes. Broadband TV applications are decreasing in importance and
the importance of internet connectivity is increasing. New EU targets have been set to achieve
a connectivity of 100 Mbps for all by 202517
, for which satellite communication solutions are
important, for instance in remote and offshore areas, for backhauling, or for mobile users and
under emergency situations. The demand for Very High Throughput satellite communications
is increasing. The 5G concept combines various access technologies, such as cellular,
wireless, satellite and wireline, for delivering reliable performance for critical
communications and improve area coverage 18 19
making interconnectivity an important
challenge. New markets are emerging, such as for example the connectivity needed for
Internet of Things. New mission concepts are currently being established, such as mega
constellations or satellite networks based on micro-mini satellites. Finally, security aspects are
17
Commission Communication on: Connectivity for a Competitive Digital Single Market - Towards a
European Gigabit Society - COM(2016)587 and Staff Working Document - SWD(2016)300
18
https://ec.europa.eu/digital-single-market/en/news/communication-5g-europe-action-plan-and-
accompanying-staff-working-document
19
https://5g-ppp.eu/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/5GPPP-brochure-final-web-MWC.pdf

becoming more and more important, in particular for governmental users of satellite
communications. The challenge for the EU is to prepare the ground to maintain the
technological leading edge and maintain its global competitiveness in satellite
communications in those rapidly changing conditions and markets (e.g. towards and beyond
the 1 Tbps high throughput satellites and/or fully flexible satellites)
Scope: Proposals shall address one of the following sub-topics:
a) Secure and robust satellite communications, such as key generation and distribution,
adapting to quantum technologies, anti-jamming technologies and products, anti-spoofing
techniques, advanced coding, signal modulation and cryptography, secured uncoordinated
multiple access, threats simulation, secure and robust telemetry, tracking and command
(spread spectrum);
b) Bandwidth efficient transmission techniques to serve multiple users with high
throughput satellites, e.g. frequency reuse techniques, multiple antenna communications,
beamforming, cooperative gateway diversity, user clustering and interference mitigation;
c) High speed processing and flexible and reprogrammable telecommunication payloads,
able to adapt to changing service needs such as capacity flexibility and geographic
redistribution of the traffic and to satellites integration in the 5G protocol and system.
Simulation and end-to-end resources management shall be addressed;
d) Optical communications, including photonics, for very high throughput systems with
more than 10 Gbps (e.g. hybrid RF/optical payloads use of optical up- and down links), on-
board and ground aspects focusing on feeder links, system and architecture aspects
encompassing technologies such as enhanced space-to-ground/RPAS; low complexity on-
board processing and limited coherent processing; orbit to ground mission data download
focussing on very high throughput optical feeder links (up to 1 Tbps) and very high speed
rates optical ground station for feeder links (towards 1Tbps);
e) Flexible broadband passive and active antenna techniques, such as phased array
antennas for very high throughput spaceborne or airborne satellite communication
applications (consisting of broadband conformal antenna arrays, broadband beamforming and
broadband RF front-ends), including multi-beaming smart antennas and integration of
antennas in the platform, active antenna critical technologies, lens antenna techniques, 5G
dedicated active arrays;
f) Inter-satellite links, data relay solutions and on-board switching, for potential future
LEO constellations (including constellations of small satellites), supporting high data rates
relay (up to 40 Gbps), including terminals, in such diverse contexts as GEO/MEO to LEO,
airborne (including RPAS) to GEO;
g) Advanced RF equipment in terms of higher frequency bands (e.g. Q, V/W) and re-
configurability (e.g. GaN HPAs, optimised TWTA, LNAs);

h) Ground systems technologies for satellite communication services and applications:
evolution of ground control stations and teleports, also enabling full interoperability with
future terrestrial telecommunication networks (including 5G) and optimising performance,
coverage, costs, reliability and security in the provision of differentiated services and
applications to diverse user categories.
Proposals shall consider enabling technologies and solutions aiming at exploiting the potential
synergies between the Satellite Communication domain and the Navigation and Earth
Observation domain (such as EO/SatCom hybrid mission satellites, smart satellites, high data
rate solutions, high speed links, high performance processors, antennas/reflector/structures,
ground segment).
same domain. Emphasis shall be given to the preparation of future and advanced satellite
communications technologies up to TRL 4-5. Technological spin in and/or bilateral
amounts.
Expected Impact:
 To ensure and enhance the life-cycle cost reduction (including manufacturing and
operations) and increased performance, resulting in the enhanced competitiveness of the
European space manufacturing and service industry in the rapidly evolving field of
satellite communication.
 To develop European research and technology ecosystems consisting of different parties
involved in satellite communications, i.e. manufacturers of user equipment, ground
segment technologies, service providers and operators, validation and simulation tool
developers, and end users.
 To contribute to the integration of satellite communication into the 5G.

Annexes.
SPACE-16-TEC-2018: Access to space
Specific Challenge: Access to space is an indispensable element of the entire value chain of
space and has been recognised as an area of strategic importance towards the direction of
Europe's non-dependence.
Access to space is a matter of security of supply, industry capability and technology readiness
and a sine qua non condition of the modern space knowledge-based economies. Only a
handful of space-faring countries master this capability as a result of extensive institutional
funding for research and development costs and the guarantee of services exploitation. Europe
has achieved its remarkable position in this field thanks to national programmes and the
programmes of the European Space Agency, Access to Space being one fundamental origin of
its creation in 1975.
The Space Strategy for Europe has confirmed that Europe shall maintain autonomous, reliable
and cost-effective access to space. It underlined that it is crucial that Europe continues to have
modern, efficient and flexible launch, production and test infrastructure facilities.
Cost reduction and improving flexibility of European launch systems are the main challenges
in order to foster European industry competitiveness on the global market.
The industry 4.0 transformational wave is likely to bring opportunities for lowering the cost of
space launch manufacturing/integration/testing/operations and further improving quality.
The specific challenge is to support research and innovation in technologies, in
complementarity and full synergy with the on-going work undertaken by Member States and
European initiatives, contributing to:
 Investigate the potential Launch system reusability technologies;
 Launch system advanced manufacturing and modern ground infrastructures.
Scope: Each proposal shall address only one of the following two sub-topics:
a) Potential Launch system reusability technologies and their applicability for European
needs: With an aim at further lowering cost for the next generation of European launchers and
transportation systems, activities shall only address new technologies relevant to reusability,
such as advanced avionics and data management (e.g. optimised return concepts including
autonomous safety), advanced structural parts and materials, health monitoring systems and
non-destructive control technologies, advanced propulsion systems & equipment (e.g.

propellant management, disconnection systems and special ground systems). These could be
used as building blocks for in-flight demonstration. The activities shall include an assessment
of the cost effectiveness of the proposed new technologies expected for the exploitation phase
(flight and ground operations) and an estimation of the necessary investments and time
schedule needed to reach TRL 8/9.
TRL 5/6 should be sought at completion of the proposed activities in view of a possible
IOD/IOV in-flight demonstration as a next step.
b) Launch system advanced manufacturing (e.g. tooling and machines) and modern
infrastructures (including ground infrastructures for low cost European launch sites):
Activities shall address technologies and processes applied to launch systems development,
production, testing and operations (applicable to European space transportation systems
including mini and micro launch systems) such as automation of activities (e.g. automated
guided handling tools, automated integration, and inspection, collaborative robots, automated
testing), digital technologies to the benefit of quality and costs (e.g. usage of COTS
(commercial-of-the-shelf) equipment, digital assistance to operators, big data processing for
continuous improvement), advanced materials with accent on low-cost manufacturing
processes (e.g. 3D printing, composite, joining technology) and remote operations (e.g.
remote control centre, improved safety management), ground infrastructures for European
launch sites including for low cost access to space for mini, micro, nano satellites, including
commercial initiatives. The proposed solutions to be considered will take into account the
possible evolutions of the regulatory framework, in particular REACH, and will also take into
account the environmental impacts and health risks.
For each topic, activities shall be complementary with other European activities in the same
domain.
These activities shall consist of research, innovation, development and qualification work
which can be readily integrated within current and planned European launch, test and
production infrastructures. A preliminary implementation plan shall be included in the
proposal and detailed during the action.
amounts.
Expected Impact:
 Improved European competitiveness in cost-effective reusability technologies for space
transportation systems complementary with other European activities in the same
domain leading to launch system reusability solutions which could be demonstrated in
flight within three to five years, including forecast of investment needed;
 Increase compliance with the evolutions of the regulatory framework, in particular
REACH;

 Improved quality and safety control solutions, which are absolutely fundamental in
rocketry;
 Cost reduction of space transportation system manufacturing, integration, testing and
operations thanks to research and innovation in advanced manufacturing and
modernisation of infrastructures taking into account the evolution of the normative
framework and environmental impacts. This is aimed at improving the overall
competitiveness of European solutions on the worldwide market and helping create new
jobs;
 Integration of human factors in ground facilities, such as improved work environment
for operators, efficiency, quality of operations and human safety.
Annexes.
SPACE-17-TEC-2019: Access to space
Specific Challenge: Access to space is an indispensable element of the entire value chain of
space and has been recognised as an area of strategic importance towards the direction of
Europe's non-dependence.
Access to space is a matter of security of supply, industry capability and technology readiness
and a sine qua non condition of the modern space knowledge-based economies. Only a
handful of space-faring countries master this capability as a result of extensive institutional
funding for research and development costs and the guarantee of services exploitation. Europe
has achieved its remarkable position in this field thanks to national programmes and the
programmes of the European Space Agency ESA, Access to Space being one fundamental
origin of its own creation in 1975.
The Space Strategy for Europe has confirmed that Europe shall maintain autonomous, reliable
and cost-effective access to space. It underlined that it is crucial that Europe continues to have
modern, efficient and flexible launch, production and test infrastructure facilities.
Cost reduction and improving flexibility of launch systems are the main challenges in order to
foster European industry competitiveness on the global market.
The industry 4.0 transformational wave is likely to bring opportunities for innovative concepts
lowering the cost of space launch manufacturing/integration/testing/operations and further
improving quality.
Scope: Each proposal shall address only one of the following two sub-topics:
a) Innovative concepts for low cost launch system and services for mini-, micro-, nano-
satellites and cubesats: with an aim at further increasing launch frequency and lowering
launch costs including for those satellites with dedicated orbit requirements (e.g. precise

orbital insertion for nano-cubesat satellites), for the worldwide commercial market,. They
shall seek coherence and complementarity with on-going ESA initiatives. Proposals could
include for instance, upper stage related technologies (e.g. disruptive technologies for upper
stage low thrust / high Specific Impulse / green propellant engine, avionic miniaturisation,
dispensers with advanced deployment capabilities) and the identification of advanced low cost
materials.
b) Launch system advanced manufacturing (e.g. tooling and machines) and modern
infrastructures (including ground infrastructures for low cost European launch sites for
mini, micro nano satellite launch system): Activities shall address manufacturing
technologies and processes such as integrated supply chain, integrated European
manufacturing flow (global use of digital mock-up within extended enterprise), digitalisation
standardisation applied to space (space related data exchange, harmonisation of process, cloud
centric exchange of data), remote control capacities useful to all European actors (satellites
industrialists, launch pads, rocket propulsion test centres and launcher industrialists) and
competences capitalization in support of digital training (shared space curricula supported by
numeric know-how capture) as well as advanced assembly, integration and testing, including
small, mini, micro satellite launch systems.
The proposed solutions to be considered will take into account relevant regulatory
frameworks, in particular REACH, and will also take into account the environmental impacts
and health risks.
These activities shall consist of research, innovation and development work which can be
readily integrated within current and planned European launch infrastructures. A preliminary
implementation, operational and total investment plan shall be included in the proposal and
detailed during the action.
For each topic, activities shall be complementary with other European activities in the same
domain.
Proposals shall include an analysis of relevant available roadmaps at European level.
applicable.
amounts.
Expected Impact:
 Contribution to the maturing of technologies to Launch Systems/services for small
satellites in dedicated orbits and with a strong focus on cost reduction and launch rate
flexibility;

 Innovative use of current Launcher technologies for mini-, micro-launchers, and
associated ground segment solutions that will contribute to pursue and facilitate, in the
short-term, extreme low-cost launch services for the worldwide market of small satellites
and constellations, thus enabling also private initiatives to build viable business cases
based on such technologies;
 Improve business performance of European space start-ups/scale-ups (e.g. via precise
deployment of their space asset and reduction of time required to have the constellation
fully operational).
 Increase compliance with the evolutions of the normative regulatory framework, in
particular REACH;
 Improved quality and safety control solutions, which are absolutely fundamental in
rocketry, within three to five years;
 Supply chain efficiency applied to space launch manufacturing, integration and
operations thanks to research and innovation data exchange architecture taking into
account the evolution of the normative framework and environmental impacts.
 Improved workforce competence management and European top-class space curricula.
Annexes.
SPACE-20-SCI-2018: Scientific instrumentation and technologies enabling space science
and exploration
Specific Challenge: Great advances in the knowledge of the Universe and the Solar system
have been enabled by the data delivered by space science as well as human and robotic
exploration missions and ground-based space observatories. Europe contributed to these
endeavours by developing and implementing world-class space missions and ground-based
infrastructure, in the context of national, ESA and ESO scientific programmes, and often in
partnership with major international players.
Continued collaborative efforts are needed to prepare the scientific instruments and
technologies that will enable future space science and exploration missions.
The challenge is to foster cooperation between scientific, engineering and industrial teams,
within and outside Europe, to develop instrumentation and technologies enabling space
science and exploration, including planetary exploration, missions, stimulating synergies
between space and ground-based observations combining and reusing different technologies,
techniques and methodologies.
Scope: The development of instrumentation and technologies enabling space science and
exploration missions may address early scientific instrumentation and technology

development associated to future space science and exploration, including planetary
exploration missions. The development of new and innovative approaches, such as the use of
Cubesats and other small space platforms, including planetary entry probe, or the use of
Commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) components is encouraged as long as it leads or contributes
to the implementation of space science and exploration with significant scientific outputs.
Advances are expected in support to on-site activities such as landing, planetary navigation,
sample collection and processing or in-situ analysis.
Activities should target primarily European and European-led space science and exploration
missions or internationally-led missions where the participation of European partners provides
demonstrated added-value in terms of technological development and scientific output.
amounts.
Expected Impact:
 Increased collaboration of scientific, engineering and industrial teams both within and
outside Europe across different domains;
 Enable breakthroughs in terms of the capacity to exploit scientific space data and in
terms of developing scientific instrumentation and technologies used in space science
and exploration missions.
 Validation of novel human spaceflight and robotic space instrumentation and
technologies through analogue tests.
Annexes.
SPACE-28-TEC-2020: SRC - In-space electrical propulsion and station keeping -
Incremental technologies
Specific Challenge: The challenge of this strategic research cluster (SRC) is to enable major
advances in Electric Propulsion (EP) for in-space operations and transportation, in order to
contribute to the European leadership through competitiveness and non-dependence in electric
propulsion at world level within the 2020-2030 timeframe, always in coherence and non-
duplication with the existing and planned developments at national, commercial, EU and ESA
level.
Scope: Incremental Technologies are those currently considered mature enough to allow
incremental steps enabling new capabilities required by a number of applications.

