Funding
This page displays the ARTES Invitation To Tenders (ITTs) which are published on ESA-STAR. If you are looking for a specific element select from the list provided and click on the Apply button to start the search and display the results.
Funding of the individual Prime or subcontractors, for ARTES Core Competitiveness and ARTES Applications activities, is subject to authorisation of the required ARTES budget by the related National Delegations. Therefore, bidding teams are requested to inform their National Delegation(s) of their intention to participate in funded activities already before submitting a proposal.
The official information platform for providing potential bidders all the relevant documentation and details concerning the intended and issued Invitations To Tender (ITTs) for Open Competitions and Direct Negotiations is ESA-STAR - managed and operated by the ESA Procurement Department.
BREADBOARDING OF CRITICAL TECHNOLOGIES FOR A MULTI-BEAM SATELLITE RECEIVER FOR AIRCRAFT MODE-S SIGNALS (ARTES 4.0 4S SPL 5A.082) (ON DELEGATION REQUEST)
The objective of the activity is to design, develop and test payload technologies compliant with multi-beam receivers for satellite-based air traffic surveillance. Critical breadboarding will be carried out to demonstrate the concept suitable for use on small satellites in LEO or MEO. Targeted Improvements: 50% reduced payload power consumption, mass and volume compared to current technology.Increase the probability of message detection by a f…
SMALLSAT PLATFORM WITH SELF-TRANSFER CAPABILITY INTO GEOSYNCHRONOUS ORBIT (ARTES AT 3E.001) (ON DELEGATION REQUEST)
The objective of this activity is to develop radiation tolerant platform technologies and semi-autonomous orbit transfer capabilityfor small satellite platforms. An experimental small satellite will be designed, manufactured and launched. The satellite will feature the platform technologies developed as well as a simple telecommunication payload allowing experiments during orbit raising to GEO as well as in GSO. Targeted Improvements: Enabling…
STUDY AND DEMONSTRATOR OF HEO PAYLOAD ARCHITECTURE FOR 5G-CONNECTED MOBILE SERVICES (ARTES SPL 5G 5A.084)
The objective of this activity is to demonstrate the suitability of HEO payloads for 5G-connected mobile services. Key parameter trade-offs like orbit optimisation, maximum achievable throughput shall be analysed. The study shall identify key enabling technologies to support 5G type of services on a regional coverage. Targeted Improvements: - Reduce the complexity and total cost of the required constellation to provide 5G services to mobile us…
DATA, CONTROL AND SIGNALLING PROTOCOLS FOR SPECTRUM SHARING AMONG CO-EXISTING SATELLITE INTERNET-OF-THINGS NETWORKS (ARTES AT 3C.044) (ON DELEGATION REQUEST)
The objective of the activity is to develop and test data, control and signalling protocols to enable spectrum sharing among co-existing satellite Internet-of-Things (IoT) networks for new frequency allocations (i.e. below 5 GHz according to resolution 812 WRC 2019) that are on the agenda of the World Radio-Communication Conference (WRC) in 2027. The activity will include a measurement campaign to quantify the interference environment using ex…
SECURITY SOLUTIONS AND SECURITY TEST BED FOR NON-TERRESTRIAL NETWORKS (ARTES SPL 5G 3D.005) (RE-ISSUE)
The objective of the activity is to develop and validate solutions for the security vulnerabilities introduced by the adoption of 5G features in Satcom networks. The developments will be validated in an end-to-end 5G Satcom test bed to be implemented as part of the activity. The test bed will be developed to serve as a platform for the development, testing, validation and satellite live demonstration of future security solutions for 3GPP Non-T…
KICK-START THEMATIC CALL 5G 6G
The objective of this Kick Start is to analyse the technical and economic feasibility of new services and solutions leveraging the inherent advantages of 5G/6G communications networks. This kick-start initiative seeks to promote new business opportunities for innovative services relying on space technology combined with 5G (and beyond) communications networks, addressing the most promising verticals, by introducing new services to consumers or…
MASS PRODUCTION THRUSTER TESTING TECHNOLOGY (ARTES AT 4B.175) (ON DELEGATION REQUEST)
The objective of the activity is to develop a concept for efficient testing of thrusters for large constellations that reduces the test-setup complexity and test duration by an order of magnitude. The concept shall be implemented and experimentally validated in ascalable testbed for high volume testing of the electric propulsion systems. Targeted Improvements: Increase the number of electricthrusters (minimum of 4 to 8) to be tested simultaneo…
