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Grant Analysis

Purpose & Target

This grant, a thematic call within ESA's standard AO/1-10494, aims to support the development of new space-based services. The core objective is to facilitate the digital transformation and enhance the sustainability of the sport sector, with a specific focus on the upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Games (e.g., Paris 2024, Milano Cortina 2026, and future editions). The target recipients are companies of any size, offering solutions that leverage space assets. This is a SECTOR-SPECIFIC grant, dedicated to the sport industry and its related events. Geographically, it targets companies residing in specific European Space Agency (ESA) Member States and associated countries. The key filtering criteria for initial screening are that applicants must be a company from an eligible country, proposing services that utilize space technology to address the needs of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Applications can be submitted anytime until the final deadline, making it a recurring opportunity within a defined timeframe.

Financial Structure

The grant materials do not specify exact funding amounts, budget ranges, or limitations for this thematic call. The support provided is in the form of funding for Feasibility Studies and Demonstration Projects, implying project-based contracts rather than direct grants.

Budget Range and Limitations: Not specified.
Eligible and Ineligible Costs: Not explicitly detailed in the provided documents.
Matching Fund Requirements: No information is provided regarding mandatory matching funds or co-financing requirements.
Payment Schedule and Mechanisms: Not detailed. These would typically be outlined in subsequent contract negotiations with ESA upon successful proposal selection.
Financial Reporting and Audit Requirements: Not detailed. However, standard financial reporting and audit practices typically apply to ESA contracts, as indicated by the availability of documents like the 'Cashflow Forecast Workbook' and 'Financial Forecast Workbook' in the broader program documentation.

Eligibility Requirements

Organizational Eligibility

Eligible Organization Types: This grant is open to companies (explicitly stated). This includes a broad range of entities such as startups, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and larger enterprises. The grant materials do not specify any size restrictions based on employee count or revenue.
Geographic Location Requirements: Companies must be residing in one of the following ESA Member States or associated countries:
- Austria
- Belgium
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Hungary
- Ireland
- Italy
- Luxembourg
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- United Kingdom
Technical Expertise Requirements: Proposed services must leverage space assets. These include:
- Satellite Navigation (SatNav)
- Satellite Communications (SatCom)
- Earth Observation (SatEO) (including weather data)
- Human Spaceflight (specifically, technology transfer of health/life parameters sensors, innovative textiles, algorithms for physical status assessment)
In addition to space assets, relevant innovative technologies such as Web 3.0, Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality (AR/VR), Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML), non-fungible tokens (NFTs), cyber-secure digital technologies, robotics, and unmanned/remotely piloted transportation systems (e.g., Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS), Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USV)) can be incorporated if they are pertinent to the identified use cases.
Pre-Application Requirement: Economic Operators intending to respond are required to inform their National Delegations of their intention to submit a proposal as early as possible, before submitting the Outline Proposal. An important exception: for Italian entities, it is NOT required to contact their National Delegation (ASI), as ESA has been delegated to interface directly with them.

Application Process

Application Process The application process for this thematic call involves a structured three-step approach:

Step 1: Activity Pitch Questionnaire (APQ)
- Purpose: Present your business idea in a reduced, standardized pitch to allow for quick assessment.
- Materials: Download the 'Activity Pitch Questionnaire' template.
- Submission: Submit your pitch as instructed via the ideas.esa.int website, specifically using the 'Channel APQ for ARTES Downstream Business Applications'. You will need to create an account if new to the site.
- Consultation: Optionally, consult with an ESA Business Applications Ambassador.
- Outcome: ESA assesses the pitch and informs you of the results and next steps. Submitted APQs may be shared with National Delegations for coordination.
Step 2: Outline Proposal
- Invitation: You will be invited to prepare an Outline Proposal if your APQ is accepted.
- Materials: Download the 'Outline Proposal Template' for a Feasibility Study or Demonstration Project.
- Submission: Submit your Outline Proposal to [email protected].
- Deadline: The Outline Proposal must be submitted within 1 year from the APQ submission date.
- Evaluation: ESA may involve external experts in the evaluation. You might be asked to address clarification points. Approval requires review by ESA's Steering Board, which meets quarterly.
Step 3: Full Proposal
- Invitation: You will be invited to submit a Full Proposal upon approval of your Outline Proposal.
- Registration: Register your team on esa-star Registration. If multiple organizations are involved, each entity must register.
- Documentation: Download official tender documents from esa-star Publication.
- Authorization: Crucially, prepare your proposal and reach out to your National Delegate to obtain a Letter of Authorisation. (Note: Italian entities are exempt from this step).
- Submission: Submit your Full Proposal via esa-star Tendering.
- Evaluation: An independent board evaluates the proposal against tender criteria. This may involve clarification points and a negotiation meeting. Upon successful negotiation, a contract will be issued.

