Space Critical EEE Components for EU non-dependence – Advanced Packages and Memories

The grant opportunity titled "Space Critical EEE Components for EU non-dependence – Advanced Packages and Memories" pertains to the Horizon Europe program. It is focused on enhancing the European Union's strategic autonomy in space technologies by developing critical Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical (EEE) components, thereby reducing reliance on non-EU suppliers.

Eligible applicants include legal entities established in EU Member States and associated countries such as Norway and Iceland. Applicants from non-eligible countries can participate under specific conditions that ensure their involvement does not negatively impact the EU's strategic interests. The funding type is primarily grant, particularly through Horizon Research and Innovation Actions (RIA), with budgets for projects in this category ranging from €500,000 to €18,000,000, depending on the specific focus area.

The call requires consortia, highlighting the importance of collaboration among various stakeholders, including both space and non-space industries. Geographic eligibility is limited to the EU and specific associated countries, reinforcing the aim to develop sustainable EU-based supply chains.

Projects should aim for a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of 5 or higher, with some areas specifically targeting TRLs of 6-7 and pursuing technologies critical for space operations, such as advanced packages and MRAM memories.

The application process is a single-stage open call, with a deadline set for September 25, 2025. The success rates for these grants are expected to be competitive, likely ranging from 10% to 39%. The proposal submissions should demonstrate a clear understanding of the supply chain involved and ensure the technology is free from legal export restrictions.

The overarching goal of this grant opportunity is to create a secure and resilient supply chain for space missions and enhance the capability of EU manufacturers in high-performance segments. Proposals must address various technical requirements and standards for space applications.

Funding will support projects aimed at maturing technologies and establishing long-term, sustainable solutions within the EU, thereby reinforcing the EU's place in the global space sector and improving its competitive edge against outside sources. Collaboration and complementarity with other EU initiatives are emphasized, showcasing the need for inter-sector cooperation to achieve these objectives effectively.

Additional guidelines, requirements, and templates are provided through the Horizon Europe portal, offering further insights for applicants on eligible costs, proposal expectations, and evaluation criteria. The application page limit is set at 80 pages, and all proposals must conform to detailed procedural and technical documentation as outlined in the official guidance materials.

This EU funding opportunity, under the Horizon Europe program, aims to bolster the EU's strategic autonomy in the space sector by reducing its dependence on non-EU sources for critical space Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical (EEE) components and related technologies. The call, titled "Space Critical EEE Components for EU non-dependence Advanced Packages and Memories," seeks to finance projects that mature these components, establish sustainable EU-based supply chains, and enhance the competitiveness of EU manufacturers.

The expected outcomes of funded projects include:

Reinforcing EU strategic autonomy by decreasing reliance on non-EU suppliers for critical space EEE components.
Providing unrestricted access to essential space EEE components and technologies for EU space missions.
Developing or regaining the capacity for independent operation in space through resilient supply chains.
Enhancing the competitiveness of EU products and capabilities to rival or surpass non-EU offerings.
Creating new opportunities for EU manufacturers by reducing dependence on export-restricted technologies.

The scope of the call focuses on developing critical space EEE components where EU solutions currently fall short of high-performance requirements. Non-EU alternatives often face export controls or supply chain challenges that hinder their use in EU space missions, particularly those with security implications. Projects should establish long-term, sustainable supply chains, preferably based entirely within the EU. If complete EU sourcing is not feasible, non-EU services must ensure trust and freedom from export controls, subject to granting authority approval.

The call specifically targets the following technology areas:

Advanced packages Organic substrate for very high, fine pitch (Target final TRL 6-7)
MRAM Memories (Target final TRL 7)

A Technical Requirements Guidance document on the Funding & Tenders Portal provides additional context and technical details for each development area. Proposals must address only one technology area.

The call emphasizes collaboration between European non-space and space industries to leverage technological spin-ins. Proposed activities should complement existing national and European efforts, with clear identification, description, and demonstration of complementarity.

