Innovative in-space servicing, operations, space-based robotics and technologies for resilient EU space infrastructure

The Horizon Europe EIC Accelerator 2025 call, specifically under topic HORIZON-EIC-2025-ACCELERATOR-02-CHALLENGES-04, focuses on innovative in-space servicing, operations, space-based robotics, and technologies aimed at enhancing the resilience of EU space infrastructure. This opportunity falls under the Horizon Europe program and utilizes a HORIZON Lump Sum Grant for funding.

The call operates under a multiple cut-off deadline model, with submissions opening on November 26, 2024, and two key deadlines: March 12, 2025, and October 1, 2025, both at 17:00 Brussels time.

Eligible applicants for this grant include startups and SMEs, small mid-caps with fewer than 500 employees, and individuals intending to establish startups or SMEs. The scheme primarily offers blended finance, with grant amounts reaching up to €2.5 million, in addition to equity investments between €500,000 and €10 million. The total budget allocated for this call is €634 million.

Proposals can be submitted by single applicants without the need for consortium participation, but eligibility extends to entities from EU Member States, Horizon Europe-associated countries, and, under certain conditions, some third countries. The target sectors involve advanced technologies in space, particularly focusing on in-space operations and safeguarding existing space infrastructure.

The EIC Accelerator supports projects that are at the commercialization and scale-up stages, specifically targeting Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) between 6 to 9. Submission conditions and requirements for the proposals are detailed in respective annexes of the Horizon Europe Work Programme, which include specific guidelines on application layouts and page limits.

The application process is multistage, requiring submission of an initial short proposal followed by a full proposal and an interview stage. Historical data indicates that the EIC Accelerator is competitive, with success rates likely below 10%.

Co-funding from applicants is not explicitly mandated for this core accelerator program, although the blending of grants with equity investments implies expectations for further funding acquisition.

In summary, this opportunity is a significant funding avenue for entities engaged in developing innovative solutions in the space sector. It offers substantial financial backing while easing the application process through clear guidelines, allocations for various applicant types, and a structured timeline for submissions and evaluations, aiming to foster growth in the European space industry. Applications must be submitted via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal, where additional resources, application forms, and guidance are provided.

The Horizon Europe EIC Accelerator 2025 call, specifically topic HORIZON-EIC-2025-ACCELERATOR-02-CHALLENGES-04, focuses on innovative in-space servicing, operations, space-based robotics, and technologies for resilient EU space infrastructure. This call falls under the Horizon Europe (HORIZON) program and is a HORIZON EIC Accelerator (HORIZON-EIC-ACC) type of action. The Model Grant Agreement (MGA) used is the HORIZON Lump Sum Grant [HORIZON-AG-LS].

The call employs a multiple cut-off deadline model. The planned opening date for submissions is November 26, 2024. There are two deadline dates: March 12, 2025, at 17:00:00 Brussels time, and October 1, 2025, at 17:00:00 Brussels time.

Regarding admissibility conditions, the proposal page limit and layout are detailed in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes, and further specified in Part B of the Application Form available in the Submission System.

Eligible countries are described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes. Notably, some non-EU/non-Associated Countries have provisions for funding their participants in Horizon Europe projects, as detailed in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide.

Other eligible conditions are also described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes. Financial and operational capacity and exclusion criteria are outlined in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes.

The evaluation and award process involves award criteria, scoring, and thresholds described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes. Submission and evaluation processes are detailed in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual. The indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement is also described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes. The legal and financial setup of the grants is described in Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes. Specific conditions are described in the specific topic of the Work Programme.

Application form templates are available in the Submission System and include: Standard application form (HE RIA, IA), Standard application form (HE RIA IA Stage 1), Standard application form (HE CSA), Standard application form (HE CSA Stage 1), Standard application form (HE RI), Standard application form (HE PCP), Standard application form (HE PPI), Standard application form (HE COFUND), Standard application form (HE FPA), Standard application form (HE MSCA DN), Standard application form (HE MSCA PF), Standard application form (HE MSCA SE), Standard application form (HE MSCA COFUND), Standard application form (HE ERC STG), Standard application form (HE ERC COG), Standard application form (HE ERC ADG), Standard application form (HE ERC POC), Standard application form (HE ERC SYG), Standard application form (HE EIC PATHFINDER CHALLENGES), Standard application form (HE EIC PATHFINDER OPEN), and Standard application form (HE EIC TRANSITION).