STANDARD CALLS FOR PROPOSALS - SUSTAINABLE DIGITALLY CONNECTED SOLUTIONS FOR COMMODITIES CRISIS
The "Sustainable digitally connected solutions to commodities crisis" call promotes the development of sustainable applications andservices addressing commodities' sectors challenges in the short (2 years' time frame) and midterm by integrating satellite communications and other space assets with terrestrial and digital technologies. The commodities affected by the crisis and addressed in this call include energy, all crude…
COMPACT LOW FREQUENCY HIGH POWER BANDPASS FILTER FOR SMALL TELECOMMUNICATION SATELLITES (ARTES AT 5E.024)
The objective of the activity is to design, manufacture and test a compact VHF/UHF high power filter for small satellites using advanced manufacturing processes.Targeted Improvements:- 40% reduction in footprint compared to the state of the art- at least 40% loss reduction compared to planar technologies and- up to 30 W RF power handlingDescription: Small satellites (mass less than 250kg) operating in lower Earth orbit are increasingly used fo…
EFFICIENT TESTING APPROACH FOR SOLAR ARRAY DEVELOPMENT (ARTES 4.0 AT 4F.160)
The objective of this activity is to form a European consortium and to develop a solar array test approach as needed for the preparation of the ECSS E-20-08 handbook, in the case of a design or process change. The new test approach will be validated by Development Validation Testing (DVT) coupons. Targeted Improvements: Substantial reduction (50%) in the delta-qualification time of solar panels, which deviate slightly from existing qualified d…
COMPUTER GENERATED HOLOGRAMS (CGH) FOR OPTICAL AND QUANTUM COMMUNICATION TERMINALS (ARTES 4.0 SL SPL 5F.037)
Objective: The objective of the activity is to develop CGH to replace classical optics (e.g. (dichroic) beam splitters, lenses...)in optical/quantum communication terminals. In addition, performance simulations shall be validated on CGH test samples. Several CGH device shall be manufactured, and their performance tested. A-thermal designs shall be investigated. Targeted Improvements: 50% reduction in the size, footprint and mass of classical b…
WDM HIGH-POWER OPTICAL AMPLIFIER AT 1064NM (ARTES 4.0 SPL OPTICAL COMMUNICATION - SCYLIGHT 5F.020)
Objective: The objective is to develop a high-power and high-efficient optical booster amplifier, compatible with WDM operation at 1064nm wavelength range. Two versions, with different output optical power and wall-plug efficiency requirements, are to be developed to address operation under space and ground environmental conditions. Targeted Improvements:Strategic component not available inESA's Member States nor in Cooperating/Associated…
AERONAUTICAL EXPERIMENT IN Q/V BAND (ARTES 4.0 AT 7C.079)
The objective of the activity is to design and perform an aeronautical experiment in Q/V-band involving a bidirectional link.Targeted Improvements:50% increase of available spectrum for aeronautical services over existing Ku- and Ka-band.Description:One of the main areas of growth for the satcom market is the provision of high data rate Internet services to airplanes, especially in areas where only satellite coverage is feasible, such as cross…
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE/MACHINE LEARNING FRONT-END MODULE FOR SATCOM 5G/6G INTEGRATED ACCESS-BACKHAUL TRANSCEIVERS (ARTES 4.0 SPL 5G/6G 6B.119)
The objective of the activity is to develop, implement and test a breadboard of a digital transceiver front-end capable of switching between access and backhaul modes of operation for integrated satcom-terrestrial 5G/6G networks. The transceiver core shall be supported by an AI/ML engine implemented for a set of commercially available hardware and software platforms. The activity shall also provide the testbed to test the AI/ML-based transceiv…
5G REGENERATIVE PROCESSOR AND ASSOCIATED SYSTEM TESTBED (ARTES SPL 5G/6G 5A.083)
The objective of this activity is to implement and test the signal processing portion of a 5G LEO satellite payload capable of handling several high throughput beams assuming an active antenna configuration. The demonstrator shall be based on a processor capable of controlling a reconfigurable beam-forming network (BFN) and performing signal (re-)generation andchannelisation of 5G waveforms.Targeted Improvements: Enable 5G regenerative payload…
W-BAND HIGH POWER AMPLIFIER FOR THE GROUND SEGMENT (ARTES AT 6B.120) (ON DELEGATION REQUEST)
Objective: The objective of the activity is to design, manufacture and test a W-band HPA for the ground segment. Targeted Improvements: Enabling W-band feeder uplink communications. Description: The use of W-band (71-76 GHz for downlink and 81-86 for uplink GHz) is expected to significantly increase the available bandwidth for Very High Throughput Satellite Systems (VHTS). W-band spectrum is also expected to reduce the number of gateways requi…
