ISOS Pilot Mission Detailed Design – HOST component

The Horizon Europe program offers funding under the call SPACE-HADEA (HORIZON-CL4-2025-02) to develop capabilities for in-space operations and services, specifically through the ISOS Pilot Mission aimed at demonstration by 2030. The initiative aims to enhance the EU's strategic autonomy and competitiveness in the space sector, focusing on projects that foster a sustainable in-space economy.

The specific grant topic, HORIZON-CL4-2025-02-SPACE-22, centers on the design of the Host platform for the ISOS mission, which will facilitate functions such as robotic manipulation, in-orbit demonstration, and modular satellite capabilities. The objectives include improving the technology readiness level of key technologies and creating a highly automated and economically viable space infrastructure based on circular economy principles.

Eligible applicants include industry, small and medium enterprises, and research institutions from EU member states and associated countries like Norway and Iceland. Collaboration among different actors is strongly encouraged. Funding for individual projects ranges from €1 million to €3 million, with a total budget of €17,500,000 allocated for the topic. The application process is a single-stage submission with a deadline of September 25, 2025, and a page limit of 60 pages for the proposal.

Projects should focus on detailed design and technology maturation, develop business models relevant to commercial needs, and ensure interoperability between mission components. Applicants are expected to demonstrate complementarity with existing research efforts and contribute to EU technological independence.

The success rates for Horizon Europe grants are typically below 20%, reflecting the high level of competition. While a co-funding requirement is common, specific details regarding it are not clearly laid out in the call. Overall, the grant opportunity is designed to advance Europe's capabilities in the emerging in-space economy, supporting critical technological developments and collaborations.

The Horizon Europe program, under call SPACE-HADEA (HORIZON-CL4-2025-02), offers funding for Research and Innovation Actions (RIA) to develop capabilities for in-space operations and services (ISOS). The central aim is to demonstrate a pilot mission by 2030, fostering a new in-space economy and maximizing EU technological independence. This initiative seeks to enhance the EU's freedom of action in space, increase the resilience of its space assets, and promote the competitiveness of the European space sector.

The focus of this particular topic, HORIZON-CL4-2025-02-SPACE-22, is on the detailed design of the platform component of the ISOS pilot mission, known as the Hub for Operational Services and on-orbit Testing (HOST). The HOST platform should be capable of hosting multiple servicer spacecraft, in-orbit demonstration and validation (IOD/V) experiments, and composable, exchangeable functional satellite modules (satAPPs). It should also be equipped with robotic manipulation and refuelling capabilities.

Expected outcomes of the projects funded under this topic include:

A sustainable, highly automated, flexible, and economically viable space infrastructure based on circular economy principles, such as plug-and-play spacecraft functionality and recycling/re-use of spacecraft modules.

Preparation for the ISOS Pilot Mission, including detailed mission and system design for the HOST component, maturation of enabling technologies, and innovative system and operational concepts.

Elaboration of interfaces between different mission components (servicing, logistics, satAPPs) and the ISOS Pilot Mission Coordination and Support Action (CSA).

Contribution to the ISOS Pilot Mission Objectives as outlined in the technical annex.

Development of clear use cases and relevant business models focusing on governmental and/or commercial needs.

Enhanced opportunities for IOD/V by promoting experiment plug-and-play on the HOST.

Ensuring the availability of results for subsequent mission phases.

The scope of the required Research and Innovation (R&I) actions includes:

Completing the detailed mission and system design for the HOST platform component, including key technology maturation to achieve the required Technology Readiness Levels (TRL).

Research and innovation on key enabling technologies for a scalable, modular, flexible platform component with robotic manipulation, satAPPs compatibility, and refuelling capabilities.

Contributing to the overall ISOS pilot mission detail design in cooperation with other mission components, the ISOS Pilot Mission Coordination and Support Action, and the ISOS Pilot Mission Advisory Group.

Research and innovation on related HOST functions and applications, including operational concepts that consider distributed computing, multi-agent and network architectures, supported by simulations.

Proposals should promote cooperation between industry, SMEs, and research institutions, and consider opportunities for commercializing technological innovations through on-ground or in-orbit demonstrations. A concrete plan for achieving the necessary TRLs for the technologies at the project's end is essential. Complementarities with previous and ongoing R&I efforts must be clearly described, including exploration of solutions from Horizon Europe, Horizon 2020, the European Space Agency (ESA), and national programs. Proposals should also consider using existing European technologies and building blocks to contribute to European non-dependence and strengthen competitiveness.

A balanced provision of expertise and capabilities from Member States and eligible Associated Countries is expected. The integration of the gender dimension in research and innovation content should be addressed if relevant to the research objectives.

