Funding
This page displays the ARTES Invitation To Tenders (ITTs) which are published on ESA-STAR. If you are looking for a specific element select from the list provided and click on the Apply button to start the search and display the results.
Funding of the individual Prime or subcontractors, for ARTES Core Competitiveness and ARTES Applications activities, is subject to authorisation of the required ARTES budget by the related National Delegations. Therefore, bidding teams are requested to inform their National Delegation(s) of their intention to participate in funded activities already before submitting a proposal.
The official information platform for providing potential bidders all the relevant documentation and details concerning the intended and issued Invitations To Tender (ITTs) for Open Competitions and Direct Negotiations is ESA-STAR - managed and operated by the ESA Procurement Department.
HANDOVER, DATA ROUTING AND RADIO RESOURCE MANAGEMENT FOR VERY LOW EARTH ORBIT (VLEO) BROADBAND CONSTELLATIONS (ARTES 4.0 AT 3C.043)
The objective of this activity is to develop and test handover, data routing and radio resource management techniques for a broadband satellite constellation in Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO). The techniques will be implemented, and their performance assessed in a software system testbed. Targeted Improvements:Enabling system techniques for VLEO broadband systems not existing today in ESA member states.Description: The VLEO orbit is now the centr…
Q/V BAND PHASED ARRAY ANTENNAS FOR GROUND TERMINALS (ARTES AT 7C.070) (ON DELEGATION REQUEST)
The objective of this activity is to develop and test a receive Q-band prototype, and a transmit V-band beamformer, both supporting2 beams scanning in a large field of view for the mobility market (e.g. aeroplanes, buses, trains). Targeted Improvements:Enabling technology for Q/V band user terminals for the mobility market (aeroplanes, buses, trains). Description:Today, terminal antennas are mainly exploiting the Ka- and the Ku-frequency bands…
DEMONSTRATOR OF A RECONFIGURABLE Q-BAND FEEDER LINK MULTIBEAM ANTENNA FOR HIGH-CAPACITY GEOSTATIONARY SATELLITES (ARTES 4.0 AT 5B.224)
Objective:The objective of the activity is to develop and test a scalable, generic and reconfigurable multibeam transmit antenna architecture for feeder links operating in Q-band and supporting high-capacity geostationary broadband multimedia missions.TargetedImprovements:- Replacement of multiple (typically two or more) feeder link reflector antennas by a single antenna.- System deployment before finalisation of the gateway locations (6-12 mo…
MULTI-PURPOSE QUANTUM KEY DISTRIBUTION RECEIVER FOR OPTICAL GROUND STATIONS (ARTES 4.0 4S SPL 3D.013)
Objective: the objective of the activity is the development and testing of a multi-purpose ground Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) Optical Receiver including a compact decoding set-up for secure key material generation. Key output is the standardization of interfaces a) from the telescope of the optical ground station and b) to the customer key management system.Targeted Improvements: The main target improvement of this activity is the optimisa…
LUNAR OPTICAL COMMUNICATION PHOTON COUNTING RECEIVER (ARTES 4.0 SL SPL 6C.018)
Objective: The objective of the activity is the development and testing of an receiver for lunar optical communication in a photon starved regime. Targeted Improvements: Photon-starved optical communications data and tracking receiver with 8 times increased bandwidth (1 ns versus 125 ps). Description: A photon-counting detector receiver package for free-space communications between a lunar satellite and Earth-based ground terminal does not exi…
CATHODELESS ELECTRIC PROPULSION THRUSTER (ARTES 4.0 AT 4B.173)
The objective of the activity is to develop, manufacture and test an electric propulsion thruster that does not require a neutraliser to operate nominally with a minimum of 25% of thrust efficiency (based on operation with air as the propellant).Targeted Improvements:Increase thrust efficiency by more than 50% to reach a minimum of 25%.Description: Traditional Electric Propulsion (EP) technologies make use of an electron emitter, or cathode, t…
PACKAGING OF PHOTONICS FOR LASER COMMUNICATION TERMINALS (ARTES 4.0 SL SPL 5F.029)
Objective: The objective of the activity is to develop and test different sized packaging solutions with optical and electronic feed-throughs, which allow commercial photonic chips to be deployed in space. Targeted Improvements: By developing innovative packagingtechniques, some types of high-volume parts developed for terrestrial telecommunications markets can be made available for space. Description: This activity aims to establish a packagi…