Proposals should, therefore, enable incremental advances in the already mature technologies
for Electric Propulsion Systems20
based on:
1. Hall Effect Thrusters (HET)
2. Gridded Ion Engines (GIE)
3. High Efficiency Multistage Plasma Thrusters (HEMPT).
The advantage of having several mature technologies in the portfolio is a particular strength
of the European EP scene. The three Incremental Technologies have individual strengths and
weaknesses, which make them more competitive for certain applications and less competitive
for others.
The EPIC roadmap developed by the EPIC PSA addresses all three technologies in the
Incremental Technology line. The COMPET-3-2016-a Call allowed the three Electric
Propulsion Systems based on these technologies, to be developed to higher TRL levels on a
first stage (2016-2020), while complying with certain requirements and TRL objectives to
address the needs of a number of applications.
Regarding new markets and applications, as constellations in the Low power range, and dual
mode features for Electric Orbit Raising (EOR) and Station Keeping (SK) in the Medium
power range, it is not possible to tell at the time being, which Incremental Technology would
be the best suited for the market at the end of the SRC (2023/2024).This approach guarantees
a high flexibility to react to possible changes of the satellite market needs and unforeseen
developments of the launcher market, giving to the European stakeholders a strategic and
flexible position, clearly demanded by Satellite Operators and Large System Integrators.
Proposals shall address further development of the most promising Incremental Technologies
which have a TRL not lower than the expected target from the COMPET-3-2016-a Call, up to
design, industrialisation and qualification level of the overall Electric Propulsion System, in
order to guarantee the current leadership through competitiveness of European electric
propulsion.
Actions should focus on design, industrialisation and qualification to allow flight readiness of
the overall Electric Propulsion System in the required SRC timeframe, by means of an
advanced Engineering Model (EM) built on the results obtained from the bread board model
developed in the COMPET-3-2016-a Call, to be followed by a Qualification Model (QM).
Proposals should seek to cover incremental developments up to the specified TRL level.
Proposals should enable incremental advances on the already mature technologies for Electric
Propulsion Systems, with the focus on product development for the most promising
applications and future expected markets in line with the market studies: Telecom
20
Electric Propulsion System components are: thruster, fluid management system and the power
components only. The mechanisms, deployment and tanks are excluded, as indicated in the EPIC
Roadmap and guidelines (available on the Funding & Tenders Portal).

applications, Constellation, Navigation, LEO applications, Exploration and Space
transportation.
The retained application domains are identified for the call into 3 power range classes: Low
power (i.e. for constellations and LEO applications) from 200 W to 700 W; Medium power
dual mode i.e. for Telecom and Navigation applications > 3.0 kW for SK and > 5.0 kW for
EOR, and High power (i.e. for Exploration and Space transportation) > 20.0 kW.
Proposals should provide for each product the attainable objectives at the end of the phase 2
in terms of performance (thrust, specific impulse (ISP), power), of costs (recurring costs) and
achieved TRL. A detailed description of the above Incremental Technologies and the most
promising applications is included in the corresponding guidelines available on the Funding &
Tenders Portal.
Proposals on Incremental Technologies should demonstrate the readiness and interest to carry
the developments further on for a possible future in-orbit demonstration (IOD) and a business
plan on how to access the current or future expected markets.
The Commission considers that proposals for the Incremental Technologies requesting
contributions in the following amounts would allow this specific challenge to be addressed
appropriately.
Proposals are invited for the following three sub-topics:
a) Low power electric propulsion
 A total of EUR 12 million will be granted to Low power Electric Propulsion Systems
(i.e. for Constellations and LEO applications) from 200 W to 700 W. The maximum
requested EU funding per proposal is EUR 4 million. The target TRL at the end of the
project should be at least [6/7].
 At least one proposal will be selected for line 1/HET.
 At least one proposal will be selected for line 2/GIE.
 At least one proposal will be selected for line 3/HEMPT.
b) Medium power electric propulsion
 A total of EUR 9 million will be granted to Medium power dual mode (i.e. for Telecom
and Navigation applications) > 3.0 kW for SK and > 5.0 kW for EOR. The maximum
requested EU funding per proposal is EUR 4.5 million. The target TRL at the end of the
project should be at least [6/7].
 At least two proposals will be selected, each one of a different technology from the
three Incremental Technologies (HET, GIE, HEMPT).
c) High power electric propulsion

 A total of EUR 3 million will be granted to a High power (i.e. for Exploration and
Space transportation) > 20.0 kW. The maximum requested EU funding per proposal is
EUR 3 million. The target TRL at the end of the project is [5/6].
 At least one proposal will be selected from the three Incremental Technologies
(HET, GIE, HEMPT).
Grants awarded under this topic will be complementary to each other and complementary to
grants awarded under other previous SRC Calls topics: COMPET-3-2016-a, COMPET-3-
2016-b, SPACE-13-TEC-2019 ("complementary grants"). In order to ensure a smooth and
successful implementation of this Strategic Research Cluster (SRC), the beneficiaries of
complementary grants ("complementary beneficiaries") shall conclude a written
"collaboration agreement".
Expected Impact:
 To develop, in the mid-term, the European capacity to compete in the worldwide arena
of electric propulsion satellites and missions and be in time to market.
 To substantially increase medium and long term competitiveness of existing Electric
Propulsion System technologies with a technology and application-driven approach.
 To pursue developments which shall be mainly market-oriented, beneficial at system
level and with a strategic view to long term needs.
 To enable medium and longer term applications: Telecom, Space Transportation, LEO,
MEO, Exploration or Science.
 To anticipate ambitious long-term market evolution and strategic opportunities, so that
the developed Electric Propulsion Systems could create new markets and shape existing
ones.
 To develop the Incremental Technology Electric Propulsion System up to system
demonstration in a space environment and ready for its qualification.
Annexes.
SPACE-29-TEC-2020: Satellite communication technologies
Specific Challenge: The context and customer field of satellite communication services is
currently undergoing changes. Broadband TV applications are decreasing in importance and

the importance of internet connectivity is increasing. New EU targets have been set to achieve
a connectivity of 100 Mbps for all by 202521
, for which satellite communication solutions are
important, for instance in remote and offshore areas, for backhauling, or for mobile users and
under emergency situations. The demand for Very High Throughput satellite communications
is increasing. The 5G concept combines various access technologies, such as cellular,
wireless, satellite and wireline, for delivering reliable performance for critical
communications and improve area coverage 22 23
making interconnectivity an important
challenge. New markets are emerging, such as for example the connectivity needed for
Internet of Things. New mission concepts are currently being established, such as mega
constellations or satellite networks based on micro-mini satellites. Finally, security aspects are
becoming more and more important, in particular for governmental users of satellite
communications. The challenge for the EU is to prepare the ground to maintain the
technological leading edge and maintain its global competitiveness in satellite
communications in those rapidly changing conditions and markets (e.g. towards and beyond
the 1 Tbps high throughput satellites and/or fully flexible satellites).
Sub-topics presented in the “SPACE-15-TEC-2018: Satellite communication technologies”
call and addressed by selected projects, are not repeated in SPACE-29-TEC-2020.
Scope: Proposals shall address only one of the following sub-topics:
a) Secure and robust satellite communications including quantum technologies, such as
key generation and distribution, adapting to quantum technologies, anti-jamming technologies
and products, anti-spoofing techniques, advanced coding, signal modulation and
cryptography, secured uncoordinated multiple access, threats simulation, secure and robust
telemetry, tracking and command (spread spectrum);
b) Bandwidth efficient transmission techniques to serve multiple users with high
throughput satellites and to ensure effective use of limited spectrum resources, e.g. frequency
management and allocation techniques, such as dynamic spectrum access (DSA) and
frequency reuse; multiple antenna communications; beamforming; cooperative gateway
diversity, user clustering and interference mitigation;
c) High speed processing and flexible and reprogrammable telecommunication payloads,
able to adapt to changing service needs such as capacity flexibility and geographic
redistribution of the traffic and to satellites integration in the 5G protocol and system.
Simulation and end-to-end resources management shall be addressed;
d) Flexible broadband passive and active antenna techniques, such as phased array or
mechanically steered or hybrid mechanical/electronic steerable antennas for very high
throughput spaceborne or airborne communication applications (consisting of broadband
21
Commission Communication on: Connectivity for a Competitive Digital Single Market - Towards a
European Gigabit Society - COM(2016)587 and Staff Working Document - SWD(2016)300
22
https://ec.europa.eu/digital-single-market/en/news/communication-5g-europe-action-plan-and-
accompanying-staff-working-document
23
https://5g-ppp.eu/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/5GPPP-brochure-final-web-MWC.pdf

conformal antenna arrays, broadband beamforming and broadband RF front-ends and
components), including multi-beaming smart antennas and integration of antennas in the
platform, multiband and hybrid (RF/optical) antennas, active antenna critical technologies,
lens antenna techniques, 5G dedicated active arrays, RF equipment for higher frequency
bands (e.g. Q, V/W).
e) Ground systems technologies for satellite communication services and applications:
evolution of ground control stations and teleports, also making use of artificial intelligence,
improving the interoperability of networks of ground stations and inter-satellite links,
enabling full interoperability with future terrestrial telecommunication networks (including
5G terrestrial network) and optimising performance, coverage, costs, reliability and security
in the provision of differentiated services and applications to diverse user categories,.
Maximum one proposal per sub-topic will be selected.
Proposals should consider enabling technologies and solutions aiming at exploiting the
potential synergies between the Satellite Communication domain and the Navigation and
Earth Observation domain (such as EO/SatCom hybrid mission satellites, smart satellites,
small satellites, high data rate solutions, high speed links, high performance processors,
antennas/reflector/structures, ground segment).
Actions should be complementary and create synergy with other European activities in the
same domain. Emphasis should be given to the preparation of future and advanced satellite
communications technologies up to TRL 4-5. Technological spin in and/or bilateral
amounts.

Expected Impact:
 To ensure and enhance the life-cycle cost reduction (including manufacturing and
operations) and increased performance, resulting in the enhanced competitiveness of the
European space manufacturing and service industry in the rapidly evolving field of
satellite communication.
 To develop European research and technology ecosystems consisting of different parties
involved in satellite communications, i.e. manufacturers of user equipment, ground
segment technologies, service providers and operators, validation and simulation tool
developers, and end users.
 To contribute to the integration of satellite communications into the 5G.
Annexes.
SPACE-30-SCI-2020: Scientific data exploitation
Specific Challenge: Support the data exploitation of European missions and instruments, in
conjunction, when relevant, with international missions.
Scope: This topic will cover the exploitation of all acquired and available data provided by
space missions in their operative, post-operative or data exploitation phase and by space-
related ground based investigations.
Projects may rely on the data available through ESA Space Science Archives when possible
or other means (e.g. instrumentation teams). Combination and correlation of this data with
international scientific mission data, as well as with relevant data produced by ground-based
infrastructures all over the world, is encouraged to further increase the scientific return and to
enable new research activities using existing data sets. These activities shall add scientific
value through analysis of the data, leading to scientific publications and higher level data
products, tools and methods. When possible, enhanced data products should be suitable for
feeding back into the ESA archives. Resulting analyses should help preparing future European
and international missions.
International cooperation is encouraged in particular with countries active in space
exploration and space science.

EUR 1 and 2 million would allow this specific challenge to be addressed appropriately,
including through proposals from small teams. Nonetheless, this does not preclude
submission and selection of proposals requesting other amounts.
Expected Impact: A higher number of scientific publications based on Europe’s space data,
high-level data products made available through appropriate archives, and tools and methods
developed for the advanced processing of data. Proposals are also expected to add value to
existing activities on European and international levels, and to enhance and broaden research
partnerships.
Annexes.
Artificial Intelligence and Space
The adoption of Big Data technologies and Artificial Intelligence in the space industry
represents a significant opportunity to innovate. The space environment puts extreme
demands on reliability and autonomy where modern AI techniques can provide solutions for
autonomous decision-making, self-diagnosis and repair for on-orbit missions and robotic
exploration of other planets. The robotics cluster provides a suitable platform for applying
such technologies.
SPACE-12-TEC-2018: SRC – Space robotics technologies
Specific Challenge: The overall challenge of this strategic research cluster (SRC) is to enable
major advances in space robotic technologies for future on-orbit missions (robotics and
proximity rendezvous) and the exploration of the surfaces of the other bodies in our solar
system.
The first activities in the SRC have addressed designing, manufacturing and testing of reliable
and high performance common robotic building blocks for operation in space environments
(orbital and/or planetary) which will be used for the activities subject to this call. The specific
challenge is now to integrate the previously prepared common building blocks into
demonstrators on ground, towards applications of space robotics in the field of orbital and
planetary use. These robotics applications address not only the future needs of exploration and
exploitation of space but also potential spin-off and spill-over effects to other areas of robotic
activity on Earth, such as automotive, mining, construction, nuclear, or underwater.
Scope: Each proposal shall address only one of the following sub-topics:

a) Orbital Support Services: demonstrate the techniques needed to offer a commercial
service to operational satellites. This shall as minimum address robotic deployment and
refuelling of satellites in orbit. By means of a general purpose robotic arm, a servicing
satellite must be capable to demonstrate release, grasping, berthing and manipulation of a
target satellite including services such as refuelling.
b) Robotised assembly of large modular orbital structures: integrate a robot system and a
set of functional modules that can assemble a large structure (such as a large reflector)
otherwise not feasible with a single launch.
c) Robotised reconfiguration of satellites: develop a satellite-mounted robot system and its
related implements that can modify the functionality of a satellite by adding/replacing
modules available on-board or provided by another servicing satellite.
d) Autonomous decision making: integrate a rover system with long traverse capabilities
(kilometres a day) managing independently the decisions required to reduce risks and seize
opportunities. Such a rover system will be required to travel independently from a starting
point (e.g. a lander) towards an end point (say a cache of sample), perform independent
opportunistic science on the way and return to the lander with the acquired soil sample.
e) Exploring robot-robot interaction. Proposals could address one of the following two
scenarios. Advanced mobility: a suite of robots endowed with diverse mobility that can
cooperate autonomously in the exploration of very hard-to-reach planetary areas. This team of
robots will be entrusted to undertake multiple descents and ascents into a crater/gully
performing coordinated mapping and science. Robotised construction: a team of specialised
robots with multiple robotic arms and end-effectors that, through a minimum of drilling,
excavating and manipulating, can cooperatively put together a future planetary base/ISRU 24
plant.
Proposals shall build on the results of the five projects of the 2016 call developing common
building blocks of the Robotics SRC and shall therefore describe how this is done. A
guidance document is published together with this work programme25
.
EUR 3 and 4 million for sub-topics a) to c) and EUR 2 and 3 million for sub-topics d) to e)
would allow this specific challenge to be addressed appropriately. Nonetheless, this does not
preclude submission and selection of proposals requesting other amounts.
Expected Impact: Space robotics technologies developed under this topic are expected to
increase the performance of space missions in a cost effective manner. Synergies with
terrestrial robotics would increase the sustainability of the European space sector at large.
Additionally, for the orbital track (sub-topics a, b and c):
 Enable multiple business cases not possible with current monolithic satellite systems
24
ISRU = In Situ Resource Utilisation.
25

