Space Critical EEE Components for EU non-dependence - Connectors

The Horizon Europe grant opportunity titled "Space Critical EEE Components for EU non-dependence - Connectors" emphasizes the development of space-grade electronic components to mitigate EU dependency on non-EU technologies. This initiative includes provisions for collaboration among industries, research institutions, and academic entities, particularly stressing the synergy between space and non-space sectors to enhance supply chain resilience.

Eligible applicants must be legal entities established in EU member states, Norway, or Iceland, while maintaining compliance with regulations concerning the participation of entities from non-eligible countries. The funding will stem from Horizon Europe, specifically as a Research and Innovation Action (RIA) grant, with a total call budget of €6 million and individual project funding ranging between €2.5 million to €3 million. Each project aims for a technology readiness level (TRL) of 5 or 6, focusing on validation and demonstration stages.

The application process operates on a single-stage basis, with a deadline set for September 25, 2025. Applicants are expected to outline an EU-centric supply chain strategy that avoids non-EU export restrictions, ensuring that all components comply with relevant standards for space qualification. Proposals must address specific technological and supply chain vulnerabilities, performing due diligence regarding any legal export restrictions.

Furthermore, projects must promise to uphold a competitive edge by ensuring their technologies meet or exceed performance levels established by non-EU competitors while establishing independent production capabilities within the EU. The call aims to bolster the EU's strategic technological sovereignty in the space sector through the development and supply of critical electronic components, specifically connectors.

Overall, this grant encourages applications that demonstrate a viable path to commercialization and a collaborative approach across European industries, aiming to create a sustainable framework for essential EEE components necessary for future EU space missions. The initiative underscores the importance of limiting dependencies on external sources while enhancing the EU's capabilities in space technology.

This is a Horizon Europe call, specifically SPACE-HADEA (HORIZON-CL4-2025-02), focusing on "Critical EEE Components for EU non-dependence - Connectors" (HORIZON-CL4-2025-02-SPACE-73). It is a HORIZON Research and Innovation Action (HORIZON-RIA) with a single-stage submission process. The call aims to reinforce EU strategic autonomy by reducing dependencies on non-EU sources for critical space Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical (EEE) components and related technologies.

The expected outcomes of the projects funded under this call are:

Reinforcing EU strategic autonomy by reducing non-EU dependencies on critical space EEE components and related technologies across their entire supply chain.
Providing unrestricted access to critical space EEE components and related technologies relevant for EU space missions.
Developing or regaining capacity to operate independently in space by developing resilient space EEE components and related technologies supply chains, relying on EU supply chains and/or trustable and reliable supply chains not affected by non-EU export restrictions.
Enhancing competitiveness by developing products and capabilities reaching equivalent or superior performance level than those from outside the EU and compete at worldwide level.
Opening new opportunities for manufacturers by reducing dependency on non-EU export restricted technologies.

The scope of the call includes the financing and implementation of development projects aimed at maturing critical space EEE components, with the goal of lowering dependency from outside the EU. This involves establishing a long-term sustainable supply chain to support EU strategic autonomy in the space sector. The selection of supply chains should prioritize those fully based in the EU. If full EU-based supply chains are not currently feasible, services procured from outside the EU must ensure a trustable and reliable supply chain not affected by non-EU export controls, subject to the granting authority's approval.

The specific EEE component technology targeted in this call is:

Connectors [Target final TRL 5-6]

Additional context information and technical requirements are available in the Technical Requirements Guidance document on the Funding & Tenders Portal.

Applicants are expected to enhance technological spin-in and/or bilateral collaborations between European non-space and space industries, given the low-volume market and dynamic industrial landscape of the space sector. Proposed activities should be complementary to relevant national and European-level activities.

To achieve the non-dependence objective, applicants must include a dedicated proposal paragraph covering:

A description of the technology and/or technology processes and a high-level breakdown of the space EEE component supply chain.
Demonstration that the supply chain and final product are free of legal export restrictions or limitations, such as those in the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR).
Reporting if and which part of the supply chain is affected by non-EU export controls, such as the Export Administration Regulation (EAR) i.e. EAR99.
A description of the technology development process identified and set up within the consortium to avoid export restrictions of non-EU states and assess supply chain vulnerabilities.

