Request for Proposals: Space for Sustainable, Connected and Liveable Cities

Successful bidders may have the opportunity to work closely with Space for Smart and Green Cities Task Force members who are supporting this call in the development of the proposed service.

The Challenge

• Cities are facing numerous challenges that arise from rapid population growth, as well as the rapid effects of climate change. Over 140 experts from 65 countries came together in Riga, Latvia from 16 to 19 April 2024, to draft the outline of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)’s Special Report on Climate Change and Cities. Several challenges and opportunities were identified for scoping this report. These included urban development, urban emissions, urban carbon cycle, air pollution, digital communication, transport, heat islands and urban overheating.
• The challenges described are, to varying degrees, common to all cities. However, each city has its own unique set of questions and issues to address. This fragmented situation became evident during the several bilateral discussions that the European Space Agency (ESA) had with cities and towns participating in the Smart and Green Cities Task Force.

Topics 

• The most recurring use cases, as identified by city practitioners, have been categorised below.
  • Use Cases
    • Sustainable Cities (Urban Sustainability)
      • Requalification of abandoned industrial areas
      • Local energy production
      • Circular economy
    • Connected Cities (Urban Infrastructure)
      • City walkability
      • Optimising traffic flow
      • Improving street lighting management
      • Affordable housing
    • Liveable Cities (Urban Environment)
      • Climate change and emissions
      • Urban park management

What they offer?

• They offer funding and support to companies, both for business case assessment and for the development of new, space-based services. Their offer includes:
  • Zero-equity funding
  • Technical and commercial guidance
  • Access to their network and partners
  • ESA brand credibility

What they look for?

• They look for promising business ideas addressing topics of relevance or related areas that propose:
  • Market opportunities and customer needs
  • Commercially viable service concepts
  • Feasible technical solutions
  • Value from space data or technology
  • Teams with business, technical, and financial expertise

Eligibility Criteria

• To qualify for funding, your team must be located in one of the following countries:
  • Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Hungary, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Lithuania, or Slovakia.

Ineligibility Criteria

• Teams based outside these Member States are not eligible for this funding call.

For more information, visit ESA.