To meet the non-dependence objective, proposals must include a dedicated section covering:

A description of the technology and/or technology processes and a high-level breakdown of the space EEE component supply chain. Applicants must demonstrate that the supply chain and final product are free from legal export restrictions, such as those in the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). They should also report any parts of the supply chain affected by non-EU export controls, such as the Export Administration Regulation (EAR).
A description of the technology development process to avoid export restrictions and assess supply chain vulnerabilities.

Proposals targeting a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of 5 or higher must include a list of applicable standards (e.g., EN, ECSS, ESCC, MIL, JEDEC) for space evaluation and/or qualification. Projects aiming for formal space qualification must deliver a full data pack to the qualification authority, marked as sensitive and shared with DG-DEFIS and HaDEA. Products completing space evaluation/qualification should inform DG-DEFIS and display the EU flag on their packaging.

Proposals must include specific tasks in the work plan and confidential deliverables within six months of project start, provided to DG-DEFIS and HaDEA, to:

Analyze and describe the full supply chain, including each entity's role, criticality, and dependencies from outside the EU.
Describe the industrial technical roadmap and business plan for commercialization, including application needs, space mission insertion, and time-to-market.
Report relevant non-EU export controls with extraterritorial applicability.
Undertake a comprehensive literature review of the technology/product, reporting the state-of-the-art and highlighting gaps between EU solutions and non-EU competition.

Unless otherwise agreed, beneficiaries must ensure that affiliated entities, associated partners, and subcontractors are not established in ineligible countries.

Applicants are reminded that Model Grant Agreement provisions related to restricted eligibility conditions apply. Consortiums must ensure that for up to four years after the action, supply and availability of developed products/processes are offered to any EU entity at fair market prices, with no legal restrictions like ITAR. Beneficiaries intending to transfer ownership or grant exclusive licenses must notify DG-DEFIS and HaDEA, who may object within four years.

The integration of the gender dimension in research and innovation content is not relevant to this topic.

The application page limit is 80 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. Some non-EU/non-associated countries have specific funding provisions for Horizon Europe projects, as detailed in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide.

Participation is limited to legal entities from EU Member States, Norway, and Iceland to safeguard the Union's strategic assets, interests, autonomy, and security. Entities controlled by non-eligible countries may participate only if they provide guarantees, positively assessed by their eligible country of establishment, that their participation would not negatively impact the Union’s strategic interests. High-risk suppliers of mobile network communication equipment cannot submit guarantees.

If projects use satellite-based earth observation, positioning, navigation, and/or related timing data and services, beneficiaries must use Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS.

To ensure a balanced portfolio across development areas, grants will be awarded not only based on ranking but also to the highest-ranked proposal within each development area, provided it meets all thresholds.

Evaluation and award processes are described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual. Legal and financial aspects are detailed in Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes.

The Technical Guidance Document clarifies technological expectations. Application forms are available in the Submission System.

Additional guidance and documents include:

HE Programme Guide
HE Model Grant Agreement (MGA)
Declaration of ownership and control questionnaire
HE Main Work Programme 2025 – 1. General Introduction
HE Main Work Programme 2025 – 7. Digital, Industry and Space
HE Main Work Programme 2025 – 14. General Annexes
HE Framework Programme 2021/695
HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764
EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509
Decision authorising the use of lump sum contributions under the Horizon Europe Programme
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
Funding & Tenders Portal Privacy Statement

The call opens on 22 May 2025, with a deadline of 25 September 2025, 17:00:00 Brussels time.

The budget overview lists several topics, each with a specified budget, stage (single-stage), opening and deadline dates, contribution amounts, and indicative number of grants. Here are some examples:

HORIZON-CL4-2025-02-SPACE-11 - HORIZON-CSA HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions: Budget EUR 1,000,000, single-stage, opening 2025-05-22, deadline 2025-09-25, contribution around EUR 1,000,000, indicative 1 grant.
HORIZON-CL4-2025-02-SPACE-12 - HORIZON-RIA HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions: Budget EUR 3,000,000, single-stage, opening 2025-05-22, deadline 2025-09-25, contribution EUR 1,000,000 to 3,000,000, indicative 2 grants.
HORIZON-CL4-2025-02-SPACE-74 - HORIZON-RIA HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions: Budget EUR 6,000,000, single-stage, opening 2025-05-22, deadline 2025-09-25, contribution EUR 2,500,000 to 3,000,000, indicative 2 grants.

