December 10, 2025
Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems (ARTES)
ESA’s main programme for technology development in satellite communications – it transforms investment in space into successful products and services.
Through its generic and strategic programme lines, ESA’s Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems (ARTES) enables European and Canadian industry to explore innovative concepts that stimulate the wider economy, creating new business and jobs across every industry, through cutting-edge research and development. The programme supports the production of market-leading and cutting-edge products and services within a fiercely competitive global satellite communications market, offering varying degrees of funding to projects, whatever their operational or commercial maturity. With ARTES, guidance is given to industry and academia that directs them to the most suitable programmatic tool, transforming investment into successful products and services.
What you can get from ARTES 4.0
Developing the future of satellite-enable telecommunication
With ESA’s support, industry can pursue research and development that would otherwise not be economically viable. Growing new space-enabled applications and services stimulates the wider economy, creating new business and jobs across every industry.
Services using space capabilities benefit society daily and on a global and local scale, such as improving education in rural areas, assisting search and rescue, providing remote healthcare and monitoring natural resources and the environment.
ARTES Toolbox
A collection of tools that support diverse types of collaboration projects between industry, academia and ESA
Our generic programme lines are dedicated to the development, qualification and demonstration of technologies and products. They provide frameworks to bring innovative concepts into the marketplace through partnerships, while offering strategic market analysis, satellite communication standards and feasibility studie
Industrial Competitiveness
With the aim of elevating the competitiveness of European and Canadian industry on the global stage, this programme maintains and improves industry’s capabilities through innovative development of satellite communications technology, products and systems, while generating a high return on investment. Industrial Competitiveness offers speed, flexibility, and offers highly adaptable risk-sharing and co-funding levels.
Future Preparation
The programme’s primary goals are to identify and help create new market opportunities for European industry by studying new mission and service concepts, defining future technology development needs, informing future regulatory efforts, helping develop new industry standards, and building new project activity.
Aims to foster collaboration and synergy between projects within areas of focus
Our strategic programme lines focus on strategically important products and services within the domains of safety and security, optical and quantum, as well as 5G/6G. The strategic programme lines can draw on the tools available in the GPLs to provide support to projects within these focus areas.
Space for 5G/6G & Sustainable Connectivity
Supports development of products and services using 5G and 6G through the integration of satellite and terrestrial networks. The programme builds innovative hubs and testbeds, while drawing technology and product roadmaps.
Optical & Quantum Communications – ScyLight
Revolutionises connectivity on a global scale, kick-starting the development of disruptive optical and quantum technologies. The programme supports industry with research, initiates studies, plans pilots and defines critical technology roadmaps.
Space Systems for Safety & Security
By working closely with user communities, institutions and industries with special attention given to reinforcing European supply chains, this programme transforms space technology into European or Canadian designed, manufactured and deployed operational systems that bolster non-dependence in a critical field for safer and more resilient societies.
Companies and organisations – whether small or large, new or experienced – are welcome to participate in the ARTES programme. Participation is open to all entities residing within participating Member States provided that your country subscribes to the ARTES element concerned. There are two ways to place a contract with ESA – through the ESA-initiated Invitations To Tender (ITT) or through the industry-initiated call for proposals.
How to work with us
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RELATED LINKS & CONTACS
CONTACT
David Phillips
ESA’s European Centre for Space Applications and Telecommunications (ECSAT)
Fermi Avenue
Harwell, Didcot OX11 0FD
+44 (0)7785 439617
David.Phillips@esa.int
CONTACT
Michael Witting
ESA’s European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC)
Keplerlaan 1
2201 AZ Noordwijk, The Netherlands
+31 625158619
Michael.Witting@esa.int