Deadline Date: September 03, 2026
The European Commission is inviting grant applications to enhancing its autonomous capabilities in space by developing resilient EEE components and state-of-the-art irradiation testing facilities to reduce reliance on non-EU suppliers.
The focus areas of this initiative include reinforcing EU strategic autonomy by reducing non-EU dependencies on critical space EEE components across their entire supply chain, providing unrestricted access to critical space EEE components and testing facilities relevant for EU space missions, developing or regaining capacity to operate independently in space by establishing resilient supply chains for space EEE components, and enhancing competitiveness by developing products and capabilities that achieve equivalent or superior performance compared to non-EU solutions.
Funding for this topic ranges from €3,000,000 to €4,000,000, with a total budget of €3,920,000.
Unrestricted access to advanced space EEE components and related technologies is essential for the EU space industry to meet the demands of EU space missions. However, some high-performance components and high or very high energy testing facilities are not available within the EU, leading to dependency on facilities outside the EU that may be overbooked or prioritized for national security reasons. This situation poses challenges for establishing reliable and trustable supply chains necessary for EU space missions.
Projects are expected to finance and implement the development of dedicated irradiation test facilities open to EU space stakeholders, focusing on EEE components for space applications. The goal is to transition from small-scale prototype testing demonstrations to fully operational irradiation facilities with sufficient beam time throughout the year, supporting EU strategic autonomy. Supply chains should be fully based in the EU when possible, and any external services must ensure reliability, independence from non-EU export restrictions, and prioritization of EU stakeholders.
Applicants must describe the technology for providing the irradiation beam and provide a high-level breakdown of the supply chain for the entire facility, demonstrating freedom from legal export restrictions such as ITAR or equivalent regulations. Any parts affected by non-EU export controls, including EAR, should be identified. The facility must be open to EU and non-EU stakeholders, with beam time allocation prioritizing EU participants, and all public-facing platforms should clearly display the EU flag.
The project proposal should include tasks and confidential deliverables within six months of project start, detailing the full supply chain, assessing each entity’s role and criticality, and identifying any dependencies outside the EU. A technical roadmap and commercialization plan should be provided, describing open access for external stakeholders and potential facility upgrades. Additionally, a literature review of global high and very high energy irradiation facilities should be conducted, highlighting gaps between EU solutions and non-EU competitors.
Participation is open to any legal entity, including entities from non-associated third countries or international organizations, provided they meet the conditions of the Horizon Europe Regulation.
For more information, visit European Commission.