 Foster rapid development and production on demand to reduce cost and time
 Setting technology standards for commercialisation of space (interfaces, building blocks
etc.)
Additionally, for the planetary track (sub-topics d and e):
 Improve yield of planetary missions by providing 10x more science
 Allow estimation of feasibility of planetary exploitation activities
 Spin-out of space robotics technologies, e.g. autonomy, to terrestrial activities such as
agriculture and mining.
 Spin-in of terrestrial activities (e.g. automated waste handling) to the space robotics
sector.
Annexes.
SPACE-27-TEC-2020: SRC - Space robotics technologies
Specific Challenge: The overall challenge of this Strategic Research Cluster (SRC) is to
enable major advances in space robotic technologies for future on-orbit missions requiring
robotic activity and proximity rendezvous, and the exploration of the surfaces of the other
bodies in our solar system.
The first activities in the SRC have addressed designing, manufacturing and testing of reliable
and high performance robotic Common Building Blocks for operation in space environments
(orbital and/or planetary). The specific challenge of the second call was to integrate the
previously prepared Common Building Blocks into demonstrators on ground, towards
applications of space robotics in the field of orbital and planetary use. These robotics
applications address the future needs of exploration (advanced autonomy and robot
cooperation relying on AI and other techniques) and commercial exploitation of space (on-
orbit servicing, in-orbit assembly and reconfigurable satellites).
The objective of this third call is to prepare the technologies for demonstrators planned to be
implemented in the 2023-2027 timeframe. The successful proposals shall validate relevant
applications for both orbital and planetary scenarios relying on technologies derived from
previous SRC activities.
Scope: Each proposal shall address only one of the following sub-topics:
a) In-orbit Demonstrator Mission Study: a study (up to and including Phase B1) of an In-
Orbit Demonstrator (IOD) that will validate previous developments of the SRC for the
purpose of simultaneously satisfying short-term (ie on-orbit inspection, life extension, de-

orbiting) and mid-to-long-term (ie APM exchange, reconfiguration, on-orbit
assembly/manufacturing) horizons. The successful proposals should articulate the means to
connect these two different business cases in a single demonstrator. The proposed
demonstrator should represent a risk-taking, disruptive approach to enable new commercial
opportunities in space.
The Orbital Mission Study should provide a feasibility study relating to the demonstrator
mission (Phase A) and a preliminary design of this mission (Phase B1) outlining system and
technology requirements.
In parallel to this, the proposal should outline which hardware and software technologies, as
defined in the Mission Study, will be developed by the consortium in order to achieve this
level of technology maturation.
As such, each proposal should cover the following areas:
 Global market & trend analysis: The proposal shall detail the business cases that will
be enabled by the demonstrator and the new market opportunities that will be generated
in the space sector in Europe.
 Transition into the new paradigm: The Proposal shall explain how the demonstrator
will facilitate the smooth transition between the short-term market need and future
commercial possibilities through the generation of new modular and reconfigurable,
intelligent satellites. Furthermore, the proposed mission and system design shall allow
the integration of other functional building blocks into the system at later phases (for
example, Phases C and D) of the project. This shall demonstrate increased flexibility
before launch compared to conventional systems.
 TRL increase of critical systems: The proposal shall not only cover the phase A and B1
studies of the mission, but also identify and undertake the critical hardware
developments and technology maturation needed to ensure the viability of the
demonstrator in the next phases.
b) Advanced Robotics Planetary Exploration: the next step in exploration will target areas
of planets that are hard to reach, such as gullies, cliffs, craters and lava tubes. This requires
improved capability in the rover’s understanding of its environment (not simply 2D with
obstacles, but fully 3D), and capabilities in motion planning and execution which have not
previously been demonstrated. This sub-topic aims to integrate the state-of-the-art technology
(artificial intelligence, sensing and modelling complex environments, diverse means of
locomotion, and cooperative planning and decision making) needed for this application.
The successful proposal should aim to overcome these current constraints by identifying the
gaps in technology and knowledge and providing innovative solutions.
In detail, the successful proposal should address the following aspects:

 Demonstrator: the design and implementation of an exploration demonstrator to
simulate hazardous and/or difficult extra-terrestrial terrain and test the technologies
required to plan, navigate, traverse and investigate them.
 Technology development: Identification and development/maturation of the critical
software and/or hardware technologies needed to enable the exploration of previously
inaccessible areas on planetary surfaces. The spin-in of technologies from terrestrial
sectors shall be investigated for this purpose.
 Case Study exploring terrestrial exploitation: provision a full case study
demonstrating how the submitted technology can be exploited on Earth to solve
problems in terrestrial sectors and scenarios.
 Re-use and improvement of the technologies and products of the previous SRC
Calls: inclusion of a dedicated section explaining how to implement and develop the
results of the previous SRC Calls, both in terms of building blocks and of system design.
The results of the successful project, coupled with the results of the previous SRC calls, will
be crucial in paving the way for future European activities in planetary exploration.
At least two proposals will be selected for subtopic a) and at least of one proposal for subtopic
b).
The Commission considers that proposals requesting a contribution from the EU of around 3
million EUR would allow this specific challenge to be addressed appropriately. Nonetheless,
this does not preclude submission and selection of proposals requesting other amounts.
A guidance document will be made available on the Funding & Tenders Portal.
Grants awarded under this topic will be complementary to each other and complementary to
grants awarded under other previous SRC topics COMPET-4-2014, COMPET-4-2016 and
SPACE-12-TEC-2018. In order to ensure a smooth and successful implementation of this
Strategic Research Cluster, the beneficiaries of complementary grants ("complementary
beneficiaries") shall join the already established "collaboration agreement". The respective
options of Article 2, Article 31.6 and Article 41.4 2 of the Model Grant Agreement will be
applied.
Expected Impact: Space robotics technologies developed under these sub-topics are expected
to increase the performance of space missions in a cost-effective manner and enable new
business cases considering New Space approaches.
Additionally, for the sub-topic a) the results are expected to:

 Propose multiple new business cases and enable new market opportunities reflected by
the paradigm shift from mission-specific solutions to modular, intelligent, flexible
spacecraft;
 Increase the viability of the demonstrator(s) through the necessary hardware
developments;
 Provide a qualitative and quantitative evaluation of the economical, technical, scientific
and performance-related impact and benefits of standardized technologies, in order to
tangibly contribute towards emerging regulations governing the commercial use of such
technologies in space.
Additionally, for sub-topic b) the results are expected to:
 Improve the scientific yield of planetary missions by increasing accessibility;
 Lead to mission studies for challenging, next-generation planetary exploration;
 Lead to tangible exploitation of planetary exploration technologies in terrestrial
applications and vice versa.
Annexes.
Secure and safe space environment
Space capacities are strategically important to civil, commercial, security and defence-related
policy objectives. Europe needs to ensure its freedom of action and autonomy. It needs to
have access to space and be able to use it safely.
Growing threats are emerging in space: from space debris to cyber threats, the impact of
space weather and Near-Earth Objects (NEOs). Europe must draw on its assets and use
space capacities to meet the security and safety needs of the Member States and the EU.
SU-SPACE-21-SEC-2020: Space traffic management
Specific Challenge: The combination of cheaper technology and new investors led by the
internet sector is lowering the threshold for access to space. The number of space actors,
public and private, is increasing, and with them comes the development of new space
technologies and markets (such as reusable launchers, mass produced small satellites, in-orbit
servicing and operations, space mining, sub-orbital flights). As a result, the number of objects
in orbit will likely increase dramatically in the near future as well as new types of activities
are emerging raising concerns for launcher operations, safe access to and operations in space
and long-term sustainability of space.

To cope with this evolution, those future space operations from the Newspace may require
new technical guidelines or new best practices for “Space Traffic Management” (STM) in
order to preserve the space environment. This evolution is currently taking place in the US
with the expected involvement of the Department of Commerce on space safety. Europe must
be an actor of this change in order to maintain its autonomy for safely accessing and using
space.
Scope:
 Providing networking opportunities for stakeholders from the private space sector
including research entities and the public space sector (space agencies) in order to
identify responsibilities and key technologies to manage the increasing number of
objects reaching orbit and performing re-entry;
 Assessing available and needed technologies and capabilities, best practices,
standards and guidelines to develop a STM, including in terms of costs, feasibility and
effectiveness, taking into account amongst others experiences from the EU SST and EU
SSA, ESA-Cleanspace and Cleansat Programmes as well as international developments
in the context of the United Nations (UNOOSA)
 Proposing a set of STM guidelines and best practices and evaluating their
organisation and impact on the operations of spacecraft for space traffic
management.
The Commission considers that proposals requesting a contribution from the EU of EUR 1.50
Expected Impact:
 A comprehensive overview of technical challenges to be addressed in terms of
guidelines and best practices;
 A description of the possible roles of current institutional and industrial actors;
 An assessment of the paths for the SSA evolution to support safe and sustainable space
operations;
 An identification of the benefits for the EU space market development, for European
sovereignty as well as for international cooperation.

Annexes.
SU-SPACE-22-SEC-2019: Space Weather
Specific Challenge: Commonly occurring space weather events have the potential to impact
the performance of critical space and ground infrastructure disrupting operations and
communications in multiple sectors of society. Extreme events could have devastating
societal and economic consequences with potential costs for disruptions and damages
estimated in tens or even hundreds of billions of Euros.
Space weather must be monitored and forecasted just like terrestrial weather. However,
current space weather services are generally not capable of forecasting events over several
days. A longer forecasting horizon would require access to data from new observation
infrastructure coupled with new and improved modelling capabilities. Preparations are
underway for future instruments to be placed in suitable vantage points (Lagrange 1 and 5 as
well as on Earth orbiting satellites and on ground). The challenge is to prepare for a full
exploitation of such data by a renewed effort on modelling and forecasting using currently
available data.
The Space Strategy recognises that growing threats emerge in space from space debris to the
impact of space weather. Accordingly, the Commission announced that its intention to
address threats and vulnerabilities including the impact of space weather on satellites and on
ground infrastructure such as transport, energy grids and telecommunication networks.
Scope: Proposals shall address the development of modelling capabilities and/or the delivery
of prototype services able to interpret a broad range of observations of the Sun’s corona and
magnetic field, of the Sun-Earth interplanetary space and of the Earth
magnetosphere/ionosphere coupling relying on existing observation capacities.
The goal is to pave the way for forecasting horizons for space weather events in the order of
tens of hours or days and to identify potential indicators (or proxies) of extreme events
potentially through the joint analysis of interdisciplinary data.
Proposals shall address application domains which may include space as well as terrestrial
infrastructure.
Proposals shall include architectural concepts of possible European space weather services in
relation to the application domains addressed and they shall demonstrate complementary to
and, if relevant, utilize precursor Space Weather services already available through the Space
Situational Awareness programme of ESA26
and take into account the global space weather
service developments by the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO).
This action is also open to cooperation with international partners with relevant expertise.
26
http://swe.ssa.esa.int/

Participation of industry, in particular SMEs, is encouraged, as well as the involvement of
post-graduate scientists, engineers and researchers, for example through professional work
experience or through fellowships/scholarships as applicable. A guidance document will be
published together with this work programme.
amounts.
This topic contributes to the Horizon 2020 focus area "Boosting the effectiveness of the
Security Union ".
Expected Impact:
 Improved scientific understanding of the origin and evolution of space weather
phenomena;
 New models and forecasting techniques capable of extending the time horizon of a
future space weather forecasting capability to several days;
 Inventory of potential early indicators of extreme space weather events.
Annexes.
SU-SPACE-23-SEC-2019: Advanced research in Near Earth Objects (NEOs) and new
payload technologies for planetary defence
Specific Challenge: It is fundamental to improve our understanding of Near-Earth Objects
(NEOs) through scientific modelling as well as the development of spacecraft instruments and
data exploitation, both for the design of asteroids impact mitigation missions and the
assessment of the associated effects.
In addition, in order to conduct spacecraft close proximity operations to NEOs and undertake
mitigation demonstration missions, it is necessary to have a number of specific technologies
and instruments readily available to conduct missions to asteroids with very weak
gravitational fields.
The selection of NEO targets for space missions, either for science or mitigation, must
guarantee both technical feasibility and high scientific/mitigation return. In this respect
ground-based observations represent an essential means to investigate the physical and
dynamical properties of the NEO population as a whole, thus leading to further strengthening
the science return of a mission, as well as optimising the choice of mission targets. At present
our knowledge of the physical characteristics of the NEO population is only around 20%.