Proposals targeting a final Technology Readiness Level (TRL) equal to or higher than 5 must include a list of proposed applicable standards (e.g., EN, ECSS, ESCC, MIL, JEDEC) relevant for formal space evaluation and/or qualification. Projects aiming for formal space qualification must deliver the full data pack planned for submission to the qualification authority. This deliverable is marked sensitive and shared with DG-DEFIS and HaDEA. Products successfully completing space evaluation/qualification should inform DG-DEFIS and engrave the EU flag on the package or die.

The proposal must include specific tasks in the work plan and related confidential deliverables to be provided within 6 months from the project start to DG-DEFIS and HaDEA, with the objectives of:

Analyzing and describing the full supply chain, each entity and its role, criticality level, and dependencies from outside the EU.
Describing the industrial technical roadmap and a business plan for commercialization, including applications needs, space mission insertion, and time-to-market indication.
Reporting the list of relevant non-EU export controls with extra-territorial applicability for the specific technology/product under development.
Undertaking a comprehensive literature review of the relevant technology/product, reporting the state-of-the-art and highlighting potential gaps between current EU solutions and competition from outside the EU.

Unless otherwise agreed with the granting authority, beneficiaries must ensure that affiliated entities, associated partners, or subcontractors are not established in non-eligible countries.

Applicants are reminded that all provisions reported by the Model Grant Agreements related to topics with restricted eligibility conditions are applied. Consortiums must ensure that for up to 4 years after the action's end, supply and availability of developed products and/or processes are provided to any entity in the EU at fair and reasonable market prices, with no legal restrictions or limitations stemming from ITAR or equivalent instruments. Beneficiaries intending to transfer ownership or grant an exclusive license must notify DG-DEFIS and HaDEA, and the granting authority may object to the transfer or licensing for up to four years after the action's end.

The integration of the gender dimension in research and innovation content is not relevant for 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. Participation is limited to legal entities established in Member States and associated countries: Norway and Iceland. Entities controlled by non-eligible countries may not participate unless guarantees are provided that their participation would not negatively impact the Union’s strategic assets, interests, autonomy, or security.

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

Financial and operational capacity and exclusion are described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes.

The granting authority can fund a maximum of one project, as described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes.

Submission and evaluation processes are described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual. The indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement is described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes.

Legal and financial setup of the grants are described in Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes.

Specific conditions are described in the specific topic of the Work Programme. The Technical Guidance Document clarifies technological expectations.

Application and evaluation forms and the model grant agreement (MGA) are available in the Submission System.

Additional documents include:

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 Programme Guide
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 budget for HORIZON-CL4-2025-02-SPACE-73 is 1 000 000 EUR. The opening date is 22 May 2025, and the deadline is 25 September 2025. The indicative number of grants is 1, with contributions ranging from 800 000 to 1 000 000 EUR.

There are 15 partner search announcements available.

In summary, this Horizon Europe call aims to bolster the EU's strategic independence in space by funding projects that develop and mature critical EEE components, specifically connectors, within a secure and reliable European supply chain. The call emphasizes compliance with export regulations and encourages collaboration between space and non-space industries. The goal is to create competitive, high-performance components that reduce reliance on non-EU sources and enhance the EU's capabilities in space missions.

This opportunity is about securing the EU's access to essential technologies for its space program. Currently, the EU relies on components from outside the EU, which can be problematic due to export restrictions and concerns about supply chain security. This call invites companies and research institutions within the EU and associated countries to propose projects that will develop and produce these components within the EU, ensuring that the EU has a reliable and independent source for these critical technologies. The focus is on connectors, and the projects should aim to bring these technologies to a level where they can be used in real space missions. The EU is particularly interested in projects that can demonstrate a clear path to commercialization and that involve collaboration between different industries and countries within Europe. The EU wants to fund projects that not only develop the technology but also create a sustainable and secure supply chain within Europe, reducing dependence on external sources and strengthening the EU's strategic position in space.

