All items · Space

UKDI is the main low-barrier UK entry point for single-company defence innovation funding, and the Defence-side route is being rebuilt after the Defence Investment Plan — meaning the Security Open Call is currently the only broad open door. Relevant to autonomy, space, sensing and security-tech scale-ups and SMEs able to bid alone without a consortium. Do: Submit to the Security Open Call 2026 Cycle 1 by 27 August 2026 or Innovation Support to Operations Cycle 8 by 22 September 2026 via the UKDI portal, and email accelerator@dstl.gov.uk for scope clarification; contact the UKDI Help Centre about Defence Innovation Loans while cycles are paused.

A direct, open procurement by Spain's new space agency for archive VHR imagery — accessible to satellite imagery providers and resellers/value-added distributors with access to sub-metre optical constellations. Relevant to EO data suppliers and geospatial SMEs able to guarantee 82% national coverage from 2024/2025 archives. Do: Check your 2024/2025 VHR archive coverage of Spain and submit a bid via the Spanish public sector contracting platform to the Dirección de la Agencia Espacial Española by 31 August 2026.

Recurring UKDI/UKSA/Dstl space innovation vehicle with a small but accessible pot, suited to space start-ups and SMEs in ISR, SSA and satellite subsystems; Stage 1 has already closed, so only invited bidders can still act this round. Do: If invited to Stage 2, submit via the UKDI Online Submission Service before 12:00 BST on 1 September 2026; otherwise register an account now and watch for the next Space to Innovate drop.

Recurring, well-funded UK route for small space-defence R&D projects, now explicitly covering satellite self-protection and anti-jam/EM resilience. Relevant to space payload, SDA and EW-resilience developers plus academic groups with TRL 3-6 prototypes. Do: If you passed Stage 1, submit your Stage 2 proposal via the UKDI competition portal by 1 September 2026 and route process questions to accelerator@dstl.gov.uk.

A single large EDF award for PRS/NAVWAR integration will likely lock in one consortium for the EU's military PNT resilience stack for years. Relevant to GNSS receiver and anti-jam antenna makers, munitions guidance-kit suppliers and C2 software firms in EDF-eligible states. Do: Approach likely consortium leads (large PNT/missile integrators) now for a work-package slot on PRS receiver or NAVWAR C2 software, and prepare the PRS declaration and ownership-control documents before the 29 September 2026 deadline.

Shows DG DEFIS pushing operational uptake of all five EU Space Programme components in civil protection, with Telespazio France leading the incumbent consortium. Relevant to space data/service providers and GOVSATCOM/IRIS² application developers targeting civil protection users. Do: If you sell EO/GNSS/SATCOM-based emergency management tools, submit an expression of interest for the 6–7 October 2026 Brussels SIMEX and network with the Telespazio France-led SUNSHINE team.

Applicants are Member States' procurement agents, not industry — money reaches C5ISR, satcom, ISR and space firms as suppliers under the resulting joint contracts or framework. Relevant for C5ISR/space payload and ground-segment suppliers who can get their product designated in a multinational buy. Do: Lobby your national armaments directorate (or EDA/OCCAR/NSPA desk officers) now to have your C5ISR/space product included in a ≥EUR 20m joint procurement package before the 16 February 2027 submission.

IRIS² is now committed to deployment with a materially larger, defence-oriented segment, so SpaceRISE members (and their tier-1s) will open subcontract packages for satellite payloads, crypto/secure ground segment, terminals and launch services. Relevant to space and secure-comms suppliers — payload, optical/RF terminal, encryption and ground-station firms in EU/EEA — rather than to anyone bidding the prime role. Do: Approach SpaceRISE consortium members' procurement/supply-chain leads now with a qualified capability dossier for satellite subsystems, secure ground segment or user terminals ahead of the 2029 first-launch schedule.

Civil utility GNSS procurement, not defence; only marginally relevant as a reference point for GNSS receiver vendors selling into Dutch critical-infrastructure operators.

Purely informational launch announcement confirming the Vega C/Avio and Thales Alenia Space roles in Copernicus continuity; relevant only as background for EO payload and ground-segment suppliers tracking Sentinel follow-on work.

ESA signals a forthcoming classified-requirements antenna R&D contract for EU LEO-PNT, with the possibility of two parallel awards — an opening for a non-incumbent. Relevant to space antenna/RF payload suppliers with security clearance capability in ESA member states. Do: Monitor ESA's esa-star publication of the HE-ESA-041 ITT and prepare clearance-backed PRS antenna heritage plus a stage-1 proposal team now.

armasuisse is signalling a concrete PNT-resilience study contract with a satellite dissemination component, ahead of formal tendering. Relevant to timing/atomic-clock, GNSS anti-jam and satellite payload/hosted-transponder firms able to work with Swiss defence. Do: Monitor the simap.ch project page for the formal study-contract notice and pre-position with armasuisse/Gruppe Verteidigung now, presenting your timing-distribution and hosted-payload references.

This fixes the five capability lanes where EDIP money and later European Competitiveness Fund money will concentrate, ahead of any calls. Drone/C-UAS, seabed sensing, space ISR, air-defence early-warning and eastern-border surveillance suppliers should position now with the lead Member States and likely national champions. Do: Identify which of the five EDPCIs matches your product, then contact your national defence ministry's EDIP contact point and the likely lead industrial partners to seek a work-package role before the Council adopts the list and the dedicated funding procedure opens.