The selected project is expected to collaborate with other projects selected under topics HORIZON-CL4-2025-02-SPACE-21, 23, 24, and the ISOS Pilot Mission Coordination and Support Action. This collaboration will ensure interoperability, documentation, information sharing, economies of scale, and efficient monitoring and review. A collaboration agreement will formalize this cooperation.

The application page limit is 60 pages, as described in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes and Part B of the Application Form.

Eligible countries are described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes. Participation is limited to legal entities established in Member States and associated countries Norway and Iceland, with specific provisions for entities controlled by non-eligible countries.

Beneficiaries using satellite-based data and services must utilize Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS.

The granting authority can fund a maximum of one project.

Evaluation and award processes are described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual, with legal and financial setups detailed in Annex G. Specific conditions are described in the topic of the Work Programme.

Applicants should consult the Guidance Document for the EU ISOS Pilot Mission for detailed information.

Application forms are available in the Submission System, with standard evaluation forms used with necessary adaptations.

Applicants must complete a compulsory questionnaire on the declaration of ownership and control, assembling all declarations into a single file for submission.

Additional documents include the HE Main Work Programme 2025, HE Programme Guide, HE Framework Programme 2021/695, EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509, and related guidelines and regulations.

The budget overview for 2025 includes various topics, with HORIZON-CL4-2025-02-SPACE-22 having a budget of EUR 17,500,000 and an indicative number of one grant.

Partner search announcements are available for collaboration on this topic.

In summary, this Horizon Europe funding opportunity aims to advance the design and development of a critical platform for in-space operations, fostering a sustainable and competitive European space sector. It calls for collaborative projects that can mature key technologies, develop innovative concepts, and contribute to the broader goals of the ISOS pilot mission, ensuring the EU's strategic autonomy and technological leadership in space.

Eligible Applicant Types: The opportunity is open to industry, SMEs, and research institutions. The call specifically encourages cooperation between these different types of actors.

Funding Type: The funding type is primarily a grant, specifically a HORIZON Research and Innovation Action (HORIZON-RIA) or a HORIZON Innovation Action (HORIZON-IA) or a HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions (HORIZON-CSA). The specific type depends on the topic. The funding is provided through a HORIZON Action Grant Budget-Based [HORIZON-AG].

Consortium Requirement: The opportunity encourages cooperation between different actors, implying that a consortium is preferred, although not explicitly stated as a requirement.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): Participation is limited to legal entities established in EU Member States and associated countries: Norway and Iceland.

Target Sector: The program targets the space sector, specifically focusing on in-space operations and services (ISOS), on-orbit servicing, robotic manipulation, satellite technology, and related areas.

Mentioned Countries: Norway, Iceland, EU Member States, EEA countries.

Project Stage: The project stage is focused on detailed design, technology maturation, and system design, moving towards demonstration and commercial use. The aim is to increase the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of the technologies involved.

Funding Amount: The funding amounts vary depending on the specific topic within the call, ranging from EUR 500,000 to EUR 17,500,000. There are different budget ranges for different topics.

Application Type: The application type is an open call with a single-stage submission process.

Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money in the form of grants to support their research and innovation activities.

Application Stages: The application process is a single-stage process.

Success Rates: The success rates are not explicitly mentioned, but the indicative number of grants per topic is provided, which can be used to infer the approximate success rate based on the number of expected proposals.

Co-funding Requirement: The text does not explicitly mention a co-funding requirement.

Summary:

This Horizon Europe call, under the SPACE-HADEA (HORIZON-CL4-2025-02) program, focuses on developing capabilities for in-space operations and services (ISOS) through a pilot mission by 2030. The call aims to foster a new in-space economy, enhance in-orbit technology demonstration, and maximize EU technology non-dependence. The specific topic, HORIZON-CL4-2025-02-SPACE-22, addresses the detailed design of the platform component, named Hub for Operational Services and on-orbit Testing (HOST), of the ISOS pilot mission. The HOST platform will be designed to host multiple servicer spacecraft, IOD/V experiments, and composable satellite modules, equipped with robotic manipulation and refuelling capabilities.

The call encourages cooperation between industry, SMEs, and research institutions from EU Member States and associated countries like Norway and Iceland. The projects should contribute to a sustainable, automated, and economically viable space infrastructure, mature enabling technologies, elaborate interfaces between mission components, and develop relevant business models. The funding is provided through HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions (HORIZON-RIA) with a single-stage submission process. The application page limit is 60 pages. The indicative budget for the topic HORIZON-CL4-2025-02-SPACE-22 is EUR 17,500,000, and it is expected that one project will be funded under this topic. The call opens on May 22, 2025, and the deadline for submission is September 25, 2025.