5G REGENERATIVE PROCESSOR AND ASSOCIATED SYSTEM TESTBED (ARTES SPL 5G/6G 5A.083)
The objective of this activity is to implement and test the signal processing portion of a 5G LEO satellite payload capable of handling several high throughput beams assuming an active antenna configuration. The demonstrator shall be based on a processor capable of controlling a reconfigurable beam-forming network (BFN) and performing signal (re-)generation andchannelisation of 5G waveforms.Targeted Improvements: Enable 5G regenerative payload…
HIGH LINEARITY LOW NOISE AMPLIFIER FOR V-BAND UPLINK FOR SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS PAYLOAD (ARTES 4.0 AT 5C.485)
The objective of this activity is to develop, manufacture and test a scaled engineering model of a high linearity Low Noise Amplifier (LNA) module optimised for operation in the 47.5 - 51.4 GHz frequency band and suitable for integration in feed arrays for satellite communications. The LNA shall feature a high intercept point, achieving good performance without distortion or damage in a high interference signal environment.Targeted Improvement…
EVAPORATION MODELLING FOR LONG LIFE MECHANISMS USED IN GEOSTATIONARY SATELLITES (ARTES AT 4E.087) (ON DELEGATION REQUEST)
The objective of the activity is to develop and correlate an evaporation software model for long life (15 years and above) mechanisms (e.g. solar array drive mechanism, reaction wheels, electric propulsion and antenna pointing mechanisms) as needed for geostationary spacecraft. The developed evaporation software model will be validated through testing of mechanism test-vehicles. Targeted Improvements:- increase the accuracy of the current anal…
5G AUTOMOTIVE ANTENNA PROTOTYPE AND DEMONSTRATION (ARTES 4.0 SPL 5G/6G 7C.084)
The objective is to design and demonstrate a new class of low-profile and conformal antennas, providing seamless connectivity for 5G services on vehicles.Targeted Improvements:Enabling technology Satellite antennas compatible with the constrains of the automotive markets (in terms of aesthetics, aerodynamics and safety), whilst providing seamless connectivity, are currently not available.Description:The automotive sector is a crucial target gr…
HIGH POWER W-BAND TRANSMIT-RECEIVE DIPLEXERS FOR GROUND STATIONS (ARTES AT 6B.118) (ON DELEGATION REQUEST) - EXPRO+
The objective of this activity is to design, develop and test a high-power Tx/Rx W-band diplexer for ground terminals.Targeted Improvements:Enabling technology for ground stations W-band gateway links with high power handling and low PIM.Description:The useof the available spectrum in W-band (71-76 GHz for downlink and 81-86 GHz for uplink) is attractive to satcom systems asit could beadopted in the gateway of Very High Throughput Satellites (…
BACKGROUND LIGHT AND ATMOSPHERE METROLOGY FOR QUANTUM KEY DISTRIBUTION AT URBAN LOCATIONS (4S SAGA)
Development of tools and hardware and the execution of a measurement campaign for background light and atmosphere conditions for Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) at urban location (major cities and metropolitan areas) under ARTES 4.0 Space Systems for Safety and Security (4S) Strategic Programme Line. These measurement results are an important check point to validate the design of the SAGA system. The background light and atmosphere metrology ac…
END-TO-END DEMONSTRATION OF 5G NEW RADIO (NR) FOR FUTURE RAILWAY MOBILE COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS (ARTES 4.0 SPL 5G/6G 7C.086)
The objective of this activity is to develop the necessary 5G New Radio (NR) ground segment prototypes for servicing the Future Railway Mobile Communication System (FRMCS) via satellite and demonstrate the capability with end-to-end in orbit testing.Targeted improvements:Ensure compliance to the FRMCS safety and performance requirements by demonstrating the feasibility of servicing via a satellite link, complementing the terrestrial network. P…
MULTI-PLATFORM DUAL BAND CONFIGURABLE POWER AMPLIFIER FOR AVIONIC TERMINALS (ARTES AT 7C.052) (ON DELEGATION REQUEST)
Objective: The objective of the activity is to develop, manufacture and test a breadboard of a L- and C-band configurable power amplifier to enable dual band operation of avionic terminals. It shall demonstrate 200W peak power per channel and a 10dB dynamic rangewith a constant average power added efficiency of at least 50% for both bands, without compromising linearity performance. The breadboard shall include driver, main and peak amplifier,…
Q/V/W-BAND INTEGRATED FREQUENCY CONVERTERS FOR FUTURE VERY HIGH THROUGHPUT SATELLITES (ARTES 4.0 AT 5C.500)