These five coalitions define where SAFE, EDIP and the 2028+ ECF money will flow; positioning as a supplier to a lead nation's programme office in one of them is the strategic move of H2 2026.

Confirms that commercial sensors already feed the EU SST network alongside national assets, and that the Partnership continues to expand — relevant to SSA sensor operators, optical/radar tracking firms and orbit-analysis software SMEs in the 19 participating Member States. Do: If you operate SSA sensors or conjunction-analysis software, approach your national EU SST Partnership entity (e.g. CNES, CDTI/Spain, ASI, DLR) about contributing sensor data or processing capacity.

Confirms the operational baseline of EU SAR/AIS capacity now resting on Sentinel-1C/1D, relevant to SAR data-analytics and maritime domain awareness firms building on Copernicus feeds. No money attached.

Confirms build-out of GOVSATCOM ground segment at two permanent sites (Cologne, Athens) under EUSPA operation, ahead of IRIS² — future ground-segment, security accreditation and automation work will flow from EUSPA and DLR-linked German infrastructure. Relevant to SATCOM ground-segment, crypto and network security suppliers with EU/German footprint. Do: Track EUSPA and DG DEFIS tender pages for GOVSATCOM hub ground-segment and security work, and introduce your SATCOM ground/crypto capability to EUSPA's GOVSATCOM programme team now.

Switzerland is locking a state-owned space champion into a security-policy role and explicitly mandating intensified cooperation with Swiss universities and private companies. Relevant for Swiss space suppliers (structures, propulsion, payloads, SSA) and SMEs seeking to sit in Beyond Gravity's ecosystem or as DDPS space partners. Do: Swiss space and satellite subsystem SMEs should approach Beyond Gravity's supply-chain/partnership teams and the DDPS space unit now to position for the 2026–29 ecosystem build-out, and track the consultation on the RUAG ownership bill.

This is a large single-source astronomical instrumentation award to an established optics/space integrator (AMOS), of limited direct relevance to defence-focused suppliers; it signals French research infrastructure investment via ONERA rather than a defence procurement.

Agreed civilian-military STM requirements are the specification base from which future EU space surveillance/traffic-management procurement and EDF topics will be written. Relevant to SSA/SST sensor, conjunction-analysis and space-operations software providers wanting to shape or anticipate those specs. Do: Read the public Executive Summary and ask DG DEFIS/EEAS to join the STM Stakeholder Mechanism Subgroup 1 (or EDA channels if military) to feed into the rolling requirements updates.

Belgium is signalling intent to build its own all-weather (likely SAR) LEO ISR constellation, an early-stage market consultation before any tender — relevant to SAR/optical smallsat builders, ground-segment and tasking-software firms, and launch/integration primes with Belgian footprint. Do: Respond to the RFI via the Belgian MoD contact on the TED notice with your SAR/EO smallsat, ground segment or data-exploitation capability statement, and ask for the GALO timeline and any planned industry day.

The six named Horizon Europe coordinators define the initial ISOS industrial base, so entry for others is now via subcontracting or later calls. Relevant to rendezvous/docking, robotic arm, GNC, and space-situational-awareness suppliers seeking a slot in a European in-orbit servicing chain. Do: Contact the six project coordinators (Thales Alenia Space, Leonardo, The Exploration Company, ArianeGroup, Planetek, RWTH Aachen) with a specific RPO/robotics/GNC work-package pitch and track DG DEFIS' ISOS page for follow-on calls.

Subgroup 1's consolidation of joint civil-military STM requirements is the precursor to future EU SSA/STM specifications and procurement; SSA/SST sensor, conjunction-analysis and space-ops software firms should track it to shape requirements early. Do: Follow the STM stakeholder mechanism pages and approach DG DEFIS/EEAS subgroup contacts to feed SSA/STM requirement input before specifications are finalised.

These are the Swiss army's shopping lines for 2027–30 and armasuisse will procure most of them by direct negotiation with system OEMs (Diehl for IRIS-T SLM, Lockheed Martin for F-35A) — non-Swiss suppliers get in via those primes and via the offset obligations, Swiss SMEs via the 60 %-in-Switzerland target of the armament policy. Do: If you supply C-UAS effectors/sensors, SHORAD components, EW/COMINT, radar subsystems or space ISR: contact armasuisse's competence area for the relevant programme now (Fliegerabwehr, Führungs- und Aufklärungssysteme) and the offset offices of Diehl Defence and Lockheed Martin Switzerland — the money is released after the National Council vote in the autumn session.

This is the route by which new European small-launch companies get onto ESA framework contracts and win paid IOD/IOV missions, with four incumbents already in place. Relevant to European launcher developers targeting first flight before 2028, and to smallsat payload teams needing in-orbit demo slots.

First operational EU-level space weather service procurement, run through ESA rather than the Commission, covering radiation/geomagnetic storm monitoring and forecasting for satellite operators. Relevant to space situational awareness and heliophysics data/forecast providers and software integrators already registered in esa-star.