New technologies, such as wide-field high-sensitivity telescopes, will provide in the near
future the possibility to detect with enough warning time (from hours to days) the so-called
"imminent impactors", i.e. asteroids discovered while in route of collision with the Earth. The
vast majority are objects of a few meters in size which are likely to eventually produce
meteorites. Performing a physical characterization of these objects before they enter the
Earth's atmosphere would provide data needed for calibrating the models used to determine
the physical characteristics of the NEO population from ground observational data. The
capability to network large telescopes, as well as radar facilities, with such wide-field assets
will be key for such physical characterization.
Scope: The aim of this topic is the maturation or adaptation to specific use case of existing
modelling capabilities and the development of technologies and instruments in support of
missions to asteroids.
Each proposal shall address one or two of the following three sub-topics:
a) Maturation or adaptation to specific use cases of existing modelling capabilities.
These include the modelling of the outcome of a kinetic impactor as a function of assumed
physical properties, and the implementation of benchmarking campaigns for the cross-
validation of the different impact numerical models. The modelling of the dynamical and
physical states of a target NEO (including binary asteroids) and their changes due to the
effects of a kinetic impactor, should also be addressed, as well as modelling and testing
geophysical surface and regolith processes in the low-gravity regimes of NEOs (this includes
also thermal processes and surface composition characteristics).
b) Development of instruments, technologies and associated data exploitation models in
support of missions to asteroids.
Payload developments are necessary to increase the knowledge of asteroid physical properties
directly influencing the efficiency of a kinetic impactor deflection mission. These should
include specific focus on the sub-surface and interior structure, as well as the surface
mechanical properties via direct and indirect measurement techniques (such as the response of
a surface to the interaction with a lander). Focus should be placed on high-accuracy shape
models, surface topography and features, including the impact crater of a kinetic impactor and
its surroundings.
Maximum exploitation of scientific and technical data shall be ensured by developing all the
necessary algorithms and simulators to be prepared for close-proximity operations and
payload data analyses (e.g. shape reconstruction from multiple data sources, performance
simulators for radioscience, etc.). Specific focus shall be placed on the conditions required by
payload instruments to fulfill the mission objectives.
c) Improvement of our knowledge of the physical characteristics of the NEO population.
Focus is on fostering the physical characterization of NEOs by:

1) the efficient use and pooling of existing large aperture telescopes, radar facilities and data
processing capabilities; 2) performing high-quality physical observations and calculation; 3)
developing methods for rapid estimation of the orbit of an object and characterization of its
physical and dynamical properties; and 4) fostering international collaboration focused on
timely follow-up observations of potentially hazardous objects (PHOs).
The proposed project shall coordinate with existing surveys devoted to NEO discovery and
radar facilities in order to provide a rapid response system for quickly characterize a small
asteroid flying-by or in route of collision with the Earth (imminent impactor).
For all aforementioned sub-topics, proposals shall seek complementarity and synergy with
related European initiatives or international coordination efforts such as those undertaken by
ESA or in the framework of the UN.
applicable.
amounts.
Security Union ".
Expected Impact:
 Advance our understanding of the dynamical and physical states of a target NEO and
their changes due to the effects of a kinetic impactor;
 Advance payload technology, and the associated performance simulators for the
thorough characterization of asteroid properties affecting planetary defence missions;
 Advance the capability of timely detection and characterization of potential imminent
impactors of Earth.
Annexes.
SU-SPACE-31-SEC-2019: Research and innovation network of governmental users of
secure satellite communications
Specific Challenge: Satellite communications is an important tool for public authorities active
in domains such as border surveillance and management, crisis and disaster management,
detecting and monitoring forest fires, monitoring and controlling illegal activities, protection

of critical infrastructures, and humanitarian aid. This is particularly the case when ground-
based communication links are damaged (e.g. earthquakes, hurricanes), absent (such as in
remote areas or in the maritime domain), or cannot be trusted (e.g. in Common Security and
Defence operations outside the EU). In many of those domains public authorities require
secure and guaranteed access to satellite communications. However, many governmental
users (e.g. fire brigades, civil protection workers, and border management actors) are
currently not benefitting from the full potential in the domain of satellite communications.
Research and innovation actions, in particular in terms of user technologies, interoperability
and standards need to be developed early enough to enable governmental users to profit from
the increasing governmental satellite communications services.
Scope: A network of governmental users of secure satellite communications shall be set up
with the aim to establish collaboration on aspects in the user domain of governmental satellite
communications, such as research and innovation on user equipment, the study and
comparison of existing and innovative use-cases, interoperability and standardisation. The
network shall also identify and share good practices in the deployment and use of satellite
communications by governmental actors in the Member States and in EU institutions,
agencies and entities.
Activities shall be tailored to the priorities of governmental satellite communications users,
including, inter alia
 Survey of available satcom user equipment, future user technologies, and potential need
for standardisation;
 The study and comparison of existing and innovative use-cases and evolving user needs
and requirements, and where relevant and feasible, associated tests in laboratory or field
test environments;
 Consolidated long-term roadmap and coordination plan for research and innovation
relating to secure governmental satellite communication;
 Workshops, in particular involving relevant entities who are not participants of the
consortium;
 Specific training linked to satellite communications, for example to share good practices;
 Cross-border twinning schemes, such as field tests.
Special attention will be given to enhance the competence of potential users in the domain of
secure satellite communications, including helping less experienced users to rapidly acquire
the know-how accumulated in other countries.
The participation to the network of national representatives appointed by EU Member States,
responsible for federating and coordinating the inputs from the respective national civilian
users, is mandatory. They shall cooperate with relevant EU agencies and entities involved in

the use of satellite communications or user equipment (e.g. Frontex, GSA, EMSA, ENISA,
CEPOL, Europol, Eurojust, EDA, SATCEN, EEAS, JRC).
The Commission considers that one proposal requesting a contribution from the EU in the
range of EUR 3 million would allow this specific challenge to be addressed appropriately.
amounts.
Security Union ".
Expected Impact:
 Common understanding of user needs, and potential for innovation, including
interoperability, and standardisation in the use of satellite communications by EU and
Member State users.
 Enhanced synergies in the uptake of governmental satellite communication solutions
among users from different disciplines, backgrounds and Member States.
 More efficient use of investments made across the EU in demonstrating, testing and
training governmental satellite communication users.
 Outputs from this project may benefit future EU programmes in this domain.
Annexes.
Conditions for the Call - Space 2018-2020
Opening date(s), deadline(s), indicative budget(s):27
Topics (Type of Action) Budgets (EUR million) Deadlines
2018 2019 2020
Opening: 31 Oct 2017
DT-SPACE-01-EO-2018-2020 (IA) 9.00 06 Mar 2018
DT-SPACE-07-BIZ-2018 (CSA) 2.00
27
The Director-General responsible for the call may decide to open the call up to one month prior to or
after the envisaged date(s) of opening.
The Director-General responsible may delay the deadline(s) by up to two months.
All deadlines are at 17.00.00 Brussels local time.
The budget amounts for the 2020 budget are subject to the availability of the appropriations provided
for in the draft budget for 2020 after the adoption of the budget 2020 by the budgetary authority or, if
the budget is not adopted, as provided for in the system of provisional twelfths.

LC-SPACE-02-EO-2018 (CSA) 8.00
LC-SPACE-03-EO-2018 (RIA) 5.00
LC-SPACE-14-TEC-2018-2019 (RIA) 8.00
SPACE-10-TEC-2018-2020 (RIA) 12.00
SPACE-11-TEC-2018 (RIA) 11.00
SPACE-12-TEC-2018 (RIA) 18.00
SPACE-15-TEC-2018 (RIA) 9.00
SPACE-16-TEC-2018 (RIA) 10.00
SPACE-20-SCI-2018 (RIA) 10.00
DT-SPACE-01-EO-2018-2020 (IA) 9.00 12 Mar 2019
DT-SPACE-06-EO-2019 (RIA) 5.00
LC-SPACE-04-EO-2019 (RIA) 8.00
LC-SPACE-14-TEC-2018-2019 (RIA) 8.00
SPACE-10-TEC-2018-2020 (RIA) 12.00
SPACE-13-TEC-2019 (RIA) 10.00
SPACE-17-TEC-2019 (RIA) 9.00
SU-SPACE-22-SEC-2019 (RIA) 9.00
SU-SPACE-23-SEC-2019 (RIA) 6.00
SU-SPACE-31-SEC-2019 (CSA) 3.00
Opening: 05 Nov 2019
DT-SPACE-01-EO-2018-2020 (IA) 9.00 05 Mar 2020
DT-SPACE-25-EO-2020 (RIA) 10.00

LC-SPACE-18-EO-2020 (RIA) 10.00
SPACE-10-TEC-2018-2020 (RIA) 14.00
SPACE-27-TEC-2020 (RIA) 9.00
SPACE-28-TEC-2020 (IA) 24.00
SPACE-29-TEC-2020 (RIA) 9.00
SPACE-30-SCI-2020 (RIA) 9.00
SU-SPACE-21-SEC-2020 (CSA) 1.50
Overall indicative budget 104.00 83.00 103.50
Indicative timetable for evaluation and grant agreement signature:
For single stage procedure:
 Information on the outcome of the evaluation: Maximum 5 months from the final date
for submission; and
 Indicative date for the signing of grant agreements: Maximum 8 months from the final
date for submission.
Eligibility and admissibility conditions: The conditions are described in General Annexes B
and C of the work programme. The following exceptions apply:
DT-SPACE-01-EO-
2018-2020
The participation of at least one industrial partner is mandatory.
DT-SPACE-01-EO-
2018-2020
The Business Plan shall be submitted as a part of Part B of the
proposal. It should be based on a template provided by the
European Commission and available in the Participants Portal
(Topic conditions and Documents section) and in the submission
service.
LC-SPACE-02-EO-
2018, SPACE-29-
TEC-2020
A maximum of one proposal per sub-topic shall be selected for
funding.

DT-SPACE-06-EO-
2019
Participation of at least one partner from a country that has
signed a Copernicus Cooperation Arrangement is required28
.
SPACE-10-TEC-2018-
2020
Applicants can only select subtopics listed in group A for the
call deadline in 2018.
Applicants can only select subtopics listed in group B for the call
deadline in 2019.
Applicants can only select subtopics listed in group C for the call
deadline in 2020.
A maximum of one proposal per subtopic shall be selected for
funding.
SPACE-12-TEC-2018 No beneficiaries of the grant agreement PERASPERA (640026)
will participate in consortia of proposals submitted under this
topic of the call for proposals, with the exception of the DLR
research institutes.
A maximum of one proposal per sub-topic shall be selected for
funding..
SPACE-13-TEC-2019 No beneficiaries of the grant agreement EPIC (640199) will
participate in consortia of proposals submitted under this topic of
the call for proposals, with the exception of the DLR research
institutes, Eurospace and SME4Space VZW.
A maximum of two projects for the subtopic transversal
concepts and technologies shall be selected for funding.
SPACE-16-TEC-2018,
SPACE-17-TEC-2019
A maximum of two proposals per sub-topic shall be selected for
funding.
SU-SPACE-31-SEC-
2019
The participation to the network of national representatives
appointed by EU Member States, responsible for federating and
coordinating the inputs from the respective national civilian
users, is mandatory.
SPACE-27-TEC-2020 No beneficiaries of the grant agreement PERASPERA (640026)
or its follow-up grant will participate in consortia of proposals
submitted under this topic of the call for proposals, with the
exception of the DLR research institutes.
At least two proposals for sub-topic (a) and at least one proposal
28
https://www.copernicus.eu/en/international-cooperation-area-data-exchange

for sub-topic (b) shall be selected for funding.
SPACE-28-TEC-2020 No beneficiaries of the grant agreement EPIC (640199) will
participate in consortia of proposals submitted under this topic of
the call for proposals, with the exception of the DLR research
institutes, Eurospace and SME4Space VZW.
The numbers of proposals per subtopic to be selected for funding
are as follows:
a) Low power electric propulsion: at least three proposals with a
at least one proposal per technology line (HET, GIE, HEMPT).
The maximum requested EU funding per proposal is EUR 4
million.
b) Medium power electric propulsion: at least two proposals
with a maximum of one proposal per technology line (HET,
GIE, HEMPT). The maximum requested EU funding per
proposal is EUR 4.5 million.
c) High power electric propulsion: at least one proposals for one
of the technology lines (HET, GIE, HEMPT). The maximum
requested EU funding per proposal is EUR 3 million.
LC-SPACE-18-EO-
2020
At least one proposal per sub-topic shall be selected for funding.
Evaluation criteria, scoring and threshold: The criteria, scoring and threshold are described in
General Annex H of the work programme.
Evaluation Procedure: The procedure for setting a priority order for proposals with the same
score is given in General Annex H of the work programme.
The full evaluation procedure is described in the relevant guide published on the Funding &
Tenders Portal.
Grant Conditions:
SPACE-12-TEC-2018 Grants awarded under this topic will be complementary to each
other and complementary to grants awarded under topics
COMPET-4-2014 and COMPET-4-2016. In order to ensure a
smooth and successful implementation of this Strategic Research
Cluster, the beneficiaries of complementary grants shall
conclude a written "collaboration agreement". The respective
options of Article 2, Article 31.6 and Article 41.4 2 of the Model
Grant Agreement will be applied.

other and complementary to grants awarded under topic
COMPET-3–2014, sub-topic COMPET-3-2016-a and sub-topic
COMPET-3-2016-b ("complementary grants"). In order to
ensure a smooth and successful implementation of this Strategic
Research Cluster (SRC), the beneficiaries of complementary
grants ("complementary beneficiaries") shall conclude a written
"collaboration agreement". The respective options of Article 2,
Article 31.6 and Article 41.4 2 of the Model Grant Agreement
will be applied.
other and complementary to grants awarded under other previous
SRC topics COMPET-4-2014, COMPET-4-2016 and SPACE-
12-TEC-2018. In order to ensure a smooth and successful
implementation of this Strategic Research Cluster, the
beneficiaries of complementary grants ("complementary
beneficiaries") shall conclude a written "collaboration
agreement". The respective options of Article 2, Article 31.6 and
Article 41.4 2 of the Model Grant Agreement will be applied.
other and complementary to grants awarded under other previous
SRC topics: COMPET-3–2014, COMPET-3-2016-a, COMPET-
3-2016-b and SPACE-13-TEC-2019 ("complementary grants").
In order to ensure a smooth and successful implementation of
this Strategic Research Cluster (SRC), the beneficiaries of
complementary grants ("complementary beneficiaries") shall
conclude a written "collaboration agreement". The respective
options of Article 2, Article 31.6 and Article 41.4 2 of the Model
Grant Agreement will be applied.
SPACE-10-TEC-2018-
2020
For grants awarded under this topic the Commission or Agency
may object to a transfer of ownership or the exclusive licensing
of results to a third party established in a third country not
associated to Horizon 2020. The respective option of Article
30.3 of the Model Grant Agreement will be applied.
SPACE-10-TEC-2018-
2020
For grants awarded under this topic beneficiaries will be subject
to the additional exploitation obligations:
For a period of up to 4 years after the end of the project, access
rights to the use of products and/or processes generated by the
project shall be given to European entities, in compliance with

the signed Grant Agreement and with no legal restrictions and
limitations stemming from International Traffic in Arms
Regulations (ITAR) or equivalent instruments applicable in
other jurisdictions.
Applicants must acknowledge and incorporate this obligation in
the proposal and Annex I to the Grant Agreement. The
respective option of Article 28.1 (and Articles 9 and 30.2) of the
Model Grant Agreement will be applied.
Consortium agreement:
DT-SPACE-01-EO-
2018-2020, DT-
SPACE-06-EO-2019,
DT-SPACE-07-BIZ-
2018, DT-SPACE-08-
BIZ-2018, DT-
SPACE-09-BIZ-2019,
DT-SPACE-25-EO-
2020, DT-SPACE-26-
BIZ-2020, LC-
SPACE-02-EO-2018,
LC-SPACE-03-EO-
2018, LC-SPACE-04-
EO-2019, LC-SPACE-
05-EO-2019, LC-
SPACE-14-TEC-2018-
2019, LC-SPACE-18-
EO-2020, LC-SPACE-
19-EO-2020, LC-
SPACE-24-EO-2020,
SPACE-10-TEC-2018-
2020, SPACE-11-
TEC-2018, SPACE-
12-TEC-2018,
SPACE-13-TEC-2019,
SPACE-15-TEC-2018,
SPACE-16-TEC-2018,
SPACE-17-TEC-2019,
SPACE-20-SCI-2018,
SPACE-27-TEC-2020,
SPACE-28-TEC-2020,
Members of consortium are required to conclude a consortium
agreement, in principle prior to the signature of the grant
agreement.

