Grant name: Call for Proposals (Non-Competitive) ESA-STAR Reference 1-10494
Funding organization: European Space Agency (ESA)
Funding type: Zero-equity funding covering 50-80% of eligible costs
Objective: Support feasibility studies and demonstration projects using satellite technology to enhance sustainability in sports and mass events
Grant frequency: Recurring with periodic proposal reviews in 2025
Targets sustainability challenges in a $2 trillion global events industry
Responds to demand for environmental responsibility and climate resilience
Leverages space technologies such as SatNav, SatCom, and SatEO
Eligible organizations: Companies including SMEs and startups
Geographic eligibility: ESA Member States including Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Hungary, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Lithuania, Slovakia
Special eligibility for Greece, Spain, and Canada only if related to 5G or Safety and Security
Requirement to obtain Letters of Authorisation from National Delegations before full proposal submission
Teams must have business, technical, and financial expertise
No explicit consortium requirement
Carbon reduction including sustainable mobility and real-time emission measurement
Nature and biodiversity protection including site access control and sustainable snowmaking
Circular economy including impact monitoring and supply chain sustainability
Sustainable infrastructure including venue planning and smart upgrades
Event resilience including weather risk assessment and air quality monitoring
Use of satellite technologies for navigation, communication, and earth observation
Commercially viable and technically feasible space-based services
Measurable environmental and social impact
Alignment with sustainability frameworks such as UN Sports for Climate Action
Technical expertise in satellite technologies and sustainability
Use of ESA templates for documentation and management
Team composition with business, technical, and financial skills
Funding covers 50-80% of eligible costs depending on SME status and Member State approval
Zero-equity funding
Financial reporting and management as per ESA requirements
Opening date: 7 May 2025
Closing date: 10 October 2025
Proposals reviewed periodically throughout 2025
Stepwise application: Activity Pitch Questionnaire, Outline Proposal, Full Proposal
Reporting includes monthly progress reports and milestone meetings
Letters of Authorisation from National Delegations required
Compliance with environmental sustainability goals
International collaboration requires multiple national authorizations
Submit Activity Pitch Questionnaire via Open Space Innovation Platform
If invited, submit Outline Proposal to ESA email
If invited, submit Full Proposal via esa-star Tendering platform
Use official ESA templates for all proposal stages
Consult ESA Business Applications Ambassadors for assistance
Focus on space technology added value for sustainability
Geographic and thematic eligibility restrictions
Alignment with global sustainability initiatives
No detailed historical data on recipients or success rates provided