OBSERVER: Horizon Europe EU space research call foresees €139 million for space innovation and strategic autonomy
evan
Wed, 14/05/2025 – 18:23
Through its newly adopted Horizon Europe work programme 2025, the European Commission is driving cutting-edge research and innovation, accelerating the European Union’s green and digital transitions, and enhancing Europe’s competitiveness. As part of Horizon Europe Cluster 4: Digital, Industry and Space, the call HORIZON-CL4-2025-02 (SPACE-HADEA) has an indicative budget of €139 million to support research and innovation across the EU space value chain. Covering 20 topics, the call addresses everything from launch technologies and In-Space Operations and Services, to Earth Observation, satellite communications, and critical space electrical, electronic, and electromechanical (EEE) components and related technologies. A separate call, to be launched in October, will complement the scope with also the development of downstream applications. In this Observer, we take a look at the contents of this main call and how it mirrors the EU’s current priorities for the space sector.
Horizon Europe is the EU’s flagship programme for research and innovation, with a total budget of €93.5 billion for the 2021–2027 period. It helps tackle climate change and to achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, and boosts the EU’s competitiveness, strategic and technological autonomy and generates growth. The programme supports the implementation of EU policy priorities, including the EU Space Programme, European Green Deal, the EU’s Digital Strategy, and the EU Space Strategy for Security and Defence, through funding for research, innovation, and collaboration.
The call HORIZON-CL4-2025-02 is part of Horizon Europe Cluster 4: Digital, Industry and Space, and more specifically, Destination 5 “Open Strategic Autonomy in Developing, Deploying and Using Global Space-Based Infrastructure, Services, Applications and Data”.
Supporting research and innovation across the EU space value chain
That 2025 call for space-related topics under Horizon Europe supports research and innovation across key segments of the EU space value chain. The structure and content of the call reflects the EU’s ambition to build strategic capacity across the space sector, while encouraging collaboration, digitalisation, and international cooperation:
Heading 1 – Accessing Space: Focuses on improving the autonomy, resilience and cost-efficiency of European access to space. Topics support space transportation solutions, including digital design tools, enablers for autonomous systems, and better use of European spaceports.
Heading 2 – Acting in Space: Addresses the detailed design of the upcoming EU’s In-Space Operations and Services (ISOS) Pilot Mission. This new and ambitious initiative consists of four dedicated components: servicing component, Hub for Operational Services and Testing (HOST), logistics component, and satAPPS, laying the groundwork for future in-orbit capabilities driven by AI, automation and modularity.
Heading 3bis – Using Space on Earth – Telecommunications and Earth Observation: Supports the digitalisation of commercial space solutions, specifically Earth Observation (EO) and satellite telecommunications (including synergies between the two areas) within the scope of the co-programmed European Partnership on Globally Competitive Space Systems (‘Space Partnership’). Topics focus on digital enablers, artificial intelligence, and the preparation of demonstration missions.
Heading 4 – Using Space on Earth – Earth Observation: Targets the evolution of the Copernicus services. Areas of focus include climate and atmosphere modelling, ocean data assimilation, monitoring of fire-related carbon fluxes, and the use of AI and machine learning across services, as well as innovative EO services for the detection of maritime litter and ship source pollution.
Heading 8 (Boosting Space through non-dependence): Funds the development of critical space electrical, electronic, and electromechanical (EEE) components and related technologies. Topics cover RISC-V microprocessors, chip-scale atomic clocks, solar cells, connectors, advanced packages and memories, all supporting the EU’s aim to reduce reliance on non-European suppliers.
Heading 9 (Boosting Space through international cooperation): Includes a dedicated topic on EU–Japan collaboration for the exploitation of quantum space gravimetry data.
A call aligned with EU priorities
This new call reflects EU priorities in strategic autonomy, digitalisation, and sustainability. A key objective is to strengthen Europe’s capacity to act independently in space by supporting in-space operations and services, autonomous access to spaceports, and the development of critical space electrical, electronic, and electromechanical (EEE) components. These priorities align with the EU’s broader space and industrial strategies.
Several topics contribute to the digital transition, particularly through the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning in Earth Observation. These technologies play a growing role in Copernicus service evolution, improving the speed of data processing and delivery, as well as the accuracy of interpretation and numerical models.
Environmental monitoring is also a focus, with topics addressing maritime pollution, wildfire-related carbon fluxes and ocean data assimilation. These contribute to EU sustainability goals and support implementation of the European Green Deal.
From early research to demonstration and strategic technologies
The call includes both Research and Innovation Actions (RIAs) and Innovation Actions (IAs), supporting projects at different stages of technological maturity. This includes support for early-stage research and development, as well as mid to higher-TRL activities such as design work for demonstration missions and the In-Space Operations and Services (ISOS) Pilot Mission.
Several topics also address foundational technologies, including AI tools and digital enablers for new space transport systems and commercial Earth Observation and Satellite Communication. Opportunities are open to a wide range of actors, including research institutions, SMEs and industry.
The focus on non-dependence is particularly evident when it comes to Heading 8, which supports the development of cutting-edge hardware components (such as RISC-V microprocessors, chip-scale atomic clocks and solar cells mentioned earlier), and advanced microelectronic packaging and memory technologies. These investments aim to strengthen Europe’s capacity to design and produce key space technologies domestically.
Many of these topics contribute to the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP), and several are eligible to receive the STEP Seal, identifying them as strategically important to the EU.
A long-term investment in Europe’s space future
This call under Horizon Europe Cluster 4 is part of a broader effort to ensure that the EU space sector remains at the forefront of technological progress, economic resilience, and global competitiveness. By supporting innovation across launch systems, in-orbit services, Earth Observation, and secure communications, the call reflects the European Commission’s long-term commitment to building a sustainable and autonomous space economy.
Its wide thematic scope provides a unique opportunity to advance research, strengthen industrial capabilities and deliver tangible impact across Member States. Whether through preparing the next generation of Copernicus services or enabling independent access to space, the call contributes to the EU’s ability to shape its own future in space.
The call opens on 22 May 2025 on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal, with a deadline for all topics of 25 September 2025. Details can be found in the adopted Horizon Europe Cluster 4 work programme 2025, available on the European Commission’s Research and Innovation website, or directly via this link.
Wed, 14/05/2025 – 12:00