Opportunities

The Space4Rail initiative offers a variety of opportunities according to the maturity of the project (refer to Technology Readiness Levels) and the space-based assets involved. Several calls for proposal are available and presented below.

Direct Negotiation (co-funded) – calls for proposal that are industry initiated and always open
Open competition (fully funded) – calls for proposal that are ESA initiated, where companies and organisations are invited to submit proposals in response to an open Invitation to Tender (ITT)

Please feel free to contact space4rail@esa.int with a short description of the concept and its maturity, for feedback and assistance in deciding the most appropriate programme for the proposed activity.

OPEN COMPETITION

InvitationS to Tender (ITT)

Invitations to Tender (ITT) include the activities that are funded as part of ESA Programmes for the Space4Rail Initiative.

Intended ITTs

Upcoming Invitations to Tender are described as Intended ITTs. For each of these intended activities, a summary note is provided with a short description of the work to be carried out, estimated budget and planned publication date.

DIRECT NEGOTIATION

Call for Proposals ARTES IAP: Demonstration Projects & Feasibility Studies

The ARTES IAP programme supports feasibility studies and demonstration projects. Feasibility Studies provide the preparatory framework to identify, analyse and define new potentially sustainable applications and services that use at least one space asset (SatNav, SatCom, Earth Observation, Human Spaceflight Technology). Demonstration Projects shall be a pre-operational service responding to well identified user needs and requirements and should show a clear potential to become sustainable at the conclusion of the project with ESA.

Call for Proposals ARTES Competitiveness and Growth

The ARTES Competitiveness & Growth supports the development, qualification, and demonstration of products. For this programme, products include equipment of the platform or payload of a satellite, a user terminal, or a telecom system integrating a network with its respective space segment. Telecommunication applications can also be undertaken under the terms of this element.

Call for Proposals on GSTP Element 2

GSTP Competitiveness Element supports the development of new products (excluding SatCom). Projects can include the introduction of new technologies, development of new products, or enhancement of existing products.

Call for Proposals on NAVISP Element 2

NAVISP Element 2 has the goal is to maintain and improve the capability and competitiveness of the industry of the participating States in the global market for Satellite Navigation, and more broadly PNT technologies and services. In this context, the wider ambition towards the overall PNT sector is justified by the necessity to facilitate cross-fertilisation between space-based and terrestrial positioning technologies.