Strengthening the sustainability and resilience of EU space infrastructure

Topic updates

18 March 2025

EVALUATION RESULTS

Published: 20.06.2024

Deadline: 16.10.2024

Available budget: EUR 24.000.000

The results of the evaluation are as follows:

Number of proposals submitted: 69
Number of inadmissible proposals: 4
Number of ineligible proposals: 1
Number of above-threshold proposals: 39
Total budget requested for above-threshold proposals: EUR 139.460.103,00
Number of proposals retained for funding: 7
Number of proposals in the reserve list: 0
Summary of observer report:

EIC Pathfinder Challenges 2024 Call for proposals for Research and Innovation Actions covered five different Challenges, each targeting a unique area of research and innovation: Solar-to-X Devices; Towards Cement and Concrete as a Carbon Sink; Nature-Inspired Alternatives for Food Packaging and Films for Agriculture; Nanoelectronics for Energy-Efficient Smart Edge Devices; Strengthening the Sustainability and Resilience of EU Space Infrastructures. The evaluation procedures fully conformed with the rules given in the EIC Work Programme 2024, as well as in the Challenge Guides for the five topics of this Call. The evaluation process was streamlined: the schedule of the evaluation process was divided in phases, carefully planned and supported by the appropriate milestones. The deadlines were clearly communicated and fully conformed with, and the planned schedule was accurately kept, resulting with the duration of the evaluation process fully conforming with the Work Programme. A special attention was paid to a comprehensive preparation and training of the experts, accompanied with the possibilities of continuous feedback and interaction with the staff managing the Call evaluation. The experts were guided by the five principles: independence, impartiality, objectivity, accuracy, and consistency. Both the experts and the staff showed their commitment to the principles of impartiality and fairness, preventing any conflicts of interest during the process. The full conformance with the applicable rules, together with the overall positive experience expressed by the experts, testify for the excellent organization and management of the Call.

We recently informed the applicants about the evaluation results for their proposals.

For questions, please contact the Research Enquiry Service.

https://commission.europa.eu/research-and-innovation_en

Strengthening the sustainability and resilience of EU space infrastructure

TOPIC ID: HORIZON-EIC-2024-PATHFINDERCHALLENGES-01-05

Type of grant: Call for proposals

General information

Programme: Horizon Europe Framework Programme (HORIZON)

Call: EIC Pathfinder Challenges 2024 (HORIZON-EIC-2024-PATHFINDERCHALLENGES-01)

Type of action: HORIZON-EIC HORIZON EIC Grants

Type of MGA: HORIZON Lump Sum Grant [HORIZON-AG-LS]

Status: Open for submission

Deadline model: single-stage

Opening Date: 20 June 2024

Deadline dates: 16 October 2024 17:00 (Brussels time)

Topic description

Scope:

Background and scope:

The ever-growing orbital population of satellites and space debris poses increasing challenges to space infrastructure. The density of space objects amplifies the risk of orbital collisions, unexpected fragmentation events and re-entries that may result in the degradation of space assets, hindering the services they deliver and, thus making Earth orbits unusable.

Debris growth is escalating with more than 2,500 non-operational satellites, 36,500 space debris pieces bigger than 10 cm and 1 million pieces of debris between 1-10 cm in Earth’s orbits. Collision avoidance manoeuvres for satellite owners has doubled and is expected to grow. Continuous trajectory changes of spacecraft will result in insufficient fuel for deorbiting, critical end of life spacecraft manoeuvres and any other remediation or in-space mobility activities. In-space recycling of dysfunctional orbital assets will provide an opportunity for space assets re-utilisation and in-space refuelling.

This challenge addresses the long-term emerging need for green, compact and affordable de-orbiting solutions and in-space recycling of space debris.

Space systems and services in the EU are critical infrastructures that need to be better protected Still, the level of protection of space assets varies across Member States, and there is a need to expand the scope of EU actions.

In this context, the need to protect EU space infrastructure and continue to promote the preservation of a safe and secure space domain is essential.

Specific objectives

The overall goal of this Challenge is to support the development of innovations that will strengthen the protection of EU space infrastructure.

The specific goals of this challenge are 1) development of technologies for space debris mitigation and active debris removal; 2) concepts for in-space recycling of dysfunctional orbital assets; 3) innovations for protecting EU space infrastructure.

The projects, supported under this challenge are expected to develop break-through concepts in one or more of the following areas:

• Game-changing technologies for controlled space debris mitigation (to reduce their generation) and active debris removal (by managing existing space debris, de-orbiting, relocation, etc.) including ones that prevent spacecraft system damage. This includes among others propellantless propulsion technologies such as space-based lasers, laser pushed lightsails, physical sweeper in orbit, laser electric propulsion, tethers or water propulsion for moving all sized debris
• In-space Recycling & Re-use of orbital assets- with a focus on recycling and re-using dysfunctional orbital assets. The overall aim is recycling, partial and/ or complete re-use of assets in-space.
• Game- changing innovations and innovative space applications for protecting EU space infrastructure that focus on concepts that enable detection, identification and avoidance of natural and human-made hazards in space.

