Call for Proposals (Non-Competitive) for Advanced Agricultural Monitoring and Management Solutions

The core objective of this grant is to support the development of innovative services that leverage space technology to enhance agricultural monitoring and management. It targets companies and organizations, including SMEs, that can propose commercially viable solutions. This is a SECTOR-SPECIFIC grant focused on the agriculture sector, with a geographic scope limited to specific European Space Agency (ESA) Member States and associated countries. Key filtering criteria for initial screening include the potential for commercial viability, clear market needs, and effective integration of space technology. The program context suggests an ongoing ESA initiative.

• Funding Type: Zero-equity funding.
• Funding Rate: The grant covers 50.0-80.0% of eligible costs, with the exact percentage depending on the SME Status of the applicant and approval from the relevant Member State National Delegation.
• Specific minimum or maximum grant amounts per project are not explicitly specified in the provided documents.
• Financial guarantees are not explicitly mentioned.

Eligible Organization Types

• Companies and organizations, including Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) and larger enterprises, are eligible.
• Teams can consist of a single entity or a consortium of multiple organizations. If a consortium, each entity must register and obtain necessary authorizations.

Geographic Location

• Organizations must be located in one of the following countries to qualify for funding: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Hungary, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Lithuania, or Slovakia.
• Companies based in Greece, Spain, or Canada are eligible for funding only if their proposed idea is related to '5G technologies' or includes a 'significant element concerning Safety and Security'.
• Organizations based outside of these listed countries are not eligible for this funding call.

Authorization Requirements

• Applicants must obtain a 'Letter of Authorisation' from the relevant National Delegation(s) of their country/countries before submitting a Full Proposal.
• For Italian entities, contacting the National Delegation (ASI) is not required; ESA is delegated by ASI for this process.

Technical and Business Capacity

• Applicants must demonstrate strong business, technical, and financial expertise.

Application Stages and Timeline

• Application Opening Date: 23-05-2025

• Application Closing Date: 29-08-2025 (for initial Activity Pitch Questionnaire submission)

• Step 1: Activity Pitch Questionnaire (APQ) Submission

  • Applicants must download and complete the 'Activity Pitch Questionnaire' template.
  • The completed APQ is submitted through the 'Open Space Innovation Platform (OSIP)'.
  • It is recommended to consult with an ESA Business Applications Ambassador before submission.
  • The submitted APQ may be shared with National Delegations for coordination.
  • ESA will assess the pitch and inform applicants about results and next steps.

• Step 2: Outline Proposal Submission

  • By invitation only following a successful APQ assessment.
  • Download the 'Outline Proposal Template' (specific for Feasibility Study or Demonstration Project) from the Documents webpage.
  • Submit the 'Outline Proposal' to OSIP within 2 months of the APQ submission.
  • External experts may be involved in evaluation; clarification points may be requested.
  • Approval by ESA's Steering Board (meets quarterly) is required before proceeding.

• Step 3: Full Proposal Submission

  • By invitation only after Outline Proposal approval.
  • Teams must register on esa-star Registration (all entities in a consortium must register).
  • Official tender documents must be downloaded from esa-star Publication.
  • A 'Letter of Authorisation' from the relevant National Delegate(s) is required before submission (except for Italian entities).
  • Submit the 'Full Proposal' via esa-star Tendering within 4 months of the Outline Proposal submission.
  • Proposals will be evaluated by an independent board; clarification and negotiation meetings may occur.

Support Provided

• Zero-equity funding.
• Technical and commercial guidance.
• Access to ESA's network and partners.
• Credibility from the ESA brand.

Project Concept and Viability

• Clear identification of market opportunities and customer needs for the proposed service.
• Demonstration of a commercially viable service concept.
• Feasibility of the proposed technical solution.
• Effective and innovative use of space data or technology (e.g., Satellite Earth Observation, Global Navigation Satellite Systems, Satellite Communications, Digital Twins).

Team Capability

• The team's demonstrated expertise across business, technical, and financial domains will be assessed.

Regulatory and National Compliance

• Funding eligibility is strictly dependent on authorization from the relevant National Delegations. This authorization is a hard requirement for the Full Proposal stage.
• Specific country eligibility conditions apply: companies from Greece, Spain, or Canada are eligible only if their project relates to '5G technologies' or includes a 'significant element concerning Safety and Security'.

Project Types and Focus

• The call supports two distinct project types:
  • Feasibility Studies: These aim to identify, analyze, and define new, potentially sustainable services.
  • Demonstration Projects: These focus on the implementation and demonstration of pre-operational services.
• All projects must leverage space technology, including Satellite Earth Observation (SatEO), Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), Satellite Communications, and Digital Twins (integrating space data).

Impact and Objectives

• Solutions are expected to boost the 'digital transformation' of the agricultural sector.
• Projects should meet economic, environmental, and societal objectives, aligning with demands from both private and public stakeholders.

Special Considerations

• The call emphasizes the importance of addressing current challenges in agricultural monitoring and management, such as crop classification, soil property mapping, greenhouse gas emission reduction, and afforestation monitoring.