Evaluation form templates, which will be adapted as necessary, include: Standard evaluation form (HE RIA, IA), Standard evaluation form (HE CSA), Standard evaluation form (HE RIA, IA and CSA Stage 1), Standard evaluation form (HE PCP PPI), Standard evaluation form (HE COFUND), Standard evaluation form (HE FPA), Standard evaluation form (HE MSCA), Standard evaluation form (HE EIC PATHFINDER CHALLENGES), Standard evaluation form (HE EIC PATHFINDER OPEN), Standard evaluation form (HE EIC TRANSITION), Standard evaluation form (HE EIC Accelerator stage 1 - short proposal), and Standard evaluation form (HE EIC Accelerator stage 2 - full proposal).

Guidance documents include the HE Programme Guide, HE MGA, HE Unit MGA, Lump Sum MGA, Operating Grants MGA, and Framework Partnership Agreement FPA. Call-specific instructions are provided in the Detailed budget table (HE LS), Information on financial support to third parties (HE), Information on clinical studies (HE), and Guidance: "Lump sums - what do I need to know?".

Additional documents include the HE Main Work Programme 2023–2025 (sections 1 through 13), HE Programme Guide, HE Framework Programme 2021/695, HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764, EU Financial Regulation 2018/1046, Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment, EU Grants AGA Annotated Model Grant Agreement, Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual, Funding & Tenders Portal Terms and Conditions, and Funding & Tenders Portal Privacy Statement.

The total budget for the topics under this call in 2025 is EUR 634,000,000. The expected contribution per project ranges from EUR 500,000 to EUR 17,500,000. The indicative number of grants across all topics is 65.

The Funding & Tenders Portal allows LEARs, Account Administrators, and self-registrants to publish partner requests for open and forthcoming topics. The submission system is scheduled to open on November 26, 2024.

Applicants are advised to carefully read all provisions before preparing their application. The Online Manual serves as a guide for procedures from proposal submission to grant management. The Horizon Europe Programme Guide provides detailed guidance on the structure, budget, and political priorities of Horizon Europe. The Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ addresses frequently asked questions. The Research Enquiry Service can answer questions about European research. National Contact Points (NCPs) offer guidance and practical information. The Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) provides advice to businesses, especially SMEs. The IT Helpdesk addresses technical questions. The European IPR Helpdesk assists with intellectual property issues. CEN-CENELEC and ETSI Research Helpdesks advise on standardisation in project proposals. The European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for their recruitment outline the roles and responsibilities of researchers. A Partner Search tool is available to help find partner organisations.

In summary, this Horizon Europe EIC Accelerator call is a significant funding opportunity aimed at supporting innovative projects in the space sector, particularly those focused on in-space servicing, robotics, and resilient infrastructure. It provides substantial financial support, ranging from 500,000 to 17,500,000 EUR, and is open to a wide range of participants, including those from non-EU associated countries. The application process is structured with clear guidelines and multiple support resources, making it accessible for researchers, SMEs, and other organisations looking to advance their space-related technologies and innovations. The call emphasizes lump sum grants and has multiple cut-off dates to facilitate ongoing submissions and evaluations.

Eligible Applicant Types: While the specific eligible applicant types are not explicitly listed in the provided text, the EIC Accelerator program typically targets startups, SMEs, and potentially larger enterprises that are seeking to scale up breakthrough innovations. The program guide and general annexes, referenced in the text, would provide more specific details on eligibility criteria.

Funding Type: The funding type is primarily a grant, specifically a HORIZON Lump Sum Grant [HORIZON-AG-LS], as indicated in the "Type of MGA" section. The EIC Accelerator also often includes an equity component, but this is not explicitly stated in the provided text.

