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Grant Details

https://business.esa.int/funding/call-for-proposals-non-competitive/coastal-resilience-to-climate-change

Grant Analysis

Purpose & Target

The core objective of this grant is to develop innovative services that leverage space technology to enhance coastal resilience to climate change. - Target recipients: Companies (including SMEs and larger enterprises). - SECTOR-SPECIFIC: This grant is sector-specific, targeting environmental and climate change adaptation, space technology, urban planning, agriculture, tourism, insurance, and maritime sectors. - Geographic scope: Organizations must be located in specific ESA Member States and Cooperating States. Eligible countries include Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Hungary, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Lithuania, and Slovakia. Additionally, Greece, Spain, and Canada are eligible under specific conditions. - Key filtering criteria for initial grant screening: Must utilize space technology, focus on climate change resilience in coastal regions, and be a company from an eligible country. - Grant frequency: This is a recurring opportunity within the ESA Business Applications programme. - Program context: It is part of the European Space Agency's (ESA) Coastal Resilience to Climate Change initiative.

Financial Structure

  • Funding provided is 'zero-equity funding'.
  • The funding rate covers '50-80%' of eligible costs.
  • The exact funding rate depends on 'SME Status and Member State Approval'.
  • This implies a required co-financing contribution of '20-50%' from the applicant.
  • Funding is available for both 'business case assessment' and the 'development of new, space-based services'.
  • No specific minimum or maximum grant amounts per project are provided in the available documentation.
  • The use of a 'Cashflow Forecast Workbook' template indicates requirements for detailed financial planning and reporting.
  • A 'Smart Contract Tool' is mentioned, suggesting specific contractual and disbursement mechanisms will be in place.

Eligibility Requirements

Organization Type & Status
  • Eligible entities are 'companies'.
  • 'SME status' is considered for funding rate determination, implying both SMEs and larger enterprises are eligible.
Geographic Location
  • To qualify for funding, your organization must be located in one of the following countries: 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 only eligible for funding if their proposed idea is related to '5G technologies' or includes a 'significant element concerning Safety and Security'.
  • 'Teams based outside these Member States are not eligible for this funding call.'
Authorization & Partnership
  • It is mandatory to obtain a 'Letter of Authorisation' from the relevant National Delegations before submitting a Full Proposal.
  • If a team includes companies from different Member States, each entity must request a Letter of Authorisation from their respective National Delegate.
  • Italian entities are exempt from contacting their National Delegation (ASI) as ESA has been delegated to interface with them.
  • If your team consists of 'more than one organisation, each entity will need to register' on esa-star.
Project Focus & Expertise
  • The project must fall under the categories of 'Feasibility Studies' or 'Demonstration Projects'.
  • The proposed solution must explicitly 'leverage space technology' (e.g., Satellite Earth Observation (SatEO), Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), Satellite Communication (SatCom)).
  • The project must address challenges related to 'climate change to coastal cities, rural coastal regions, and ports'.
  • The applicant team must demonstrate 'strong business, technical, and financial expertise'.

