Space for Sustainability in Sports and Mass Events
Space for Sustainability in Sports and Mass Events
Funding Amount
Amount not specified
Deadline
10/10/2025
Eligible Organization Types
Non-profit, Private Business, Research Institution, Public Institution, Other
Trusted by
What is the Space for Sustainability in Sports and Mass Events Call?
Grant Description
This Call invites feasibility studies and demonstration projects that leverage satellite navigation, communication and earth observation technologies to enhance the environmental sustainability of large‐scale sports and mass events by reducing carbon footprints, managing waste, improving mobility and logistics, protecting biodiversity and increasing event resilience.
Required Results for Successful Funding
Expected Outcomes
• Defined business cases and go-to-market strategies for new space-based sustainability services in the events industry.
• Validated prototypes or pilot systems demonstrating real-time carbon footprint reduction, waste management optimisation, biodiversity impact monitoring, sustainable logistics and infrastructure planning.
• Operational tools for event organisers: emissions measurement dashboards, site access compliance trackers, route and transport optimisation engines, IoT-sensor networks for air quality and weather risk alerts.
• Quantified environmental and social benefits (e.g. tonnes of CO₂ saved, water/energy savings, reduced disturbance to protected areas).
• Preparedness for commercialisation: investment readiness, partner network engagement, ESA brand endorsement and pathway to scale across multiple event types and geographies.
• Strengthened resilience of events to climate and environmental risks, ensuring safer, greener, more transparent operations.
• Validated prototypes or pilot systems demonstrating real-time carbon footprint reduction, waste management optimisation, biodiversity impact monitoring, sustainable logistics and infrastructure planning.
• Operational tools for event organisers: emissions measurement dashboards, site access compliance trackers, route and transport optimisation engines, IoT-sensor networks for air quality and weather risk alerts.
• Quantified environmental and social benefits (e.g. tonnes of CO₂ saved, water/energy savings, reduced disturbance to protected areas).
• Preparedness for commercialisation: investment readiness, partner network engagement, ESA brand endorsement and pathway to scale across multiple event types and geographies.
• Strengthened resilience of events to climate and environmental risks, ensuring safer, greener, more transparent operations.
Funded areas
Scope Requirements
• Use at least one satellite technology (GNSS for real-time tracking and route optimisation; SatCom for remote sensor connectivity and emergency alerts; SatEO combined with AI/ML for GHG measurement, traffic flow analysis, land-use/ biodiversity monitoring and weather forecasting).
• Address one or more thematic pillars: 1) Carbon Reduction (electric/autonomous transport, real-time emissions measurement); 2) Nature & Biodiversity Protection (site access control, environmental compliance, snowmaking optimisation for winter sports); 3) Circular Economy (impact monitoring of green spaces, supply-chain traceability, Scope 3 emissions tracking); 4) Sustainable Infrastructure (temporary venue planning, IoT-enabled smart facility upgrades); 5) Event Resilience (extreme weather risk assessment, air quality monitoring).
• Demonstrate attractive market opportunity, clearly identified customer segments and engagement channels.
• Present commercially viable service concepts with sustainable revenue models.
• Prove technical feasibility, including system architecture, data processing pipelines and integration with event operations.
• Quantify and validate the added value of space data/technology compared to non-space alternatives.
• Assemble a multi-disciplinary team with proven business, technical and financial expertise.
• Proposing entity(ies) must be established in one of the eligible ESA Member States (Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Hungary, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Lithuania, Slovakia). Entities in Greece, Spain or Canada may participate only if the proposal includes a significant 5G or Safety & Security element.
• Address one or more thematic pillars: 1) Carbon Reduction (electric/autonomous transport, real-time emissions measurement); 2) Nature & Biodiversity Protection (site access control, environmental compliance, snowmaking optimisation for winter sports); 3) Circular Economy (impact monitoring of green spaces, supply-chain traceability, Scope 3 emissions tracking); 4) Sustainable Infrastructure (temporary venue planning, IoT-enabled smart facility upgrades); 5) Event Resilience (extreme weather risk assessment, air quality monitoring).
• Demonstrate attractive market opportunity, clearly identified customer segments and engagement channels.
• Present commercially viable service concepts with sustainable revenue models.
• Prove technical feasibility, including system architecture, data processing pipelines and integration with event operations.
• Quantify and validate the added value of space data/technology compared to non-space alternatives.
• Assemble a multi-disciplinary team with proven business, technical and financial expertise.
• Proposing entity(ies) must be established in one of the eligible ESA Member States (Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Hungary, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Lithuania, Slovakia). Entities in Greece, Spain or Canada may participate only if the proposal includes a significant 5G or Safety & Security element.
Additional Conditions for Applicants
Special Conditions
• Funding level: zero-equity grants covering 50–80% of total eligible costs, depending on SME status and Member State approval.
• Mandatory Authorisation: before submitting a Full Proposal, each participating organisation must obtain a Letter of Authorisation from its National Delegation (not required for Italian entities).
• Three-step submission process: 1) Activity Pitch Questionnaire via ESA’s Open Space Innovation Platform (OSIP); 2) Outline Proposal (within 1 year of APQ acceptance) submitted to business@esa.int; 3) Full Proposal via ESA-STAR after invitation, with registration and official tender documents.
• Proposals reviewed periodically; early APQ submission throughout 2025 is encouraged.
• External experts and National Delegations may be involved at each evaluation stage.
• Teams based outside eligible Member States (and not meeting the Greece/Spain/Canada exception) are ineligible.
• Mandatory Authorisation: before submitting a Full Proposal, each participating organisation must obtain a Letter of Authorisation from its National Delegation (not required for Italian entities).
• Three-step submission process: 1) Activity Pitch Questionnaire via ESA’s Open Space Innovation Platform (OSIP); 2) Outline Proposal (within 1 year of APQ acceptance) submitted to business@esa.int; 3) Full Proposal via ESA-STAR after invitation, with registration and official tender documents.
• Proposals reviewed periodically; early APQ submission throughout 2025 is encouraged.
• External experts and National Delegations may be involved at each evaluation stage.
• Teams based outside eligible Member States (and not meeting the Greece/Spain/Canada exception) are ineligible.
Important dates
Open from: 07/05/2025
Deadline:10/10/2025
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