This grant aims to finance and implement development projects that mature critical space equipment, reducing dependence on non-EU sources and establishing sustainable supply chains within the EU. The goal is to achieve strategic autonomy in critical space technologies, enhancing competitiveness and access for EU missions.
General information
- Programme
- Horizon Europe (HORIZON)2021–2027
- Call
- SPACE HORIZON-CL4-2027-07
- Programme part
- Pillar II · Global Challenges & CompetitivenessCluster 4 · Digital, Industry and Space
- Destination
- Achieving open strategic autonomy in global space-based infrastructures, services, applications and data (2026-27)
- Type of action
- HORIZON-RIA Research and Innovation Actions
- Type of MGA
- HORIZON-AG HORIZON Action Grant Budget-Based
- Status
- Forthcoming
- Deadline model
- Single-stage
- Opening date
- 07.10.2027
- Deadline date
- 20.01.2028, 17:00 Brussels time
- Cross-cutting priorities
Budget overview
| Type of action | Budget 2027 | EU contribution per project | Grants | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HORIZON-RIAResearch and Innovation Actions | – | €3–4M | 2 | 20.01.2028 |
Expected outcome
Project results are expected to contribute to all of the following expected outcomes:
- Reinforcing EU strategic autonomy by reducing non-EU dependencies on critical space equipment and related technologies across their entire supply chain;
- Providing unrestricted access to critical space equipment and related technologies relevant for EU space missions;
- Developing or regaining capacity to operate independently in space by developing resilient critical space equipment and related technologies supply chains, relying on EU supply chains and/or trustable and reliable supply chains not affected by non-EU export restrictions;
- Enhancing competitiveness by developing products and capabilities reaching equivalent or superior performance level than those from outside the EU and compete at worldwide level;
- Opening new opportunities for manufacturers by reducing dependency on non-EU export restricted technologies.
Scope
Unrestricted access to state-of-art space equipment and related technologies is a pre-requisite for the EU space industry responding to EU space missions. However, especially for some families of equipment, the available solutions in EU do not meet the current high-performance space requirements and alternative products, sourced from outside EU, are either affected by non-EU export control with extra territorial applicability, that limit the access, re-export or raise challenges in terms of trustable supply chains for the implementation of EU space missions with a security dimension.
Within the frame of this topic it is expected to finance and implement development projects aiming at maturing critical space equipment with the final goal of lowering the dependency from outside EU, establish a long-term sustainable supply chain and support EU strategic autonomy in the space sector. The selection of the supply chains shall reflect this objective. Therefore, the supply chain shall preferably be built fully based in EU and when this can only be achieved partially (i.e. because of lack of current EU capabilities that cannot be developed within the project), services procured from outside EU shall nevertheless ensure that the overall supply chain will remain trustable and not affected by non-EU export control. The latest scenario is subject to the approval of the granting authority.
The list of space equipment and related technologies relevant for this topic will be selected based on needs related to strategic institutional programs, inputs from relevant European stakeholders and the EU Observatory of Critical Technologies. It will be proposed in 2026 and validated with the HE delegations.
Space is a low volume market affected by a dynamic industrial landscape compared to the terrestrial market therefore, technological spin in and/or bilateral collaborations should be enhanced between European non-space and space industries. Furthermore, proposed activities should be complementary to national activities and European space agencies. Complementary activities should be clearly identified, described and the proposal should report how the complementarity is ensured.
Who can apply
- A consortium of at least three independent organisations from three different EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated Countries, at least one from an EU Member State.
- Ukraine has been associated to the programme since 2022: Ukrainian organisations can coordinate and receive funding on equal terms.
- Universities, research organisations, companies (including SMEs), public authorities and NGOs can take part.
Applicant types in our database: Higher Education Institutions (HEI), Research Institute or Organization (RnD), A Government Structure or Central Authority, Small and Medium Enterprise (SME), Start-Up, Entrepreneurs, Non-governmental organization (NGO).
How to apply
- Register your organisation on the Funding & Tenders portal and get a PIC (9 digits).
- Build a consortium or join one: use Partner Search on the topic page.
- Download the proposal template (Part A forms, Part B narrative) in the submission system on the topic page.
- Submit by 20.01.2028, 17:00 Brussels time. The system opens on 07.10.2027.
The official topic text, templates and submission are on the Funding & Tenders topic page.
Frequently asked questions
What is the deadline for HORIZON-CL4-2027-SPACE-07-84?
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