SPACE-29-TEC-2020,
SPACE-30-SCI-2020,
SU-SPACE-21-SEC-
2020, SU-SPACE-22-
SEC-2019, SU-
SPACE-23-SEC-2019,
SU-SPACE-31-SEC-
2019

Call - EGNSS market uptake 2019-2020
H2020-SPACE-EGNSS-2019-2020
The European Global Navigation Satellite System (EGNSS) encompasses the satellite
navigation system established under the Galileo programme and the European Geostationary
Overlay System (EGNOS).
Galileo is providing improved positioning and timing information with significant positive
implications for many European services and users. EGNOS is Europe's regional satellite-
based augmentation system (SBAS) that is used to improve the performance and provides
information on the reliability of GPS and in the future for Galileo.
The use of satellite navigation has helped drive world economic growth, particularly in high-
tech industries. The additional resiliency provided by Galileo is expected to enable a range of
new applications and services that will benefit from increased positioning reliability, thus
further driving economic growth in Europe and beyond.
For the EGNSS market uptake the development of downstream applications is key. It will
enable not only to maximise the adoption of Galileo and EGNOS but also to stimulate the EU
GNSS downstream industry competitiveness, while capturing public benefits.
EGNOS is already fully operational and Galileo Initial Services (Open Service, Search and
Rescue service and Public Regulated Service) are available. Both systems are providing
differentiators that should be leveraged in the solution proposed by the applicant. As
examples, EGNOS provides integrity information which is key for safety critical applications.
Galileo enables higher accuracy and better multipath mitigation, thanks to dual (or triple)
frequency, wide bandwidth signals (AltBOC), data-less (pilot) channels, better accuracy for
single-frequency users (NeQuick model). What is also differentiating Galileo from other
GNSS is that it is the first constellation to contribute to Cospas Sarsat MEOSAR.
Currently most of the EGNSS innovative applications are integrating different technologies.
Further developments in the frame of integration of EGNSS with Earth Observation (EO)
systems and other technologies are encouraged in order to deliver added value services fully
tailored on end user needs. Optimised system architectures have to be defined to fully exploit
the potential of synergies/complementary characteristics of the different systems, providing
significant benefits in a number of key market segments and operational scenarios.
Overall, the scope of this call is wider than standalone usage of EGNOS and/or Galileo, it is
encouraging innovative use of GNSS and fusion with other sensors and positioning
technologies, (e.g. Bluetooth beacons, localisation through Wi-Fi base stations, Inertial
measurement units, Digital Video Broadcasting etc.).

This priority will focus on two main activities: development of innovative Galileo and EGNOS
enabled applications in different market segments and European GNSS awareness raising
and capacity building.
The aim of the first activity under this call is to support the market uptake of European GNSS
in Europe and beyond. The innovative applications should leverage the differentiators of
EGNOS and Galileo systems: e.g. multi- frequencies, high accuracy, authentication services,
better accuracy for single-frequency users. Areas of innovation will include EGNOS and
Galileo enabled applications with commercial impact, that will foster green, safe and smart
mobility, digitisation, and will also support societal resilience and contribute to the protection
of the environment.
The second activity is dedicated to the development of EGNSS competences. The actions will
focus on raising awareness and providing opportunities for the creation of networks of
industrial relationships. International cooperation is welcome as part of the action, when
adding value and increasing the impact.
Overall, these two activities will help to maximise the uptake of Galileo and EGNOS and to
exploit the potential of the European GNSS industry, and contribute to growth,
competitiveness and jobs in this sector, while capturing public benefits
Galileo activities are also supported via the Fundamental Elements part of the EGNSS
programme.29
In accordance with the Commission decision C(2014)4995 this call will be implemented by
the European GNSS Agency in indirect management.
LC-SPACE-EGNSS-1-2019-2020: EGNSS applications fostering green, safe and smart
mobility
Specific Challenge: The specific challenge of this topic is to develop innovative EGNSS
based applications. These should lead to low emission (CO2 and air pollutants), safer, more
secure, lower cost and higher performance mobility, and transport solutions that respond to
the increased mobility needs of people and goods whilst improving transport service
continuity.
Scope: Proposals may be submitted in any of the transport areas or propose a multi-mode
approach:
 Aviation: EGNSS solutions for modernising and improving air operations and traffic
management technologies, addressing Communication, Navigation and Surveillance
applications, including unmanned vehicles (e.g. GNSS based PBN and GBAS Cat II/III
operations, advanced operations for approach and landing, surveillance and integrated
29
https://www.gsa.europa.eu/gsa/grants

information management, autonomous air vehicles such as Remotely Piloted Aircraft
Systems (RPAS) and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV).
 Road: EGNSS solutions that reduce traffic, optimise fuel consumption and emissions,
fostering cheaper, smarter, safer and greener transportation (e.g. automated and
driverless cars, connected cars). EGNSS solutions in policy driven applications (e.g.
digital tachograph, eCall), as well as innovative tolling services and leveraging
Intelligent Transport Systems.
 Maritime: EGNSS solutions that reduce emissions in shipping and increase efficiency,
safety, and resilience (e.g. with reference to vessels navigation, traffic management, port
operations, autonomous vessels).
 Rail: EGNSS for cheaper, smarter, higher performance, safer and emission-efficient
solutions (e.g. train signalling and control, contributing to the European Rail Traffic
Management System, asset management, passenger and crew services, autonomous
trains).
 Public Transport: EGNSS for managing the public transport fleet in order to enhance
the quality of public transportation reduce operational costs reduce traffic and provide
savings in time and fuel.
 Multi-mode: EGNSS for efficient, safer, more secure and higher performance solutions
for multi-mode transport (e.g. hybridization of location solutions, reliable location
sharing approaches between transport systems, convergence of the transport
infrastructures).
Proposals should be built on the exploitation of the distinguishing features of EGNOS and
Galileo, e.g.:
 Multiple-frequencies E1, E5 and E6;
 Galileo specific signal modulation, e.g. AltBOC;
 Galileo Search and Rescue Service;
 Galileo High Accuracy service that will be offered free of charge and Authentication
features that will be provided by Galileo, i.e. in the frame of the Open Service
authentication (OS NMA);
 Accurate absolute and authenticated time synchronization.
Actions should deliver new innovative applications, with commercial
impact and a clear market uptake perspective (a Business Plan is required as part of the
proposal). EGNSS should be part and parcel of the envisaged solution(s). However, where a
combination of EGNSS with other technologies, such as Earth observation satellite
communication or other sensors is required to make the application(s) work, this can be
included in the scope.

 Involvement of post-graduate researchers (engineers, scientists, and others) and the
promotion of gender balance is also encouraged, for example through professional work
experience or through fellowships/scholarships when applicable;
 A Business Plan and evidence of user engagement shall be compulsory and shall be
provided as part of the proposal, to demonstrate the user need and sustainability of the
project.
Proposals addressing PRS (Public Regulated Service) related applications are not in the scope
of this action.
amounts.
resilient future".
Expected Impact:
 Foster the EGNSS market uptake in transport. It should build on specific features and
differentiators of Galileo and EGNOS, demonstrating the advantage of their use in smart
and green mobility.
 Contribute to the resource efficient, climate and environmental friendly transport that
will be also safe and seamless for the benefit of all citizens, the economy and society.
 Encourage market take-up, taking into account infrastructure and regulatory
requirements, coordination of multiple actors and projects.
 Commercialise the products and services developed.
Annexes.
DT-SPACE-EGNSS-2-2019-2020: EGNSS applications fostering digitisation
Specific Challenge: As stated in the Digital Single Market Strategy, the combination of digital
technologies (big data, Internet of Things, 5G, high performance computing etc.) with other
advanced technologies and service innovation offers huge opportunities for increasing
industrial competitiveness, growth and jobs.

Location Based-Services (LBS) segment represents a large and fast-growing market, both in
terms of number of devices and of cumulated downstream revenues. Mobile operators and
application developers are showing a growing interest in using location data as an enabler for
numerous enterprise, consumer and public safety services. GNSS LBS applications are
supported by several categories of devices, mainly smartphones and tablets, but also specific
equipment such as tracking devices, digital cameras, portable computers and fitness gear.
These devices support a multitude of applications tailor-made to satisfy different usage
conditions and needs.
The main challenge of this topic is to develop EGNSS applications contributing to digitisation
of products and services that will:
 Foster the adoption of EGNOS and Galileo in mass markets and ensure that the benefits
will be captured by the users.
 Create applications that will make the best use of EGNSS innovative features such as
better multipath resistance, authentication etc.
 Contribute to the competitiveness of the European GNSS industry in the area of mobile
applications, with special focus on the innovative role of SMEs.
 Maximise public benefits by supporting the development of applications that will
address major societal challenges in focus areas such as health, citizen safety, mobility,
smart cities, sustainable resources monitoring and management, regional growth, low-
carbon energy infrastructure, operation planning and protection, climate action.
Scope: Actions should deliver new innovative applications, with commercial impact and a
clear market uptake perspective (a Business Plan is required as part of the proposal).
The proposed EGNSS applications may integrate digital technologies like Internet of Things
(IoT), cloud computing, big data and robotics.
The areas which are identified as especially promising for further EGNSS applications
development are commercial Location Based Services, e.g. secure financial transactions; and
other solutions that would need time stamp and geo-reference; mobile workforce
management, tracking solutions and augmented reality, as well as future telecommunication
networks. The applications related to the concept of Smart Cities are also within the scope of
this topic.
For all the areas, the development and innovation should build on:
 Galileo features that improve performances;
 Multi-constellation, fusion with other positioning techniques, including sensor fusion
and innovative network fusion techniques;
 Authentication services provided by Galileo; and

 Techniques to optimise power consumption.
EGNSS should be part and parcel of the envisaged solution(s). However, where a
combination of EGNSS with other technologies is required to make the application(s) work,
this is not excluded from the scope.
project.
of this action.
amounts.
Expected Impact:
 Contribute to the ongoing digitisation of industry and services that leads to customised
products, networking and innovation models that leverage community interaction;
 Leverage Time To First Fix (TTFF) improvement, enhancement of the continuity,
accuracy and availability of the proposed solutions;
 Accelerate the market take up and foster the competitiveness of European GNSS
application providers that build innovation on chipsets and devices;
 Foster applications building on the capacity of EU providers in the area of machine to
machine chipset and modules.
 Commercialise the products and services developed.
Annexes.

SU-SPACE-EGNSS-3-2019-2020: EGNSS applications fostering societal resilience and
protecting the environment
Specific Challenge: The aim of this topic is to develop innovative EGNSS applications to
support societal resilience, safeguard the wellbeing of EU citizens, improve emergency and
disaster management as a response to climate related, natural and man-made disasters and
ensure green growth that protect the environment while generating economic growth.
The challenge is to make these applications more affordable, easy to use and integrated with
other solutions and technologies, including for example earth observation, e.g. Copernicus
services, in order to enable new targeted innovative solutions.
The following specific challenges are covered by this topic:
 EGNSS is offering additional accuracy and features, such as the Search and Rescue
service (SAR). The current SAR service, provided free of charge by Cospas-Sarsat to
national Rescue Coordination Centres, is used by about one million beacon owners for
maritime, aviation and leisure applications and over the last 30 years has on average
contributed to saving 1300 lives per year. Galileo Forward Link Service initial service
was declared operational in 2016 and the unique Return Link service is planned to be
launched in 2018, delivering acknowledgement of reception of the distress alarm.
Emergency services, disaster early detection and efficient management can also benefit
from increased accuracy and added value provided by other sensors.
 The power networks, telecommunication networks and financial transactions30
are today
synchronised, many of them using GNSS. These networks are becoming more and more
distributed (e.g. distributed power generation of renewable energies), interconnected and
more demanding in terms of synchronisation performances (e.g. in 4G-LTE and future
internet), or requiring authenticated solutions as for the financial transaction time
stamping. The specific challenge is in this case to build on the enhanced capabilities
offered by Galileo that will provide high accurate timing information and authentication
services, to develop a new generation of high performing, reliable and EU independent
timing and synchronisation applications that can cope with these emerging and
demanding needs. Integrity and trustworthiness of the synchronization mechanism
offered by GNSS should also be addressed.
 Precision agriculture, mapping and surveying have been the pioneers in the use of GNSS
since the early years. Innovative EGNSS applications in agriculture and surveying
should take into account the possibility to minimise the adverse consequences of climate
change and the impact on the environment (e.g. fertiliser use and air quality). Other
EGNSS differentiators, like multiple frequencies and the Galileo High Accuracy service
that will be offered free of charge are contributing to enabling EGNSS innovative
solutions, including in challenging environments.
30
Cf. also Article 50 of Directive 2014/65/EU on Markets in Financial Instruments.