The objective of the activity is to design, manufacture and test Q/V/W-band frequency converters based on a single chip core MMIC for telecommunication payloads employing Digital Transparent Processors (DTP).Targeted Improvements:- Footprint and mass reduced bya factor of 10.- Power consumption reduced by a factor of 3 to 5.Description:For Digital Transparent Processors (DTP) pre- and post-processors are needed in order to up- and down convert…
WAVEFRONT SENSOR FOR OPERATION UNDER STRONG ATMOSPHERIC TURBULENCE (ARTES 4.0 SL SPL 6C.041)
Objective: This activity aims at investigating different wavefront sensor technologies in order to identify the best suited one foroperation under strong atmospheric turbulence conditions in optical communication applications. Targeted Improvements: 100% increased wavefront sensor performance under strong atmospheric turbulence conditions. Description: Optical beams propagating through the turbulent atmosphere undergo phase and amplitude fluct…
ARTES 4.0 TECHNOLOGY AND PRODUCT DEVELOPMENTS ACTIVITY - STANDARD CALL FOR PROPOSALS
This Call for Proposals covers the industry initiated activities for the four Programmes lines identified below:ARTES Core Competitiveness Generic ProgrammeLine- Component B: Competitiveness GrowthARTES Strategic Programme Line Space for 5G/6G and Sustainable Connectivity ARTES Strategic Programme Line Space Systems for Safety and Security (4S)ARTES Strategic Programme Line Optical and Quantum Communication - ScyLight. The participating state…
6G SATELLITE PRECURSOR - STERLING IN-ORBIT LABORATORY (ARTES 4.0 SPL 5G/6G 3E.011)
The objective of the activity is to develop an in-orbit experiment where technologies and techniques that will be key for the role of satellites in 6G networks can be tested, validated and their performance measured. This includes very novel techniques such as AI-assisted dynamic spectrum allocation, AI-assisted dynamic service-based resource management, self-optimised air interface, characterisation of sub-THz transmission performance and nov…
CIVIL SECURITY FROM SPACE PROGRAMME - STANDARD CALL FOR PROPOSAL
This Call for Proposals covers the industry initiated activities for the Civil Security for Space programme.
SPACE BASED LINKS FOR THE QUANTUM INTERNET (ARTES 4.0 SL SPL 5G.036) - EXPRO+
Objective: The objective of the activity is to study concepts and design technologies for extending/supporting the terrestrial quantum internet developments with space-based connectivity.Targeted Improvements: Enabler for long (100km) quantum internet connections. Fibre losses limit the range of connections to less than 100 km and longer links can only be realised using satellites. Description:1) Reviewing/surveying of applications based on th…
END-TO-END MANUFACTURING PROCESS FOR SOLAR ARRAYS FOR CONSTELLATIONS (ARTES 4.0 AT 4F.162)
The objective of the activity is to spin-in terrestrial multi-junction solar cell manufacturing processes and to develop and test photo voltaic assembly techniques to reduce the end-to-end manufacturing complexity of solar arrays for constellations. Targeted Improvements: Reduction of manufacturing complexity and manufacturing time of solar arrays by a factor of two in comparison to the current state-of-the-art solar arrays based on multi-junc…
SCALABLE PUBLIC KEY INFRASTRUCTURE CONCEPT FOR LARGE CONSTELLATION SECURE COMMUNICATIONS (ARTES 4.0 4S SPL 3D.016)
The objective of the activity is to study, design, develop and test a scalable and future proof Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) concept for a telecommunications system based on a large constellation including concept of interconnection with other space and terrestrial systems. The PKI shall allow the authentication of users (on ground and in space) by means of asymmetric cryptography (classical and post-quantum) as well as the definition of gr…
PHASED ARRAY ANTENNAS BASED ON FLEXIBLE ULTRA-LIGHT MATERIALS AND PRINTED RF COMPONENTS (ARTES AT 7C.074) RE-ISSUE
The objective of this activity is to design, manufacture and test a phased array antenna, in Ku- or Ka-band, based on ultra-lightweight, flexible and conformable dielectric substrate materials and printed passive and active RF components. Targeted Improvements:The phased array antenna is expected to be 5-10 times lighter, could be installed on curved surfaces, and guarantee an extended field of view. Description:Traditional arrays are rigid, b…
NOVEL COST EFFICIENT LASER SYSTEM FOR SODIUM GUIDE STAR GENERATION (ARTES 4.0 SL SPL 6C.040)
The objective of the activity is to develop and prototype a laser system for Sodium guide stars (an alternative to complex and expensive Raman shifted technologies) using semiconductors (e.g., VECSEL). The prototype laser shall be validated on sky demonstrating alaser guide star of sufficient brightness.Targeted Improvements:50% reduction in cost and complexity of guide star laser systemsDescription:With the growing number of constellations of…