There are 19 partner search announcements available for collaboration on this topic.

In summary, this Horizon Europe call aims to strengthen the EU's space industry by fostering the development and secure supply of critical EEE components, reducing reliance on non-EU sources, and promoting European strategic autonomy in space. It targets specific technologies like advanced packages and MRAM memories, emphasizing the need for trustable, EU-centric supply chains and adherence to relevant standards. The call encourages collaboration between space and non-space industries and provides detailed guidelines for proposal preparation and eligibility.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are legal entities established in Member States and associated countries: Norway and Iceland. Entities established in an eligible country but directly or indirectly controlled by a non-eligible country or entity may participate if they demonstrate their participation would not negatively impact the Union’s strategic assets, interests, autonomy, or security.

Funding Type: The funding type is primarily grant, specifically HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions (HORIZON-RIA) and HORIZON Innovation Actions (HORIZON-IA) and HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions (HORIZON-CSA). The MGA (Model Grant Agreement) type is HORIZON Action Grant Budget-Based [HORIZON-AG].

Consortium Requirement: The opportunity appears to require a consortium, as it mentions "consortiums shall ensure" and encourages collaboration between European non-space and space industries.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility is limited to legal entities established in EU Member States, Norway, and Iceland.

Target Sector: The target sector is space, specifically focusing on critical space Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical (EEE) components and related technologies. The program aims to enhance EU strategic autonomy in the space sector by reducing dependence on non-EU sources for these components.

Mentioned Countries:
1. Norway
2. Iceland
European Union Member States

Project Stage: The project stage targets technology developments with a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) equal to or higher than 5. Some specific areas target TRL 6-7, and TRL 7 is also mentioned.

Funding Amount: The funding amounts vary depending on the specific topic within the call:
HORIZON-CSA: around EUR 1,000,000
HORIZON-RIA: EUR 500,000, EUR 1,000,000, EUR 3,000,000, EUR 5,000,000, EUR 6,000,000, EUR 8,000,000, EUR 10,000,000, EUR 12,000,000, EUR 17,500,000, EUR 18,000,000, with some topics specifying ranges (e.g., EUR 1,000,000 to EUR 3,000,000).
HORIZON-IA: EUR 5,000,000, EUR 7,000,000, EUR 11,000,000, with some topics specifying ranges (e.g., EUR 2,000,000 to EUR 6,000,000).

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 finance and implement development projects.

Application Stages: The application process involves a single stage.

Success Rates: The success rates are not explicitly mentioned, but the indicative number of grants for each topic is provided, allowing for an estimation of the potential success rate based on the number of expected applications.

Co-funding Requirement: The information does not explicitly state a co-funding requirement.

Summary:
This Horizon Europe call, under the SPACE-HADEA program, aims to bolster the EU's strategic autonomy in the space sector by fostering the development and maturation of critical Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical (EEE) components. The call specifically targets advanced packages and memories, seeking to reduce the EU's reliance on non-EU sources and ensure a secure and reliable supply chain for space missions. The call is open to legal entities based in EU Member States, Norway, and Iceland, with certain conditions for entities controlled by non-eligible countries. Projects should focus on maturing technologies to a TRL of 5 or higher, with specific areas targeting TRL 6-7 and TRL 7. The funding is provided through HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions (RIA), HORIZON Innovation Actions (IA) and HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions (CSA), with budgets varying from EUR 500,000 to EUR 18,000,000 depending on the topic. The application process is single-stage, with a deadline of September 25, 2025. Applicants are expected to demonstrate that their proposed supply chain and final products are free of legal export restrictions, and to include a detailed analysis of the supply chain, a business plan for commercialization, and a comprehensive literature review. The call emphasizes the importance of collaboration between European space and non-space industries and the need for complementarity with other relevant activities at the national and European level.