Consortium Requirement: The text does not explicitly state whether a consortium is required. However, EIC Accelerator funding is often awarded to single companies, particularly SMEs, although collaborative projects are not necessarily excluded. Further details would be available in the specific topic descriptions and work program annexes.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The eligible countries are described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes. The text mentions that non-EU/non-Associated Countries may have specific provisions for funding their participants, as detailed in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide. Therefore, the geographic eligibility includes EU member states, associated countries, and potentially some third countries with specific agreements.

Target Sector: The call HORIZON-EIC-2025-ACCELERATOR-02-CHALLENGES-04 specifically targets "Innovative in-space servicing, operations, space-based robotics and technologies for resilient EU space infrastructure". Broader calls within the EIC Accelerator, such as the "OPEN" call, may target a wider range of sectors, including DeepTech and other innovative areas. The work program outlines the specific thematic priorities for each call.

Mentioned Countries: The text refers to "non-EU/non-Associated Countries" and "third-countries," indicating that the program is open to entities beyond the EU and associated countries under certain conditions. No specific countries are named.

Project Stage: The EIC Accelerator primarily targets projects at the commercialization and scale-up stages. The focus is on supporting companies with breakthrough innovations that are ready to be brought to market and scaled up. This is evident from the "Accelerator" designation and the funding amounts available.

Funding Amount: The budget overview indicates a funding range of €500,000 to €17,500,000 per project. The total budget allocated to the EIC Accelerator calls for 2025 is €634,000,000.

Application Type: The application type is an open call with multiple cut-off dates, as indicated by the "multiple cut-off" deadline model. The planned opening date is 26 November 2024, with deadline dates on 12 March 2025 and 01 October 2025.

Nature of Support: The beneficiaries will receive money in the form of a Lump Sum Grant. The EIC Accelerator may also provide access to coaching, mentoring, and other non-financial services, although this is not explicitly stated in the provided text.

Application Stages: The application process involves multiple stages, including a full application. The evaluation process is described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual, suggesting a multi-stage evaluation. The standard evaluation forms listed (stage 1 and stage 2) also indicate at least a two-stage process.

Success Rates: The indicative number of grants is listed as 15 for HORIZON-EIC-2025-ACCELERATOR-02-CHALLENGES-05, 15 for HORIZON-EIC-2025-ACCELERATOR-02-CHALLENGES-04, 15 for HORIZON-EIC-2025-ACCELERATOR-02-CHALLENGES-02, 65 for HORIZON-EIC-2025-ACCELERATOR-02-OPEN-01, 15 for HORIZON-EIC-2025-ACCELERATOR-02-CHALLENGES-03 and 15 for HORIZON-EIC-2025-ACCELERATOR-02-CHALLENGES-01. Success rates are not explicitly mentioned, but given the competitive nature of Horizon Europe and the EIC Accelerator, they are likely to be below 10%.

Co-funding Requirement: The text does not explicitly mention a co-funding requirement. However, the EIC Accelerator often supports projects with a blended finance approach, combining grant funding with potential equity investments. While not a strict co-funding requirement, applicants are expected to have a clear plan for attracting further investment.

Summary:

This is a Horizon Europe EIC Accelerator call for proposals, specifically the HORIZON-EIC-2025-ACCELERATOR-02 call, offering lump sum grants ranging from 500,000 EUR to 17,500,000 EUR. The call aims to support innovative projects, particularly those at the commercialization and scale-up stages. The total budget for this call is 634,000,000 EUR. The call follows a multiple cut-off deadline model, with deadlines on March 12, 2025, and October 1, 2025. The call is open to eligible entities from EU member states, associated countries, and potentially some third countries. One specific topic, HORIZON-EIC-2025-ACCELERATOR-02-CHALLENGES-04, targets "Innovative in-space servicing, operations, space-based robotics and technologies for resilient EU space infrastructure". Applicants should consult the Horizon Europe Programme Guide and the specific topic descriptions for detailed eligibility criteria, application guidelines, and evaluation processes. The application process is managed through the EU Funding & Tenders Portal, where applicants can find application templates, guidance documents, and partner search tools. The EIC Accelerator supports high-risk, high-impact projects, with the goal of scaling up breakthrough innovations and creating new markets.