June 27, 2025
Industrial Competitiveness
Industrial Competitiveness quick links
Designed to accelerate the competitiveness of Europe and sustain our Member States’ leadership in the world satellite communications market – and through the innovative development of technology, products and systems by reducing costs and time-to-market, as well as the development of sustainable systems from ground to in-orbit validation.
Market Fit
While industry faces significant challenges, it also stands to benefit from unprecedent growth opportunities driven by market evolutions, such as the adoption of multi-orbit fleet strategies, increased demand for low latency services, the convergence of space and terrestrial networks, reduced costs in capacity and services, and user terminals action as a game changer for the whole sector.
Reshaping the European telecommunications space industry and its business models through innovative approaches to service delivery will also yield strategic benefits across other sectors, including Earth observation, science, exploration, navigation, and launchers.
18,320
Estimated number of jobs our ARTES programme will support to drive competitiveness
€1.5 billion
Approximately Gross Domestic Product (GDP) contributions until 2030.
Source: IHS Markit
To sustain the competitiveness of our Member States, ESA is focusing on several key topics:
Industrial Competitiveness activities and partnerships projects
Advanced Technology
Core Competitiveness
System/ Network/ Protocols
Competitiveness & Growth
Core Competitiveness
Space for 5G
Advanced technology, products and applications
Technology and Products
How we help European and Canadian industry to develop innovative products, services, systems and partnerships in satellite communications by targeting different stages of technology readiness and involvement from industry and ESA.
Development of sustainable systems up to in-orbit validation
Partnership projects
With our partners, we generate great benefits for industry and our Member States by federating industry around large-scale programmes to develop innovative cutting-edge solutions in partnership with private or public operators.
3-9
TRL level
Up to €1M
Max funding
What Ideas are we looking for?
For the best chance of success in securing funding via the Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems programme and provided all other conditions are met, submissions for this programme should be in line with the following specific requirements:
Activities that improve the capability and competitiveness of the European and Canadian satellite communications industry.
Concepts from small and medium enterprises (SMEs) as well as international consortia that can be guided throughout the technology development process, from beginning to end.
Concepts that offer cutting-edge solutions that can be developed with private and public operators.
Activities that can be developed into world-class satellite communications technology, products and services.
Projects in the satellite communications industry that can be provided with the right environment to introduce innovative space-based solutions into the commercial market.
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CONTACT
David Phillips
ESA’s European Centre for Space Applications and Telecommunications (ECSAT)
Fermi Avenue
Harwell, Didcot, OX11 0FD, United Kingdom
+44 (0)7785 439617
David.Phillips@esa.int
CONTACT
Michael Witting
ESA’s European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC)
Keplerlaan 1
2201 AZ Noordwijk, The Netherlands
+31 625158619
Michael.Witting@esa.int