ISOS Pilot Mission Detailed Design – satAPPs component
Horizon Europe Cluster 4 - Open strategic autonomy in developing, deploying and using global space-based infrastructures, services, applications and data (HORIZON-CL4-2025-02-SPACE-24)
Funding Amount
€2.0M - €3.0M
Deadline
25/09/2025
Eligible Organization Types
Non-profit, Private Business, Research Institution, Public Institution
Trusted by
What is the ISOS Pilot Mission Detailed Design – satAPPs component Call?
Grant Description
This call seeks research and innovation actions to complete the detailed mission and system design of the satellite application modules (sat APPs) component for the In-Space Operations and Services (ISOS) pilot mission. It addresses creation of composable, exchangeable functional modules for satellite upgrade, development of a European catalogue of sat APPs following an App Store approach, and demonstration of plug-and-play in-orbit experiments. The aim is to seed a future in-space service infra...
Required Results for Successful Funding
Expected Outcomes
Projects will: deliver by 2030 a pilot in-space mission concept for sat APPs as seed components of a future service infrastructure for the European in-space ecosystem; establish a sustainable, highly automated, modular and economically viable space infrastructure embodying circular economy principles (plug-and-play, module recycling/re-use); complete detailed mission and system design and mature enabling technologies and operational concepts; define interfaces between sat APPs, servicing, HOST, logistics and the ISOS Pilot Mission Coordination and Support Action; enhance in-orbit demonstration and validation (IOD/V) opportunities via plug-and-play sat APPs; contribute to ISOS pilot mission objectives per the technical annex; elaborate clear governmental and commercial use cases and business models; contribute to a European sat APPs catalogue following an App Store approach; ensure deliverables are ready for subsequent mission phases; and support medium- to long-term deployment of global space-based services, strengthening EU freedom of action, resilience, technological non-dependence and competitiveness of the European space sector.
Funded areas
Scope Requirements
1. Complete the detailed mission and system design for the sat APPs component, including maturation of all relevant technologies to the necessary TRL.
2. Develop innovative sat APPs technologies at TRL 6+ for component functional upgrades, payload exchange and IOD/V experiments.
3. Design modular, composable sat APP modules tailored for hosting IOD/V payloads.
4. Elaborate and validate interfaces among sat APPs, servicing, HOST, logistics and the ISOS Pilot Mission Coordination and Support Action (CSA).
5. Coordinate design activities with other mission components and the ISOS Pilot Mission Advisory Group (PMAG).
6. Present a clear, time-bound plan to achieve required TRLs by project completion.
7. Demonstrate complementarities with prior and ongoing EU-funded R&I initiatives (Horizon Europe/2020 topics, EIC Accelerator, ESA and national projects).
8. Leverage existing European technologies and component building blocks to enhance non-dependence and competitiveness.
9. Promote collaboration between industry, SMEs and research institutions.
10. Propose pathways for rapid technology uptake into commercial use via on-ground or in-orbit demonstrations.
11. Encourage international cooperation and integrate the gender dimension where it is relevant to research objectives.
12. Align with STEP Regulation requirements for digital and deep-tech space technologies.
13. Prepare to formalize interoperability and collaboration under a joint agreement with projects from related ISOS topics.
2. Develop innovative sat APPs technologies at TRL 6+ for component functional upgrades, payload exchange and IOD/V experiments.
3. Design modular, composable sat APP modules tailored for hosting IOD/V payloads.
4. Elaborate and validate interfaces among sat APPs, servicing, HOST, logistics and the ISOS Pilot Mission Coordination and Support Action (CSA).
5. Coordinate design activities with other mission components and the ISOS Pilot Mission Advisory Group (PMAG).
6. Present a clear, time-bound plan to achieve required TRLs by project completion.
7. Demonstrate complementarities with prior and ongoing EU-funded R&I initiatives (Horizon Europe/2020 topics, EIC Accelerator, ESA and national projects).
8. Leverage existing European technologies and component building blocks to enhance non-dependence and competitiveness.
9. Promote collaboration between industry, SMEs and research institutions.
10. Propose pathways for rapid technology uptake into commercial use via on-ground or in-orbit demonstrations.
11. Encourage international cooperation and integrate the gender dimension where it is relevant to research objectives.
12. Align with STEP Regulation requirements for digital and deep-tech space technologies.
13. Prepare to formalize interoperability and collaboration under a joint agreement with projects from related ISOS topics.
Additional Conditions for Applicants
Special Conditions
• Action type: Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Action (HORIZON-RIA) under a lump sum Model Grant Agreement (HORIZON-AG-LS).
• Single-stage submission; 60-page limit for Part B of the application form.
• Eligible countries per Horizon Europe Annex B; financial capacity and exclusion rules per Annex C.
• If using satellite-based earth observation or PNT data, mandatory use of Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS.
• Award and evaluation follow Annex D (including STEP Seal eligibility), Annex F (processes and timeline) and Annex G (lump sum rules).
• Mandatory use of the Guidance Document for the EU ISOS Pilot Mission.
• Proposals must formalize a collaboration agreement with other selected ISOS projects to share documentation, ensure interoperability, define common processes and coordinate dissemination, communication and review activities.
• Gender dimension to be addressed only if relevant to objectives.
• International cooperation is encouraged.
• Submission type cannot be changed once selected in the electronic portal.
• Single-stage submission; 60-page limit for Part B of the application form.
• Eligible countries per Horizon Europe Annex B; financial capacity and exclusion rules per Annex C.
• If using satellite-based earth observation or PNT data, mandatory use of Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS.
• Award and evaluation follow Annex D (including STEP Seal eligibility), Annex F (processes and timeline) and Annex G (lump sum rules).
• Mandatory use of the Guidance Document for the EU ISOS Pilot Mission.
• Proposals must formalize a collaboration agreement with other selected ISOS projects to share documentation, ensure interoperability, define common processes and coordinate dissemination, communication and review activities.
• Gender dimension to be addressed only if relevant to objectives.
• International cooperation is encouraged.
• Submission type cannot be changed once selected in the electronic portal.
Important dates
Open from: 22/05/2025
Deadline:25/09/2025
Application period has ended
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