Scope: Proposals may address social and professional applications. Promising areas of
activities are:
 Applications supporting e-health, safety and emergency management;
 Search and Rescue applications, including tracking of distress situations and response
management; resilience and management in crisis situations following a disaster in a
context where conventional means are no longer available (telecommunications in
particular);
 Emergency and disaster management;
 Management and related operation of critical infrastructure (e.g. electricity network,
telecommunication networks, financial transactions), timing and synchronisation;
 Efficient Agriculture: Automated machine guidance, precision farming and machine
control;
 Surveying and Mapping: Land survey, marine survey, cadastral and geodesy, and
construction.
For all the professional areas, the development and innovation should build on:
 Multiple-frequencies E1, E5 and E6;
 Galileo specific signal modulation, e.g. AltBOC;
 Galileo High Accuracy service that will be offered free of charge and Authentication
features that will be provided by Galileo;
 Fusion with other data, such as from EO satellites or other in-situ sensors.
Actions should deliver new innovative applications, with commercial
impact and a clear market uptake perspective (a Business Plan is required as part of the
proposal). EGNSS should be part and parcel of the envisaged solution(s). However, where a
project.

of this action.
amounts.
Security Union".
Expected Impact:
 Develop highly innovative applications taking advantage of Galileo and EGNOS
differentiators in order to decrease the barriers to access such professional applications,
reduce the price and increase the effectiveness of the solution, facilitate its use and
increase the number of users;
 Commercialise the products and services developed;
 Proposals addressing Galileo SAR service should leverage the Forward and Return Link
Services to improve the users’ safety and efficiency of the rescue activity by reducing
the time to accurately locate the distress alert;
 Emergency and disaster management applications should target integration of different
sensors and position sources to identify, locate and react in critical situations, as well as
delivering efficient response to ensure the wellbeing of citizens and monitor the
infrastructure;
 Innovative GNSS applications in agriculture improving the productivity and decreasing
the negative environmental impact;
 Timing and synchronisation applications focussing on emerging network
synchronisation needs in terms of accuracy and robustness, while reducing EU
dependency from other GNSS.
Annexes.
SPACE-EGNSS-4-2019: Awareness Raising and capacity building
Specific Challenge: Extensive GNSS applications combined with other technologies require
innovation as well as the establishment of standards and rules.
The challenge is to build a mechanism to leverage EGNSS excellence in particular of SMEs
and universities, facilitate EGNSS investments and to foster market uptake. Exploiting the

potential of EGNSS products by maximising and spreading the benefits of EGNSS innovation
is vital for Europe's competitiveness and its ability to address societal challenges in the future.
The capacity building and awareness rising around EGNSS applications, creation of strategic
partnership towards commercialisation and achieving a critical mass of EGNSS applications
success stories would attract investment from Europe and beyond.
The main aim of this topic is to support building of industrial relationships by gathering
private and public institutions around services offered by EGNSS and related applications.
Scope: The proposals should aim at the development of EGNSS competences existing and
emerging in different EU Member States and Associated Countries.
The actions should focus on EGNSS dissemination, awareness-raising and communication, as
well as provide opportunities for the creation of networks of industrial relationships in Europe
and also globally. By doing so the action should be achieving a critical mass of EGNSS
applications success stories, demonstrating the advantages and differentiators of EGNSS
services and making it an attractive option for private investors in Europe and also globally.
Technology promotion activities can include incentive schemes in the form of financial
support to third parties for innovative applications developed by companies and entrepreneurs
and based on the EGNSS that will promote the uptake of satellite navigation downstream
applications across Europe and globally.
International cooperation is welcome for when adding value and increasing the impact of the
action.
of this action.
EUR 0.5 and 1 million would allow this specific challenge to be addressed appropriately.
amounts.
Expected Impact:
 Support the competitiveness of EU industry by identifying strategic partners and by
developing market opportunities in Europe and also globally. The creation of a network
of EGNSS products market champions will leverage the country/region’s assets in terms
of research, innovation, and know-how, by supporting the growth of EGNSS industry
and SMEs and by fostering cooperation between SMEs, industry leaders, investors, and
research organizations.
 Foster the emergence of new downstream applications based on either Galileo and/or
EGNOS and therefore to support the EU GNSS industry in Europe and also globally.

Annexes.
SPACE-EGNSS-5-2020: EGNSS applications for public authorities' pilot
Specific Challenge: Innovation procurement can drive the R&D and deployment of innovative
solutions from the demand side through respectively pre-commercial procurement (PCP).
This can open new market opportunities for companies in Europe, can contribute to speeding
up public sector modernisation and can help to tackle societal challenges with
innovative/breakthrough solutions for the benefit of the citizen.
Satellite navigation technology is an increasingly common component of innovative
applications in different market segments. Involvement of public institutions is key in
fostering the EGNSS adoption. Nowadays the maturity of EGNSS based solutions and their
increased accessibility provide significant contribution to the achievement of Sustainable
Development Goals of the governments.
The main challenge of this topic is to deepen user integration and thus foster exploitation of
EGNSS applications to match the needs of public authorities at national, regional or local
levels.
The innovative EGNSS solutions developed through this action should have been tested and
have demonstrated success in smaller scale settings and have not yet been deployed on a large
scale.
Scope: The objective is to launch demand-driven actions by public authorities aiming at
customising EGNSS applications for their needs. Transnational cooperation has a key role to
play in this context, as it can facilitate knowledge transfer and optimisation of resources for
public authorities. Proposals should be building on procurement needs of the participating
organizations. The proposals should support the EGNSS market take-up across Europe and
demonstrate a sustainability of solutions beyond the lifespan of the proposed project. The
choice of EGNSS market segment and application is left to the proposer. A non-exhaustive
list of possible applications is presented below:
 EGNSS for mobility as a service, cooperative ITS, public transport and smart cities,
 Implementation of Performance Based Navigation procedures,
 Integration of EGNSS into U-Space concept for drones,
 Helicopter emergency medical services with EGNOS capabilities (operations and
equipment).
 Public rescue services with Galileo SAR capable helicopters, boats and drones
 EGNSS to support port operations,
 Monitoring of infrastructure with EGNSS (rail, road, critical infrastructure)

The consortium should engage public procurers from each country represented in the
consortium (at national, regional or local level) that have responsibilities and budget control
in the relevant EGNSS market segment.
Proposals should be built on the exploitation of the distinguishing features of EGNOS and
Galileo signals and operational advantages in downstream applications.
EGNSS should be part and parcel of the envisaged solution(s). However, where a
of this topic.
amounts.
Expected Impact: Activities related to this topic should contribute to:
 The establishment of buyer groups for EGNSS application;
 Creation of EGNSS-enabled national, regional or local applications in support of public
authorities;
 Fostering the emergence of similar EGNSS actions in smart specialisation strategies;
 Establishment of sustainable supply chains for delivery of downstream EGNSS
applications to public authorities;
 Smart use of the procurement budget to remove supplier lock-in and obtain more open,
standardized and better “value for money” solutions;
 Increase in quality, and decrease in prices, of EGNSS products and services;
 Increased exploitation of IPRs and R&D results;
 Creation of growth and jobs in Europe.
Type of Action: Pre-Commercial Procurement
Annexes.

Conditions for the Call - EGNSS market uptake 2019-2020
Opening date(s), deadline(s), indicative budget(s):31
Topics (Type of Action) Budgets (EUR million) Deadlines
2019 2020
DT-SPACE-EGNSS-2-2019-2020 (IA) 4.00 05 Mar 2019
LC-SPACE-EGNSS-1-2019-2020 (IA) 10.00
SPACE-EGNSS-4-2019 (CSA) 2.00
SU-SPACE-EGNSS-3-2019-2020 (IA) 4.00
Opening: 05 Nov 2019
DT-SPACE-EGNSS-2-2019-2020 (IA) 4.00 05 Mar 2020
LC-SPACE-EGNSS-1-2019-2020 (IA) 10.00
SPACE-EGNSS-5-2020 (PCP) 3.00
SU-SPACE-EGNSS-3-2019-2020 (IA) 4.00
Overall indicative budget 20.00 21.00
Indicative timetable for evaluation and grant agreement signature:
For single stage procedure:
 Information on the outcome of the evaluation: Maximum 5 months from the final date
for submission; and
 Indicative date for the signing of grant agreements: Maximum 8 months from the final
date for submission.
Eligibility and admissibility conditions: The conditions are described in General Annexes B
and C of the work programme. The following exceptions apply:
DT-SPACE-EGNSS-2- The Business Plan shall be submitted as a part of Part B of the
31
The Director-General responsible for the call may decide to open the call up to one month prior to or
after the envisaged date(s) of opening.
The Director-General responsible may delay the deadline(s) by up to two months.
All deadlines are at 17.00.00 Brussels local time.
The deadline(s) in 2020 are indicative and subject to a separate financing decision for 2020.
The budget amounts for the 2020 budget are indicative and will be subject to separate financing
decisions to cover the amounts to be allocated for 2020.

2019-2020, LC-
SPACE-EGNSS-1-
2019-2020, SU-
SPACE-EGNSS-3-
2019-2020
proposal. It should be based on a template provided by the
European Commission and available in the Participants Portal
(Topic conditions and Documents section) and in the submission
service.
Evaluation criteria, scoring and threshold: The criteria, scoring and threshold are described in
General Annex H of the work programme.
Evaluation Procedure: The procedure for setting a priority order for proposals with the same
score is given in General Annex H of the work programme.
The full evaluation procedure is described in the relevant guide published on the Funding &
Tenders Portal.
Consortium agreement:
DT-SPACE-EGNSS-2-
2019-2020, LC-
SPACE-EGNSS-1-
2019-2020, SPACE-
EGNSS-4-2019, SU-
SPACE-EGNSS-3-
2019-2020
Members of consortium are required to conclude a consortium
agreement, in principle prior to the signature of the grant
agreement.

Fast track to innovation
Full details on this pilot are provided in the separate call for proposals under the Horizon 2020
Work Programme Part - Fast Track to Innovation Pilot (Part 18 of this Work Programme).

European Innovation Council (EIC) prize: "Low cost Space Launch"
Full details on the European Innovation Council (EIC) prize: "Low cost Space Launch" is
provided in Part 17 of this Work Programme. This work programme part contributes a co-
funding for this prize.

Other actions (2018-2020)
1. ESA engineering support32
Cooperation with ESA is within the spirit of Horizon 2020 space which explicitly foresees
that activities shall be implemented in conjunction with ESA and Member States activities.
Such cooperation would be desirable on actions that cannot be addressed in an efficient way
through the standard Horizon 2020 process and to reinforce synergies of EU and ESA
resources thus allowing for a more comprehensive approach towards the space sector.
This is especially true for activities pertaining to high technology readiness levels, in
particular in orbit validation/demonstration. Such activities are close to satellite development
and entail high risks and uncertainties. Accordingly, they need structured project and
technical management by a competent and specialised engineering team.
ESA is well-placed in order to provide the relevant support. Moreover, the implementation of
Horizon 2020 space could benefit from synergies with similar IOD/IOV activities managed
by ESA.
Accordingly, ESA shall be in charge of project and technical management for all selected
projects resulting from action 14: "In-orbit validation/demonstration – Mission design,
integration and implementation".
A non-exhaustive list of possible tasks could include: support to the preparation of a guidance
document to be published together with the calls; supervision of projects in compliance with
the reviews foreseen in the guidance document; interface between experiment providers and
platform providers as well as interface with the launch service provider.
Implementation: Indirect management by the European Space Agency under contribution
agreement33
Type of Action: Contribution agreement with an implementing entity (indirect management)
Indicative timetable: Fourth quarter of 2018
Indicative budget: EUR 6.00 million from the 2018 budget
2. InnovFin Space Equity Pilot (ISEP)
The potential of the EU's space programmes, Copernicus, EGNOS and Galileo, and of the
wider possibilities offered by space data and space technologies must be better exploited to
optimise the benefits that space can bring to society and the wider EU economy. Enabling
measures and capacity-building in all Member States and at EU level are needed to foster a
32
This action shall be complementary and coherent with actions 4 and 14. All three actions shall,
therefore, be implemented by ESA under one single contribution agreement.
33
Since the contribution agreement is stipulated in the new EU Financial Regulation, the condition for its
use shall be the effective entry into force of the latter.

dynamic space innovation ecosystem and a more favourable regulatory and business
environment. This, in turn, will incentivise the private sector to have more appetite for
investments in the space domain and encourage businesses to develop more innovative, space-
related products and services. Measures are already being taken to support SMEs, start-ups
and young entrepreneurs through business incubators and the use of prizes and competitions
(such as the Copernicus and Galileo Masters), and via initiatives covering the various cycles
of business development (for example, space technology accelerators providing seed-stage
support).
To help improve access to risk finance for innovative enterprises in the space domain, ISEP
will invest in venture capital and other risk-capital funds focused on innovative SMEs and
small midcaps that aim to commercialise new products and services linked to space data and
space technologies.
Expected impact: An increase in the risk capital available to invest in SMEs and small
midcaps operating in the space domain. The indicators are the number of agreements signed
with financial intermediaries (i.e., risk capital funds), the volume of investments made in
SMEs and small midcaps, and the number of SMEs and small midcaps invested in.
Selection procedure: For risk-capital funds acting as financial intermediaries: the call for
expression of interest issued by EIF, open at
http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/equity/single_eu_equity_instrument will be modified in the
third quarter of 2018 to encompass ISEP.
For investments by a selected fund in an enterprise: according to the investment strategy and
procedures of the fund concerned.
Type of Action: Financial Instrument
Indicative timetable: Third quarter of 2018
Indicative budget: EUR 6.00 million from the 2018 budget and EUR 7.00 million from the
2019 budget and EUR 7.00 million from the 2020 budget(Additional allocation from the
Access to risk finance budget-line (EUR 30.00 million))
3. Programmatic Support Actions for the Strategic Research Clusters34
The objective is to propose a continuation of the Programme Support Activity (PSA), for the
implementation of the Electric Propulsion and Space robotics technologies Strategic Research
Clusters (SRCs) in Horizon 2020. The overall budget for such SRCs could be in the range of
several tens of millions of euros and should achieve a full in-orbit validation of the electric
propulsion systems and Space robotic applications developed at pre-commercial level during
the SRCs. This validation is planned to be achieved in the 2021-2027 period.
34
This grant will be awarded without call for proposals in line with Article 190(1)(e) of the Rules of
applications of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 966/2012, Regulation No 1268/2012 and Article 11(2) of the
Rules for participation and dissemination in "Horizon 2020 - the Framework Programme for Research
and Innovation (2014-2020)", Regulation (EU) No 1290/2013.