Application Process

Application Process Phases
  • Step 1: Activity Pitch Questionnaire (APQ) Submission:
    • Download the 'Activity Pitch Questionnaire' template.
    • It is optional to consult an 'ESA Business Applications Ambassador' for guidance.
    • Submit your pitch via the 'Open Space Innovation Platform (OSIP)'.
    • ESA will assess the pitch and communicate the next steps; the pitch may be shared with National Delegations for coordination.
  • Step 2: Outline Proposal Submission:
    • Invitation to submit an Outline Proposal is issued upon acceptance of the APQ.
    • Applicants must download the 'Outline Proposal Template' specific to Feasibility Studies or Demonstration Projects.
    • The Outline Proposal must be submitted to 'OSIP' for evaluation.
    • The submission deadline for the Outline Proposal is 'within 2 months' from the initial APQ submission.
    • External experts may participate in the evaluation process, and clarification points may be requested.
    • Approval from ESA's Steering Board, which meets quarterly, is required before proceeding.
  • Step 3: Full Proposal Submission:
    • An invitation to submit a Full Proposal is issued upon acceptance of the Outline Proposal.
    • Teams, including all consortium partners, must register on 'esa-star Registration'.
    • Official tender documents are to be downloaded from 'esa-star Publication'.
    • Applicants must obtain 'Letter(s) of Authorisation' from their respective National Delegate(s) prior to submitting the Full Proposal (this requirement does not apply to Italian entities).
    • The Full Proposal must be submitted via 'esa-star Tendering'.
    • The submission deadline for the Full Proposal is 'within 4 months' of the Outline Proposal submission.
    • An independent board will evaluate the proposal, and negotiation meetings or clarification requests may occur.
Key Dates & Deadlines
  • Call Opening Date: '2025-06-09'
  • Call Closing Date: '2025-10-31 23:59:59'
  • An informational webinar is scheduled for July 03, 2025, at 11:00 CEST.
Required Documentation & Platforms
  • Required documents include the Activity Pitch Questionnaire (APQ), Outline Proposal, Full Proposal, and Letter(s) of Authorisation from National Delegations.
  • Submission platforms are the 'Open Space Innovation Platform (OSIP)' for the APQ and Outline Proposal, and 'esa-star' (Registration, Publication, Tendering) for the Full Proposal.
Post-Award & Reporting Obligations
  • Upon successful negotiation, a contract will be signed, and the project kick-off will be agreed upon.
  • Regular reporting is required, indicated by templates such as 'Monthly Progress Report (MPR) Template', 'Business Plan (BP) Template', 'Financial Forecast Workbook', and 'Final Report (FREP) Template'.
  • Projects involve various milestone meetings and reviews (e.g., Negotiation Meeting, Baseline Design Review, Critical Design Review, Final Review for Demonstration Projects; Progress Meeting 1, Business Case Review, Final Review for Feasibility Studies).

Evaluation Criteria

Commercial Viability & Market Opportunity
  • Applications will be assessed on the presence of 'clear market opportunities and customer needs'.
  • The proposed service concepts must be 'commercially viable'.
Technical Quality & Innovation
  • Proposed solutions must be 'feasible technical solutions'.
  • There must be 'effective use of space data or technology' (including Satellite Earth Observation (SatEO), Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), and Satellite Communication (SatCom)).
  • Preference may be given to solutions integrating 'High Power Computing (HPC)' or 'Digital Twins (DTs)'.
Team Capability
  • The applicant team must demonstrate 'strong business, technical, and financial expertise'.
Impact & Alignment
  • Projects are expected to 'enhance the resilience and sustainability of coastal regions'.
  • The proposals should address 'increasing risks associated with climate change'.
Review Process
  • Full Proposals will be evaluated by an 'independent board' against established criteria.
  • External experts may contribute to the evaluation of Outline Proposals.

Compliance & Special Requirements

Regulatory & Authorization Compliance
  • Obtaining 'Letter(s) of Authorisation' from the relevant National Delegations is a mandatory step for funding eligibility and is a critical compliance requirement.
Space Technology Utilization
  • Projects must demonstrate 'effective use of space data or technology' including Satellite Earth Observation (SatEO), Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), and Satellite Communication (SatCom).
  • Integration of 'High Power Computing (HPC)' or 'Digital Twins (DTs)' into solutions is highly encouraged.
Scope of Work
  • Applicants can propose two types of projects: 'Feasibility Studies' which aim to identify, analyze, and define new sustainable services, or 'Demonstration Projects' focused on the implementation and demonstration of pre-operational services.
ESA Brand & Network
  • Successful applicants will benefit from access to 'ESA brand credibility', 'technical and commercial guidance', and ESA's 'network and partners'.
Data Protection
  • Agreement to a 'privacy policy' is required during the Activity Pitch Questionnaire (APQ) submission process.

Grant Details

coastal resilience climate change adaptation space technology earth observation satellite communication navigation systems digital twins high power computing environmental monitoring disaster management urban planning agriculture tourism insurance ports nature-based solutions sustainability early warning systems maritime coastal erosion sea level rise sme enterprise feasibility study demonstration project
Call for Proposals (Non-Competitive) - Coastal Resilience to Climate Change
1-10494
ESA Coastal Resilience to Climate Change Initiative
SME ENTERPRISE
AT BE CZ DK EE FI FR DE IE IT HU LU NL NO PL PT RO SE CH UK LT SK GR ES CA
ENVIRONMENT TECHNOLOGY OTHER
IDEA DEVELOPMENT
OTHER
SDG9 SDG11 SDG13 SDG14
FUNDING MENTORSHIP NETWORKING CAPACITY_BUILDING PILOT_PROJECTS INNOVATION_COMMERCIALIZATION
None
None
None
EUR
50.00
Oct. 31, 2025, 11:59 p.m.
Q4 2025