Breakthrough ideas and concepts proposed under this challenge should be designed and validated in a laboratory environment. They should address “old” debris and active debris removal (ADR) including end-of-life (EoL) disposal. The concepts may also include debris mitigation measures to be integrated into the design of spacecrafts and launchers.

Expected outcomes and impacts:

The portfolio building approach will select a group of projects in the scope of the above challenge objectives and develop:

• Technologies for space debris mitigation and remediation using very little propellant, that could be self-standing, in combination or in complementarity to other technologies to protect EU Space infrastructure.
• In-space Recycling & Re-use of orbital assets could research techniques or processes to generate basic materials and re-use components for structures and assets, thereby supporting the in-space assembly and manufacturing (ISAM) domain. This may lead to the development of innovative in-space services based on reusing of parts of orbital assets.
• Game- changing innovations and innovative space applications may result in, among others: 1) collision avoidance concepts providing accurate and timeliness detection and tracking of orbiting space objects, 2) innovations for space situational awareness (SSA), 3) development of algorithms and simulation tools for re-entry, close proximity operations, fragmentation and 4) innovative concepts for in-orbit spacecraft recognition and space debris detection;

This topic directly contributes to reinforcing the EU strategic autonomy and EU Space policy, notably regarding the EU Space Strategy for Security and Defence and the EU approach for Space Traffic Management. It will contribute to strengthening the European resilience by promoting a secure, sustainable and safe space domain.

Specific conditions

The submitted proposals must follow interdisciplinary and cross-sectorial approaches, looking for inspiration, ideas, and knowledge in a broad range of disciplines.

Applicants are encouraged to develop synergies with relevant activities under Horizon Europe Cluster 4 Work Programme 2021 – 2022 and Work Programme 2023 – 2024, destination Open Strategic Autonomy In Developing, Deploying And Using Global Space-Based Infrastructures, Services Applications And Data.

General conditions

1. Admissibility and eligibility conditions:

In order to apply, your proposal must meet the general requirements (see Annex 2) as well as possible specific eligibility requirements for this Challenge (Please see TOPIC DESCRIPTION above).

The EIC Pathfinder Challenges support collaborative or individual research and innovation from consortia or from single legal entities established in a Member State or an Associated Country. In case of a consortium your proposal must be submitted by the coordinator on behalf of the consortium. Consortia of two entities must be comprised of independent legal entities from two different Member States or Associated Countries. Consortia of three or more entities must include as beneficiaries at least three legal entities, independent from each other and each established in a different country as follows:

• at least one legal entity established in a Member State; and
• at least two other independent legal entities, each established in different Member States or Associated Countries.

The legal entities may for example be universities, research organisations, SMEs, start-ups, natural persons. In the case of single beneficiary projects, mid-caps and larger companies will not be permitted.

Your proposal will only be evaluated if it is admissible and eligible. The standard admissibility and eligibility conditions and the eligibility of applicants from third countries are detailed in Annex 2 of the EIC Work Programme 2024.

2. Proposal page limits and layout:

Described in Part B of the Application Form available in the Submission System.

Sections 1 to 3 of the part B of your proposal, corresponding respectively to the evaluation criteria Excellence, Impact, and Quality and Efficiency of the Implementation, must consist of a maximum of 30 A4 pages. Excess pages will be automatically made invisible, and will not be taken into consideration by the evaluators. Please also consult Annex 2 of the EIC Work Programme 2024.

3. Financial and operational capacity and exclusion:

Described in Annex 2 of the EIC Work Programme 2024.

4. Evaluation and award:

• Submission and evaluation processes: described in Section II.2 of the EIC Work Programme 2024. and the Online Manual.
• Award criteria, scoring and thresholds: described in Section II.2 of the EIC Work Programme 2024.
• Indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement: described in Section II.2 of the EIC Work Programme 2024.

You will be informed about the outcome of the evaluation within 5 months from the call deadline (indicative), and, if your proposal is accepted for funding, your grant agreement will be signed within 8 months after call deadline (indicative).

5. Legal and financial set-up of the grants:

Please refer to the Lump Sum Model Grant Agreement (Lump Sum MGA) used for Lump Sum EIC actions under Horizon Europe.

6. Specific conditions:Please see TOPIC DESCRIPTION above.

Start submission

To access the Electronic Submission Service, please click on the submission-button next to the type of action and the type of model grant agreement that corresponds to your proposal. You will then be asked to confirm your choice, as it cannot be changed in the submission system. Upon confirmation, you will be linked to the correct entry point.

To access existing draft proposals for this topic, please login to the Funding & Tenders Portal and select the My Proposals page of the My Area section.

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