Further information on the concept of a Strategic research cluster in Horizon 2020 is available
at http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/policies/space/research.
The PSA consortia will ensure the coordination and necessary exchange of information and
knowledge between the different projects within the Electric Propulsion and Space robotics
technologies SRCs, respectively, by providing:
 Assessment of the various activities and results of the respective SRCs projects35
.
 Update of the master plan, as needed, to coordinate all the activities for the duration of
the respective SRCs.
 Identification of the activities required to address the challenge of the respective topics.
 Identification and planning of the activities required for in-orbit demonstration and
validation.
 Coherence of actions within the fields of Electric Propulsion and Space Robotics
respectively with the aim to enhance the competitiveness of the European space industry
in these fields on the global market and to ensure validated technologies for potential use
in the EU programmes.
Implementation: Two grants to identified beneficiary – Coordination and support action
Legal entities:
The consortium of the EPIC project, http://epic-src.eu/epic-partners/
The consortium of the PERASPERA project, http://www.h2020-peraspera.eu/?page_id=21
Type of Action: Grant to identified beneficiary - Coordination and support actions
Indicative timetable: Third quarter 2019
Indicative budget: EUR 6.00 million from the 2019 budget(EUR 3M for each grant)
4. In-orbit demonstration/validation – launch services36
To ensure European non-dependence and competitiveness in technologies, there is a clear
need for regular IOD/IOV service in Europe. Space flight heritage in real conditions and
environment is often required to de-risk new technologies, products, concepts, architectures,
services and operations techniques be that it for unique or recurrent, institutional or
commercial missions.
35
See Article 6 of Guidelines for SRC's,
https://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/portal/desktop/en/opportunities/h2020/topics/compet-03-
2014.html
36
This action shall be complementary and coherent with actions 1 and 14. All three actions shall,
therefore, be implemented by ESA under one single contribution agreement.

A regular solution for common flight ticket actions (management, spacecraft, launch and
operations) remains a challenge.
Launch service is an indispensable element of the entire value chain of space and has been
recognised as an area of strategic importance towards the direction of Europe's non-
dependence.
Actions under this area will provide the launch services for:
 selected IOD/IOV projects resulting from action 14: "In-orbit validation/demonstration –
Mission design, integration and implementation";
 selected actions underpinning IOD/IOV and small spacecraft rideshare launch needs
(fast scheme) in coordination with other European activities.
Regarding the former, selected projects from action 14: "In-orbit validation/demonstration –
Mission design, integration and implementation" will be managed by ESA who shall interface
with the European launch service provider in order to identify the detailed launch service
needs (flight ticket) corresponding to the projects (e.g. launch slots, technical and
programmatic aspects, mission analysis). This interface will be done on the basis of the
available resources for this action and with a view to optimising available European planned
launch solutions. The result will be a dedicated work order to the European launch service
provider for each project. The work order will be managed by ESA during the lifetime of the
project.
Regarding the latter, actions shall focus on enabling affordable, regular and standardised
rideshare launch services for small spacecraft. This would maximise IOD/IOV launch
opportunities as IOD/IOV experiments often rely on small spacecraft. Accordingly, this action
shall support the Proof of Concept (POC) demonstration flights for VEGA and Ariane 6 in
2019 and 202137
. Such support shall be limited, shall not be associated to any specific mission
aboard the flights and shall be conditional to the successful completion of the mission
aggregate and funding model thus not incurring any cost overruns. Member States shall be
consulted on the exact actions and the maximum amount to be allocated.
The actions will provide flight opportunities with European manufactured launchers which
include the mission analysis, the verification of interfaces between the spacecraft and the
launcher, the preparation of launch campaign and the flight up to the injection of the
spacecraft on its required orbit.
To optimise opportunities and to take into account future needs, complementarity with
available launch slots and related initiatives by Member States, ESA and other stakeholders
shall be sought through an expert group.
37
The proof of concept flights planned in the ESA Light Sats, Low cost, launch opportunities (LLL)
initiative include the VEGA Small Spacecraft Mission Service (SSMS) and Ariane 6 Microsat Launch
Share (MLS).

agreement38
Indicative timetable: Fourth quarter of 2018
5. Improving the performance of Space surveillance and tracking (SST) at European
level
Currently the space surveillance and tracking capabilities in Europe are fragmented and
largely dependent on space surveillance systems controlled by third States. In order to ensure
the protection of European infrastructure in space, as well as to move towards a greater
autonomy of Europe in its access to and use of space, there is need for coordinated efforts at
Union level in the field of SST, in particular in the areas of service provision, networking of
assets and sensors.
The Decision No 541/2014/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 April
2014 establishes a Framework for Space Surveillance and Tracking Support (SST)39
.
The Consortium resulting from the implementation of the support framework for the
emergence of an SST capacity at European level has established its own dedicated
implementation structure in order to manage related Union support. Therefore support to SST
under Horizon 2020 and other Union funding programmes should be entrusted to the above
Consortium40
.
This activity consists in analysing, assessing and undertaking the necessary research,
development and innovation activities with the specific aims of (1) supporting the pooling of
national resources on the SST objectives outlined in the aforementioned Decision and
coinciding with the Horizon 2020 objectives and challenges related to protecting Europe’s
investment made in space infrastructure; (2) supporting the upgrade and development of
assets, in particular radars, lasers and telescopes as well as data processing, operating centres,
network and infrastructure, and front desk, operated by Member States participating in the
SST Support Framework in line with the needs of services provisions through 1SST grant41
,
38
39
OJ L 158 of 27 May 2014, p. 227–234
40
In line with recital 24 of the Decision No 541/2014/EU, article 129 of the Financial Regulation
(Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council) and article
193 of its Rules of Application (Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1268/2012) this action
may be financed jointly from separate source programmes, namely Horizon 2020 Framework
Programme (Regulation (EU) No 1291/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council), the
Copernicus programme (Regulation (EU) No 377/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council)
and the European Satellite Navigation programmes (Regulation (EU) No 1285/2013 of the European
Parliament and of the Council).
41
Grant Agreement for 1SST 2018-20

answer to Annex VII42
, the Union SST development plan43
and the architecture trade-off44
;
and (3) achieving significant economies of scale by joining related resources from Horizon
2020 (LEIT/space and secure societies), European Satellite Navigation Programmes and
Copernicus, in addition to the cumulative national investment of the Member States
participating in the SST support framework, which largely exceeds the Union contribution
through the above Union funding programmes. As a result, the Union contribution covers
only a limited part of the national costs related to SST activities and assets.
The aim is to improve the overall performance of the SST services and ensure, in the long-
term, a high level of performance and appropriate autonomy at Union level. The activity
should lead to connected SST assets with high added value with regard to coverage,
cataloguing of space objects and performance indicators (including service provision quality)
allowing for improved quality and performance of SST in the future. Once these sensors have
been networked and introduced in the operational Union SST chains, they will lead to a better
orbital coverage and the collection of improved data, in terms of both quality and quantity.
The integration of upgraded and developed sensors should be implemented in accordance
with the needs for complementarity and optimisation of the SST architecture while taking into
account the cost limitation. This activity will also lead to closer interaction and
complementarity among the various National Operations Centres and optimisation of the SST
architecture thus achieving economies of scale while avoiding duplication.
This activity may involve the use of classified background information or the production of
security sensitive foreground information. As such, certain deliverables may require security
classification. The final decision on the classification of deliverables is subject to the security
evaluation45
.
The activity will contribute to achieving the objectives set out in Annex 1 to the Commission
Implementing Decision46
on a coordination plan for the SST support framework and the
procedure for participation of Member States47
,48
. Impact achieved from the action execution
will be assessed on the basis of the indicators and reporting obligations foreseen in the above
Commission Implementing Decision.
The option of full purchase costs of equipment, infrastructure or other assets could be
included in the GA if/when duly justified, in conformity of “Article 6.2 D.2" of the Horizon
2020 Model Grant Agreement.
42
Report answering request in Annex VII of the 1SST2016-17 GA, Version 2.0, 28/09/18
43
Development plan D9.1 2-3SST2016-17, Version 1.0, 05/02/2019 and the necessary adaption following
the Mid-term review of 19-20/02/2019
44
Architecture trade-off, D7.4 2-3SST2016-17, Version 1.0, 05/02/2019 and the necessary adaption
following the Mid-term review of 19-20/02/2019
45
Procedure on the Security Evaluation of SST Grants; Ref. Ares(2016)2653609 - 08/06/2016, to be
updated to include the new Member States.
46
COM(2016)8482 of 19.12.2016
47
http://ec.europa.eu/growth/sectors/space/security_en
48
In conjunction with the respective cumulative budget from Copernicus, EGNSS, and from Horizon
2020 LEIT Space and Societal Challenge 7 on secure societies

This activity contributes to the Horizon 2020 focus area "Boosting the effectiveness of the
Security Union ".
The identified beneficiary for this grant49
is the consortium resulting from the implementation
of the SST support framework within the meaning of Article 7(3) of Decision No
541/2014/EU comprising entities designated by participating Member States50
,51
and the EU
SATCEN52
,53
.
Specific grant awarded under the Framework Partnership Agreement on Space Surveillance
and Tracking for Research and Innovation Action. The standard evaluation criteria,
thresholds, weighting for award criteria and the maximum rate of co-financing for this type of
action are provided in parts D and H of the General Annexes.
Proposals submitted under this action may be subject to security scrutiny.
Legal Entities: The consortium resulting from the implementation of the SST support
framework within the meaning of Article 7(3) of Decision No 541/2014/EU comprising
entities designated by participating Member States54
,55
and the EU SATCEN56
,57
.
Type of Action: Specific Grant Agreement
Indicative timetable: Fourth quarter of 2019 and first quarter 2020 respectively
2020 budget
6. Galileo Evolution, Mission and Service related R&D activities
While the first generation of Galileo is being deployed, it is essential to guarantee that Galileo
will remain competitive and cost-effective in the long term. Therefore, new and innovative
49
In conjunction with the respective cumulative budget from Copernicus, EGNSS, and from Horizon
2020 LEIT Space and Societal Challenge 7 on secure societies
50
51
Article 190(1)(d) RAP allows award of a grant without the call for proposals to "[…] bodies designated
by the Members States, under their responsibility, where those Member States are identified by a basic
act as beneficiaries of a grant".
52
Article 8 of Decision No 541/2014/EU: "The European Union Satellite Centre (SATCEN) may
cooperate with the consortium […] ".
53
Article 190(1)(f) RAP provides for an additional exception to calls for proposals "for actions with
specific characteristics that require a particular type of body on account of its technical competence, its
high degree of specialisation or its administrative power, on condition that the actions concerned do
not fall within the scope of a call for proposals."
54
55
Article 190(1)(d) RAP allows award of a grant without the call for proposals to "[…] bodies designated
by the Members States, under their responsibility, where those Member States are identified by a basic
act as beneficiaries of a grant".
56
Article 8 of Decision No 541/2014/EU: "The European Union Satellite Centre (SATCEN) may
cooperate with the consortium […] ".
57
Article 190(1)(f) RAP provides for an additional exception to calls for proposals "for actions with
specific characteristics that require a particular type of body on account of its technical competence, its
high degree of specialisation or its administrative power, on condition that the actions concerned do
not fall within the scope of a call for proposals."

mission concepts are to be developed and studied in order to ensure that the second generation
fulfils the evolving needs of users as analysed in the Galileo mission evolution process
Actions under this area will also serve to study and develop concepts for new Galileo services
as well as for the evolution of the currently defined services.
For 2019 the Actions related to EGNSS services will cover the following theme:
 Innovative Concepts.
Procurements affected by GNSS security aspects require restricted participation.
Type of Action: Public Procurement - Framework contracts and/or calls for tender
Indicative timetable: Second quarter 2019 and second quarter 2020
Indicative budget: EUR 2.60 million from the 2019 budget(indicative number of contracts: Y)
and EUR 1.80 million from the 2020 budget
7. EGNOS, Mission and Service related R&D activities
EGNOS is a fully operational System since 2011. Evolution of the currently provided
services, namely the Open Service, Safety of Life and EGNOS Data Access Service (EDAS)
are already being considered, such as the extension of the Safety of Life service to other user
communities than civil aviation. Furthermore, innovative concepts for new services are to be
developed, for example looking into the exploitation of existing band-width, so that additional
messages can be broadcasted (in L1 and in the future in L5).
Finally, since EGNOS is a System developed in accordance to the international SBAS
standards, it is necessary to make provisions for analyses of mission or service adaptations
which may be needed due to changes on those international standards.
Procurements affected by GNSS security aspects require restricted participation.
Indicative timetable: Second quarter 2019, second quarter 2020
Indicative budget: EUR 0.40 million from the 2019 budget(indicative number of contracts: Y)
and EUR 0.20 million from the 2020 budget
8. GNSS evolution, infrastructure-related R&D activities
The GNSS infrastructure-related R&D activities under Horizon 2020 will be implemented by
ESA in indirect management in accordance with Article 58(1)(c) of the Regulation (EU,
Euratom) No 966/2012 on the financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union
and repealing Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 (the "Financial Regulation").

