Space technologies for European non-dependence and competitiveness -

Projects are expected to contribute to the following outcomes:

• To reduce the dependence on critical technologies and capabilities from outside EU for the EU space programme components (i.e. Galileo/EGNOS, Copernicus, Govsatcom and SSA) and other space applications;
• To develop or regain in the mid-term the European capacity to operate independently in space and enhancing competitiveness by developing products/technical capabilities reaching equivalent or superior performance level than critical technologies and capabilities from outside EU;
• To open new competition opportunities for European manufacturers by reducing dependency on export restricted technologies that are of strategic importance to future European space efforts;

To improve the overall European space technology landscape and if relevant complement and/or create synergy with activities of European and national programmes either in the space or non-space fields.

Research and innovation to mature critical space technologies that currently have dependency issues for use in the EU space programme components and discussed within the frame of the European Commission-ESA-EDA Joint Task Force (JTF).

Technology areas:

• High speed DAC-ADC based on European Technology [Target TRL 6-7]
• Space qualified carbon fibre pre-impregnated material sources for launcher and satellite subsystems [Target TRL 8-9]
• Enhanced performance and space qualified detectors – IR range [Target TRL 7-8]
• Mid-power range electric propulsion thruster technology:
  • Qualification of electrical propulsion thrusters and PPUs for power ranges up to 5kW [Target TRL 7-8]
• Mid-power range electric propulsion thruster technology:
  • Development of new generation of thrusters based on non-dependent propellants (i.e. not Xe or Kr) [Target TRL 4-5]
• Replacement solutions for metallic lead (Pb) [Target TRL 7]
• High performance, cost effective multi - junction solar cells for space applications [Target TRL 5]

Context information and high-level requirements, including description of scope, initial and target TRLs, and, where applicable, references and information of related activities, are provided in the technical guidance document published on the Funding & Tenders Portal outlining all relevant information to the selected actions.

A proposal should address only one technology area, which must be clearly identified.

Technological spin in and/or bilateral collaborations should be enhanced between European non-space and space industries, including technology research institutes and academia.

To achieve the non-dependence objective, applicants should

• Describe in the proposal the technologies and/or technology processes to be used and show that they are free of any legal export restrictions or limitations, such as those established in the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), Export Administration regulation (EAR) such as EAR99 or equivalent instruments applicable in other non-EU jurisdictions.
• Set up and describe in the proposal a suitable technology development process aiming at avoiding export restrictions of non-EU states and assess vulnerabilities of the supply chain.
• In the proposal, define specific tasks as part of the work plan, with the objective of:
• analyse and describe in detail the supply chain, each entity and its role in the supply chain, and if relevant identify critical dependencies from outside EU;
• develop the technical roadmap and business plan for commercialization, space mission insertion, including time to market indication, of the developed product.

In this topic the integration of the gender dimension (sex and gender analysis) in research and innovation content is not a mandatory requirement.

Unless otherwise agreed with the granting authority, beneficiaries must ensure that none of the entities that participate as affiliated entities, associated partners or subcontractors are established in countries which are not eligible countries or target countries set out in the call conditions.

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