Timeline and Deadlines

Application Submission Window: Applications can be submitted anytime until the overall closing date of 31-12-2025.
Outline Proposal Submission: Must be within 1 year of your Activity Pitch Questionnaire (APQ) submission.

Support Types This grant provides monetary support for conducting either Feasibility Studies or Demonstration Projects related to the stated objectives.

Evaluation Criteria

The evaluation of proposals will consider several factors, focusing on the practical application and impact of the proposed services. Key scoring factors include:

Robustness and Reliability: Proposed applications must demonstrate high levels of robustness and reliability, especially given the visibility and relevance of the Olympic Games.
Maturity and Integrity: For fast, short-term implementation, the service must have a proven maturity and integrity.
Development Plan (for longer-term projects): If a longer development and validation process is proposed, it must be built on a sensible plan. This plan should potentially involve multiple events and Games editions to support final service deployment, with one Games edition or major sport event serving as a test-bed.
Continuity and Adaptability: Proposals are encouraged to demonstrate:
- A continuous use of the proposed service throughout subsequent Games editions.
- The implementation of a continuous learning approach from one edition to the next.
- Applicability of the proposed service to different major sports events, as many needs are shared across the broader sport industry.
Economic Viability: Each proposed service should assess its economic viability for the service provider, demonstrating a clear business case.
Cost-Benefit Analysis: A cost-benefit analysis for potential customers (e.g., the Olympic Committees) should be provided, highlighting the value proposition for the users.
Alignment with Olympic Goals: The solutions should support the digital transformation and sustainability of the sport sector, specifically aligning with the commitments of Paris 2024 and Milano Cortina 2026 to deliver net-zero events with strong community engagement.

Compliance & Special Requirements

Compliance Requirements

National Delegation Authorization: A significant procedural requirement is that companies from most eligible countries must inform their National Delegations of their intent to apply before submitting an Outline Proposal and obtain a Letter of Authorisation from their National Delegate before submitting a Full Proposal. The only exception is for Italian entities, who are not required to contact their National Delegation (ASI) as ESA handles the interface directly.
General Compliance: While not explicitly detailed, projects funded by ESA are expected to adhere to standard European and international regulations, including data protection (e.g., GDPR), ethical standards, and relevant industry-specific compliance for space activities.

Technical and Project-Specific Requirements

Space Asset Leverage: Proposed services must leverage space assets (Satellite Navigation, Satellite Communications, Earth Observation, Human Spaceflight technology transfer). Projects that do not incorporate these core elements are unlikely to be successful.
Innovation Integration: While space assets are mandatory, the grant encourages the integration of other innovative technologies like Web 3.0, AR/VR, AI/ML, NFTs, cyber-secure digital technologies, robotics, and unmanned/remotely piloted transportation systems if relevant to the proposed use cases.
Robustness and Reliability: Due to the high visibility and importance of the Olympic Games, all proposed applications must demonstrate robustness and reliability.
Project Scale Flexibility: The grant supports both Feasibility Studies (exploratory phase) and Demonstration Projects (practical application and validation). Projects can aim for fast, short-term implementation if the service is mature, or involve a longer development plan that may span multiple Games editions.

Strategic and Contextual Considerations

Focus on Olympic and Paralympic Games: The grant has a very specific focus on the Olympic and Paralympic Games, particularly supporting the preparations for Paris 2024 and Milano Cortina 2026, with an ambition for future Games. Solutions must be tailored to the specific needs and challenges of these mega-events.
Sustainability and Digital Transformation: A core theme is the contribution to the digital transformation of the sport sector and supporting the Games' commitment to delivering net-zero events and engaging communities.
Economic Viability: Proposals should clearly articulate the economic viability for the service provider and present a cost-benefit analysis for the potential customers (e.g., Olympic Committees), demonstrating real-world applicability and market potential.
Interoperability and Scalability: While not explicitly stated as a hard requirement, the encouragement for continuous use across Games and applicability to other major sports events suggests a preference for solutions that are adaptable and scalable.

Grant Details