Consistency of the R&D actions implemented by ESA with the Galileo/EGNOS work
programmes and the mission evolution targets is ensured by the Long Term Plan for
Infrastructure related R&D activities.
The following activities will be supported through funding by the Space theme in 2018 and
2019:
1. Galileo evolution phase System/Segment Phase B2 activities.
2. GNSS general research and technology.
These activities in 2018 and 2019 will be implemented by ESA under the H2020 Delegation
Agreement between the Commission and ESA.
According to the H2020 EC-ESA Delegation Agreement on Participation conditions,
participation to procurement actions may be limited to entities providing the satisfactory
security guarantees required for the particular action. In such case participation shall in
principle be open only to entities established in the EU Member States. Participation of
entities established in H2020 associated countries or in third countries will be decided on a
case by case basis with the approval of the work plan
Implementation: Indirect management by the European Space Agency under Delegation
Agreement with the Commission.
Type of Action: Indirect Management by ESA
Indicative timetable: First quarter 2018, first quarter 2019 and first quarter 2020 respectively
Indicative budget: EUR 36.00 million from the 2018 budget(including ESA remuneration
costs) and EUR 31.00 million from the 2019 budget(including ESA remuneration costs) and
EUR 10.00 million from the 2020 budget( including ESA remuneration costs)
9. Cooperation among NCPs58
The network of Space NCPs should facilitate trans-national co-operation between NCPs
within the Space domain with a view to identifying and sharing good practices and raising the
general standard of support to programme applicants, taking into account the diversity of
actors that make up the constituency of this domain.
Support will be given to a consortium of formally nominated NCPs in the area of Space. The
activities will be tailored according to the nature of the area, and the priorities of the NCPs
concerned. Various mechanisms may be included, such as joint workshops, enhanced cross-
border brokerage events or specific training linked to the Space domain and twinning
58

schemes. The network should also consider measures for widening participation across
Europe.
The focus throughout should be on issues specific to the Space part of Horizon 2020 and
should not duplicate actions foreseen in the NCP network for quality standards and horizontal
issues under ‘Science with and for Society’.
The consortium should have a good representation of experienced and motivated NCPs.
NCPs from EU Member States or Associated Countries choosing not to participate as a
member of the consortium should be identified and this should be documented in the
proposal. These NCPs are nevertheless invited and encouraged to participate in the project
activities (e.g. workshops), and the costs incurred by the consortium for such participation
(e.g. travel costs paid by the consortium) may be included in the estimated budget and be
eligible for funding by the Commission.
Legal entities:
The consortium implementing the current COSMOS2020 grant modified following a request
for expression of interest, (http://ncp-space.net/archive-of-pages/about-cosmos/partners-
organisations/)
Indicative timetable: Fourth quarter 2018
10. Studies & Communication
Activities shall support the implementation of the Space strategy for Europe59
and Horizon
Europe and may include studies, support and communication activities that are needed to
analyse and enhance the EU space R&I environment, for example
 higher education in the EU versus needs of the space R&I community;
 dissemination of scientific results;
 analysis of the portfolio of EU-funded projects in the field of space and their spin-in and
spin-off potential;
 collection of project feedback, in particular with respect to key exploitable results;
 organisational support for consulting the R&I stakeholders community on R&I needs;
 production and dissemination of communication material and the organisation of events
related the European Space Policy, European R&I agendas and Horizon Europe.
59
COM(2016) 705 final

Activities may include surveys as appropriate implemented through public procurement,
and/or appointing (groups of) independent experts. These limited numbers of contracts may
be implemented on the basis of framework contracts, in order to further ensure that the
Commission is provided with appropriate and timely analyses, which in turn will facilitate the
proper integration of policy studies into the preparation of new policy initiatives.
Cooperation with the presidencies of the Council of the European Union in 2018, 2019 and
2020 is envisaged and could include direct support to Space related presidency events.
Indicative timetable: First, second, third and fourth quarters of 2018, 2019 and 2020
Indicative budget: EUR 1.30 million from the 2018 budget(indicative number of contracts: 5)
and EUR 0.51 million from the 2019 budget(indicative number of contracts: 3) and EUR 3.40
million from the 2020 budget( Indicative number of contracts: 5)
11. Horizon 2020 project monitoring
This action will support the use of appointed independent experts by REA for the monitoring
of running projects, where appropriate.
Type of Action: Expert Contracts
Indicative timetable: First quarter 2018, first quarter 2019, first quarter 2020
2019 budget and EUR 1.28 million from the 2020 budget
12. Horizon 2020 tender evaluation, project monitoring and audits (EGNSS)
This action will support the use of appointed independent experts by the EC for EGNSS direct
management and by GSA for the monitoring of running projects, where appropriate.
Type of Action: Expert Contracts
Indicative timetable: First quarter 2019, first quarter 2020
Indicative budget: EUR 0.50 million from the 2019 budget(this amount will be partially
entrusted to the European GNSS Agency in addition to the budget entrusted to the Agency for
the implementation of the Galileo Applications Call for Proposals) and EUR 0.50 million
from the 2020 budget(this amount will be partially entrusted to the European GNSS Agency
in addition to the budget entrusted to the Agency for the implementation of the Galileo
Applications Call for Proposals)

13. Copernicus evolution – Research activities in support of a European operational
monitoring support capacity for fossil CO2 emissions60
This action is intended as a continuation of the CO2 Human Emissions (CHE) project, led by
the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF)61
.
In line with Regulation EU 377/2014, which identifies ECMWF as one of the entities to be
involved in the implementation of the Copernicus service component and article 190(1) (d),
(e) and (f) of the Financial Regulation, this action shall be awarded to ECMWF, as the body
responsible for the implementation of the Copernicus climate service, its high degree of
specialisation and its administrative power, together with additional partners principally based
on the CHE consortium.
The main objective is to perform R&D activities identified as a need in the CHE project and
strongly recommended by the CO2 monitoring Task Force62
. These R&D activities will
sustain the operational support capacity in a seamless and consistent way through all partners
contributing to the CHE project.
International relationships and coordination are ensured by the CHE Advisory Board and
technical Expert Group where experts associated with international institutions and non-
European countries will continue to provide high level guidance and relevant
recommendations.
The activities shall sustain the development of a European operational monitoring support
capacity for fossil fuel CO2 emissions. These activities should therefore address all
components of the system, such as atmospheric transport models, re-analysis, data
assimilation techniques, bottom-up estimation, in-situ networks and ancillary measurements
needed to address the attribution of CO2 emissions.
The activities shall in particular support an open standard integrated system test bed for the
components above, which will be gradually replaced by pre-operational components as they
become available. Such a test bed shall in particular help to understand expected end-to-end
performances for different scenarios for space-borne and in-situ observations, different
implementation options of the above components, as well as to reply to evolving policy-
driven future questions. The main activities should address a series of scientific and critical
system design issues identified by the CO2 monitoring Task Force.
As it is already expected that the spatial resolution and the accuracy of the atmospheric
transport models have to be significantly increased in order, for instance, to match the km
60
61
The CHE Coordination and Support Action is implemented under the Horizon 2020 grant agreement
No 776186 with the objective to lay the foundation for the operational integration of all relevant
European capacities and address some fundamental R&D issues. The CHE project consortium
comprises 22 partners from 8 European countries..
62
http://edgar.jrc.ec.europa.eu/news_docs/Report_Copernicus_CO2_Monitoring_TaskForce_2017.pdf.

scale resolution of the CO2 measurements from space, the Observing System Simulation
Experiments have to be set-up to help in defining the in-situ component resulting from an
optimised configuration given the future CO2 satellite constellation.
Research activities are also required to better evaluate the contribution to fossil fuel emissions
and thus address the attribution issue, as well as to strengthen the capacity for bottom-up
estimation. This target will require the development of new measurement techniques and
instruments to fill existing gaps. The overall performance of the system when reaching its full
capability has to be assessed in particular with respect to the time and space requirements
suggested by end users. By the same token, the potential and essential functionalities of a
decision support system have to be established.
More generally, this action should support the design of an integrated support capacity,
enabling European experts to collectively share their knowledge and join forces on the
multiple fronts required to develop such a system with operational capabilities.
The activities should fulfil the technological and scientific needs for the integration of this
European end-to-end operational capacity, in particular:
 Contribute to solving scientific issues that are critical to ensure a successful development
of the operational system;
 Improve the performance and resolution of regional scale atmospheric transport models;
 Make a significant contribution to helping countries evaluate the effectiveness of their
CO2 emission reduction strategies such as those associated with the impact of the
Nationally Determined Contributions;
 Support the optimal planning of networks of in-situ measurements in coordination with
the WMO Integrated Global Observing System (WIGOS) programme, and contribute to
develop and validate techniques enabling the quantification of fossil fuel CO2 emissions;
 Identify the functionalities of a decision support system for monitoring anthropogenic
emissions and address the expected capacities suggested by the CO2 monitoring Task
Force;
 Ensure the 'fit for purpose' of the entire system with regard to the expected capabilities.
This action contributes to the Horizon 2020 focus area on "Building a low-carbon, climate
resilient future".
Legal entities:
The European Centre of Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), Shinfield Park,
Reading, UK, together with additional partners principally based on its CHE consortium will
be the direct beneficiaries for this funding, (https://www.che-project.eu/partners)

Indicative timetable: Fourth quarter 2019
14. In-orbit validation/demonstration – Mission design, integration and
implementation63
One of the main objectives of the Space strategy for Europe is to foster a globally competitive
and innovative European space sector in particular by improving support to technological
maturity, for sub-systems, equipment and technologies, including in-orbit demonstration and
validation activities, to reduce time to market.
To ensure European non-dependence and competitiveness in technologies, there is a clear
need for a regular, sustainable, cost-effective and responsive IOD/IOV service in Europe.
Space flight heritage in real conditions and environment is often required to de-risk
innovations such as new technologies, products, concepts, architectures, and operations
techniques be they for unique or recurrent, institutional or commercial missions.
Although flight opportunities do exist, these are often difficult to find ad hoc at affordable
cost and/or in the required timeframe, and at an acceptable risk for the main mission.
The main challenge of the overall IOD/IOV activity is to provide a regular and cost-effective
solution for common flight ticket actions (management, spacecraft design and possible reuse
for multiple mission, Assembly, integration and Tests, launch and operations) based on
European solutions both for the spacecraft (i.e. platform and aggregate of experiments) and
for the ground and launch services.
Concerning launch aspects, IOD/IOV shall support the European launcher exploitation policy,
therefore relying on European manufactured launcher solutions.
The purpose of this action is to provide solutions for the mission analysis, planning, design,
experiments accommodation and implementation and shall therefore comprise all the
necessary tasks to prepare, provide and operate spacecraft(s), together with the related ground
segment, which accommodates the pre-selected IOD/IOV experiments. It includes:
 System studies, at ground and space level, including the compatibility with the available
launchers;
 Input to the launch mission analysis performed by the launch service provider;
 Selection, assembly, integration and testing of the spacecraft(s) and related ground
segment;
 Management of interfaces with and between the different IOD/IOV experiments,
between the satellite and the launcher and between the satellite and the ground segment;
63
This action shall be complementary and coherent with actions 1 and 4. All three actions shall, therefore,
be implemented by ESA under one single contribution agreement.

 Preparation of the spacecraft(s) for the flight;
 In-orbit testing and operations including the provision of experiments data.
Such an IOD/IOV service should be built on European solutions for the spacecraft, ground
segment and launch system and shall only consider those experiments which have already
reached a sufficient TRL to proceed as IOD/IOV candidates.
The IOD/IOV service shall be implemented through a competitive process managed by the
European Space Agency as described in the technical guidance document64
. Accordingly, it
shall only address the IOD/IOV actions presented in this guidance document, and shall
include the necessary engineering reviews as well as a contingency management plan and
associated resources (at least 20%)..
For proposals under this action:
as applicable;
 Synergies with European Structural and Investment Funds65
(ESIF) actions can be
considered.
The expected impact of this action shall be to:
 Maximise IOD/IOV opportunities;
 Significant contribution to the reduction of time to market of the innovations subject of
the IOD/IOV actions compared with the situation today;
 Support to setting up a regular cost-effective IOD/IOV service for European
technologies;
 Support to European IOD/IOV solutions including space and associated ground segment;
 Aggregation of IOD/IOV demand for European launch services.
agreement66
64
65
http://ec.europa.eu/research/regions/pdf/publications/h2020_synergies_201406.pdf#view=fit&
pagemode=none
66

Indicative timetable: First quarter of 2019 and first quarter of 2020 respectively
15. Awareness raising activities on Space funding opportunities
Horizon Europe will bring new funding opportunities and conditions for the European Space
arena. It is important that knowledge about this will be available from the start of the new
Framework Programme since first calls will be published in late 2020 or in the beginning of
2021. National Contact Points (NCPs) are very well positioned and experienced in raising
awareness in the space community all over Europe through information days including
facilitating partner search and match making.
In order to complement the already planned activities of the network of Space NCPs, support
is needed for the organisation of conferences, information events and partner search/match-
making to launch the first Space calls of Horizon Europe with the aim of strengthening wider
participation in the programme.
Activities may also support the preparation and dissemination of communication material and
enable communication of EU Space activities.
Indicative timetable: Second and third quarter of 2020
Indicative budget: EUR 0.30 million from the 2020 budget( Indicative number of contracts: 2)

Budget67
Budget
line(s)
2018
Budget (EUR
million)
2019
Budget (EUR
million)
2020
Budget (EUR
million)
Calls
H2020-SPACE-2018-2020 104.00 83.00 103.50
from
02.040201
104.00 83.00 103.50
H2020-SPACE-EGNSS-
2019-2020
20.00 21.00
from
02.040201
20.00 21.00
Contribution from this part
to call H2020-EIC-FTI-
2018-2020 under Part 17 of
the work programme
3.37 3.37 3.37
from
02.040201
3.37 3.37 3.37
Other actions
Contribution agreement
with an implementing
entity (indirect
management)
45.00 38.00
from
02.040201
45.00 38.00
Financial Instrument 6.00 7.00 7.00
from
02.040201
6.00 7.00 7.00
Grant to Identified
beneficiary
0.60 15.00
from
02.040201
0.60 15.00
Specific Grant Agreement 4.90 65.70
from
02.040201
4.90 65.70
67
The budget figures given in this table are rounded to two decimal places.
The budget amounts for the 2020 budget are subject to the availability of the appropriations provided
for in the draft budget for 2020 after the adoption of the budget 2020 by the budgetary authority or, if
the budget is not adopted, as provided for in the system of provisional twelfths.

Public Procurement 1.30 3.51 5.70
from
02.040201
1.30 3.51 5.70
Indirect Management by
ESA
36.00 31.00 10.00
from
02.040201
36.00 31.00 10.00
Expert Contracts 1.16 1.46 1.78
from
02.040201
1.16 1.46 1.78
Contribution from this part
to Prize under Part 17 of
the work programme
5.00
from
02.040201
5.00
Estimated total budget 197.43 207.24 223.05

H2020 Work Programme 2018-2020 for Space

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