ARTES Future Preparation (FP) is dedicated to strategic analysis, market analysis, technology and system feasibility studies and to the support of satellite communication standards. To explain ARTES FP in further detail, we asked Andrew Murrell from the Projects and Applications Division (TIA-TF), Telecom Technologies, Products and Systems Department the following questions:
1. Can you describe what the main activities of the ARTES FP element are?
The range of activities covered by ARTES FP include:
- Monitoring economic conditions and overall market trends to assess potential in the European and Canadian satcom markets
- Understanding future market needs while considering all actors participating in the satcom industry
- Understanding competition and synergy with terrestrial systems
- Building telecom product strategy through Research & Development activities
- Validating performance/feasibility of new concepts with an end-to-end system perspective
- Supporting standardisation and regulatory activities
2. How do the feasibility studies conducted in ARTES FP relate to the other elements of the ARTES programmes? Can you give some examples?
ARTES AT system feasibility studies are predecessors of new system developments undertaken usually in ARTES Advanced Technology (AT) and/or of future product developments either in space or ground segment domains undertaken usually in ARTES Competitiveness & Growth (C&G). Additionally these preparatory studies can lead to pilot demonstration activities.
3. How many people in the TIA directorate work specifically on the ARTES FP programme element? What are their tasks?
Four people are totally dedicated to ARTES FP. Each one is looking in depth at a number of specific research areas such as advanced broadcasting and interactive broadband systems, security and safety systems, institutional applications, satellite mobile systems and so on. Therefore market evolution, trends in regulatory and standardisation environment as well as technical developments in the various domains in Europe and worldwide are monitored closely.
When major activities are to be launched; special task groups are created in collaboration with other TIA-T sectors i.e. ground and/or space segment and the support of experts from D/TEC on specific areas.
One of the most important tasks of the ARTES FP group is to define the annual ARTES FP Workplan. As the telecom market is continually evolving, the group interfaces continuously with national delegations and industry as well as specific industrial user groups to understand their requirements.
Another important task of the ARTES FP group is to host workshops in order to increase the awareness of advanced satcom solutions for the benefit of all actors in the telecom value chain.
4. What is the ARTES FP workplan? How does it define ARTES FP activities?
The ARTES FP workplan consists of a number of activities that tackle all points presented under question 1. Ideas are collected through an annual open Call For Ideas where industry from Member States can submit their ideas on future systems development. Harmonisation between ARTES FP and activities conducted under other frameworks such as GSP are performed annually. Likewise, the filtering of ideas between the different ARTES elements is performed in collaboration with other TIA-T divisions.
5. How can I see which issues are covered by the current ARTES FP Rolling Workplan?
The content of all upcoming Rolling Work Plan activities is described on the esa-star or via the ARTES Funding page.
6. Can all the ESA Member States participate in ARTES FP ITTs?
ARTES FP is financed at a stable level by all Member States participating in the ARTES programme. Therefore industry from all participating Member States and Canada can bid on an ARTES FP ITT.
7. Are ARTES FP activities funded 100 per cent by ESA? Why?
ARTES FP is a key programme element, in the beginning of the ARTES ‘feeding chain’. The ARTES FP activities are funded 100% because:
- It is the ARTES enabling programme element that offers the possibility to acquire knowledge on future satcom market perspectives, investigate future system concepts and prepare initial ‘dossiers’ on strategic initiatives; that can not be developed usually at every Member State’s level. It is based on the concept of a European common effort to produce quality results to set the future.
- It provides opportunities to Member States’ industry to acquire knowledge and build technological capabilities in the area of satcom systems. It also provides a measure of the capabilities of the national industries through open competitive tenders.
8. Are the ARTES FP final reports and executive summaries available to anyone who would like to download them?
Final deliverables from fully funded activities are available to industry from Member States and Canada.
9. How can Member States and industry benefit by participating in ARTES FP activities?
By participating in ARTES FP activities, ESA Members States can acquire a better understanding of market opportunties; investigate the feasibility of new system concepts and technologies; generate business opportunities through networking via ARTES FP workshops and contribute to the case for satcom.