Funding Opportunity: Consolidation Phase for IRIS² Low LEO Pre-Operational and De-Risk Activities

OVERVIEW

The European Space Agency (ESA) invites Element 3 Participating States industry to apply to the Consolidation Phase of IRIS² Low LEO Pre-Operational and De-Risk Activities as part of Element 3 of the ESA Programme Related to EU Secure Connectivity. The aim is to establish a structured pathway for the maturation and de-risking of governmental services and associated system concepts prior to their integration into the European Union’s Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity and Security by Satellite (IRIS²) operational system.

The objective of this activity is to develop mission concepts that address services of interest for the EU IRIS² programme, to a level that’s comparable to Phase A/B1 while compatible to the EU IRIS² system, and up to the objectives of pre-operational design.

SCOPE

• Consolidate a relevant set of use cases addressing governmental services, complementary to those already under development under EU programmes;
• Consolidate mission concepts and associated architectural and design aspects;
• Advance the maturity of key elements required to ensure compatibility to the EU IRIS² system, such as security and interfaces;
• Develop the service validation strategy, and roadmap for access to space and spectrum.

WHAT WE OFFER

• Funding opportunities ranging from early-stage development to in-orbit validation;
• A structured framework for the progressive maturation of complementary governmental services into the EU IRIS² baseline;
• Access to ESA expertise and coordination with the European Commission.

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

• Up to €1.5M per contract;
• Parallel contracts awarded in open competition;
• Strong encouragement for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) and Midcaps participation.

WHO CAN APPLY?

This opportunity is open to industry in ESA Member States participating in Element 3: Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland and Latvia. Participants must demonstrate relevant technical capability and industrial capacity, compliance to eligibility and participating conditions, compatibility to governmental services of interest for the EU IRIS² programme, and evidence of national support (i.e. authorisation of funding).

HOW TO APPLY

The application process follows ESA standard procurement procedures:

1. Invitation to Tender (ITT#1) issued through esa-star;
2. Submission of proposals;
3. Evaluation by ESA, in coordination with the European Commission;
4. Selection of proposals for the Consolidation Phase.

DEADLINE

This funding opportunity has a closing date of 18 May 2026 13.00 CET.

DISSEMINATION ACTIONS

Several EU IRIS² Low LEO Industry Days are currently being organised by the European Commission and SpaceRISE, with the participation of the European Space Agency. These are aiming to provide dedicated disseminating sessions on the objectives, opportunities and synergies as part of the EU IRIS² programme and the ESA Programme Related to EU Secure Connectivity. Find more information, visit esa-star for details of the Industry Day.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

This Invitation to Tender (ITT#1) represents the precursor of a second Invitation to Tender (ITT#2) to be issued at a later stage for the Implementation Phase. The timing for ITT#2 will be communicated in due course and will not be limited to those participating in ITT#1.

More information about the programme, please visit ESA Programme Related to EU Secure Connectivity.