Deadline Date: September 03, 2026
The European Commission is inviting grant applications to boost EU space autonomy by supporting the development of resilient space equipment and technologies with secure and reliable supply chains.
The project focuses on reinforcing EU strategic autonomy by reducing non-EU dependencies on critical space equipment and related technologies across their entire supply chain, providing unrestricted access to critical space equipment and related technologies relevant for EU space missions and pilot projects such as In-Orbit Space Operations, developing or regaining capacity to operate independently in space by establishing resilient supply chains relying on EU or trustable third-country sources not affected by export restrictions, and enhancing competitiveness by developing products and capabilities that reach equivalent or superior performance levels compared to non-EU alternatives to compete globally.
Funding for this topic is €2,940,000, with individual projects eligible for €2,000,000 to €3,000,000. Participation is open to any legal entity worldwide, including non-associated third countries and international organisations, provided Horizon Europe regulations are met.
Access to state-of-the-art space equipment and related technologies is essential for the EU space industry to respond effectively to EU space missions. For some equipment families, EU solutions currently do not meet the high-performance requirements. Alternative products sourced from outside the EU may face export control restrictions or present challenges in establishing trustworthy supply chains, which could compromise the implementation of EU missions with security requirements.
Within this context, development projects are expected to mature critical space equipment to reduce dependence on non-EU sources. Long-term sustainable supply chains should be established primarily within the EU, and when this is only partially possible, third-country services must ensure that the overall supply chain remains reliable and unaffected by export control regulations. Supply chain selection must reflect the goal of EU strategic autonomy and is subject to the approval of the granting authority.
The technologies addressed under this topic follow the EU Observatory of Critical Technologies roadmap, particularly in the area of Robotics Manipulators for Space Applications, including the Space Refuelling Interface. Projects should promote collaboration between European space and non-space industries, with complementary activities at national or EU level clearly identified and explained in the proposal.
Applicants are required to describe the technology and technology processes used to develop the equipment, provide a high-level breakdown of the supply chain, and demonstrate that the supply chain and final product are free of legal export restrictions such as ITAR or equivalent regulations. Any part of the supply chain affected by non-EU export controls, such as EAR99, must be reported. Proposals should also describe the technology development process to avoid export restrictions and assess supply chain vulnerabilities.
For more information, visit European Commission.