ANTENNA FOR UNIVERSAL SATELLITE-TERRESTRIAL 5G LAND MOBILE TERMINALS (ARTES SPL 5G 7C.061) (UPON DELEGATION REQUEST)
Upon Delegation Request (*) The objective of the activity is to develop and validate a mobile terminal antenna that supports satellite connectivity and terrestrial 5G. A prototype of the antenna will be manufactured and tested in a laboratory environment. Targeted Improvements: Terminal size, weight and power reduction (30 to 50%) achieved by integrating 5G satellite and terrestrial antenna systems.The integration of satellite communications…
LOW LOSS FILTERS FOR V-BAND (59 TO 71 GHZ) INTERSATELLITE LINKS (ARTES 4.0 AT 5C.496)
The objective of this activity is to design, manufacture and test high quality factor, low loss filters as needed for V-band intersatellite links.Targeted Improvements:Filter quality factor improved by 30% to 50% compared to conventional filters at V-band ISL frequencies.Description:Intersatellite links (ISL) are key system elements for satellite-based communication networks.Filters arerequired at the front end of the antenna to provide the re…
ANTI-JAMMING FOR LEO CONSTELLATIONS (GSHE-5)
This activity will identify security requirements addressing jamming and interference resilience needs and develop a system concept, for introducing anti-jamming capabilities in future GOVSATCOM missions.The activity will be processed in Open Competition, subject to ESA's procurement rules and procedures adapted as per Financial Framework Partnership Agreement (FFPA) and Contribution Agreement and the tasks entrusted to ESA for GOVSATCOM.…
5G AUTOMOTIVE ANTENNA PROTOTYPE AND DEMONSTRATION (ARTES 4.0 SPL 5G/6G 7C.084)
The objective is to design and demonstrate a new class of low-profile and conformal antennas, providing seamless connectivity for 5G services on vehicles.Targeted Improvements:Enabling technology Satellite antennas compatible with the constrains of the automotive markets (in terms of aesthetics, aerodynamics and safety), whilst providing seamless connectivity, are currently not available.Description:The automotive sector is a crucial target gr…
AUTONOMOUS HEALTH MONITORING FOR TELECOMMUNICATION PLATFORM MECHANISMS (ARTES 4.0 AT 4E.089)
The objective of the activity is to develop and test a computer-assisted approach for in-situ operational health monitoring and anomaly detection for mission-critical platform mechanisms (e.g., reaction wheels, solar array drive mechanisms, antenna pointing mechanisms, laser communication terminals, etc.) in telecommunication spacecraft. Rather than relying on telemetry data, this activity will develop an approach using the full signal and sen…
Q/V BAND PHASED ARRAY ANTENNAS FOR GROUND TERMINALS (ARTES AT 7C.070) (ON DELEGATION REQUEST)
The objective of this activity is to develop and test a receive Q-band prototype, and a transmit V-band beamformer, both supporting2 beams scanning in a large field of view for the mobility market (e.g. aeroplanes, buses, trains). Targeted Improvements:Enabling technology for Q/V band user terminals for the mobility market (aeroplanes, buses, trains). Description:Today, terminal antennas are mainly exploiting the Ka- and the Ku-frequency bands…
CIVIL SECURITY FROM SPACE PROGRAMME - STANDARD CALL FOR PROPOSAL
This Call for Proposals covers the industry initiated activities for the Civil Security for Space programme.
OPTICAL FEEDER LINK SITE-DIVERSITY PROTOCOLS FOR SATELLITE CONSTELLATION NETWORKS (ARTES 4.0 SL SPL 3A.170)
Objective: Design and demonstration of link protection and restoration protocols that can be deployed to provide optical feeder link diversity in mega-constellations with inter-satellite links. Targeted Improvements: >30% increased optical network throughput witha reduced number of ground stations and reduced CAPEX. Description: Optical feeder links for LEO satellite systems suffer from frequent disruptions due to cloud blockages that rende…
ARTES 4.0 SPL OPTICAL COMMUNICATION - SCYLIGHT: SCINTILLATION MITIGATION TECHNIQUES BASED ON FEMTOSECOND PULSES FOR OPTICAL FEEDER UPLINKS (5G.014/SL.033) (ON DELEGATION REQUEST)
Objective:The objective of the activity is to develop scintillation mitigation techniques based on femtosecond pulses for optical feeder uplinks. Their performance will be experimentally verified using the fine acquisition sensor on Alphasat's laser communication terminal.Targeted Improvements:25dB link budget improvement under strong turbulence conditions.Description:The adoption of optical feeder links will largely depend on their abili…