Eligible Applicant Types: The opportunity is open to legal entities established in EU Member States, Norway, and Iceland. There are specific conditions regarding entities controlled by non-eligible countries. The eligible applicant types are not explicitly defined as SME, large enterprise, university, etc., but rather as legal entities that can demonstrate their participation does not negatively impact the Union's strategic assets, interests, autonomy, or security.

Funding Type: The funding type is primarily a 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 emphasizes the importance of a sustainable supply chain. However, it does not explicitly exclude single applicants.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility is limited to legal entities established in EU Member States, Norway, and Iceland. Entities controlled by non-eligible countries may participate under specific, justified conditions.

Target Sector: The program targets the space sector, specifically focusing on critical space Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical (EEE) components and related technologies.

Mentioned Countries: The mentioned countries are EU Member States, Norway, and Iceland. There is also reference to non-EU countries and associated countries.

Project Stage: The project stage targets technology developments with a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) equal to or higher than 5. The target TRL for connectors is 5-6.

Funding Amount: The funding amounts vary depending on the specific topic within the call, ranging from €500,000 to €18,000,000. Some topics have a fixed budget, while others have a range.
HORIZON-CL4-2025-02-SPACE-11 - HORIZON-CSA HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions 1 000 000 single-stage
HORIZON-CL4-2025-02-SPACE-12 - HORIZON-RIA HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions 3 000 000 single-stage 1000000 to 3000000
HORIZON-CL4-2025-02-SPACE-13 - HORIZON-IA HORIZON Innovation Actions 7 000 000 single-stage 4000000 to 7000000
HORIZON-CL4-2025-02-SPACE-21 - HORIZON-RIA HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions 18 000 000 single-stage 6000000 to 12000000
HORIZON-CL4-2025-02-SPACE-22 - HORIZON-RIA HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions 17 500 000 single-stage 12000000 to 17500000
HORIZON-CL4-2025-02-SPACE-23 - HORIZON-RIA HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions 12 000 000 single-stage 10000000 to 12000000
HORIZON-CL4-2025-02-SPACE-24 - HORIZON-RIA HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions 5 000 000 single-stage 2000000 to 3000000
HORIZON-CL4-2025-02-SPACE-31 - HORIZON-RIA HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions 6 000 000 single-stage 1000000 to 5000000
HORIZON-CL4-2025-02-SPACE-32 - HORIZON-IA HORIZON Innovation Actions 11 000 000 single-stage 2000000 to 6000000
HORIZON-CL4-2025-02-SPACE-41 - HORIZON-RIA HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions 10 000 000 single-stage around 10000000
HORIZON-CL4-2025-02-SPACE-42 - HORIZON-RIA HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions 3 000 000 single-stage around 3000000
HORIZON-CL4-2025-02-SPACE-43 - HORIZON-RIA HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions 3 000 000 single-stage around 3000000
HORIZON-CL4-2025-02-SPACE-44 - HORIZON-RIA HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions 5 000 000 single-stage around 5000000
HORIZON-CL4-2025-02-SPACE-45 - HORIZON-RIA HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions 12 000 000 single-stage around 12000000
HORIZON-CL4-2025-02-SPACE-46 - HORIZON-IA HORIZON Innovation Actions 5 000 000 single-stage around 5000000
HORIZON-CL4-2025-02-SPACE-71 - HORIZON-RIA HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions 5 000 000 single-stage 4500000 to 5000000
HORIZON-CL4-2025-02-SPACE-72 - HORIZON-RIA HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions 8 000 000 single-stage 3500000 to 4000000
HORIZON-CL4-2025-02-SPACE-73 - HORIZON-RIA HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions 1 000 000 single-stage 800000 to 1000000
HORIZON-CL4-2025-02-SPACE-74 - HORIZON-RIA HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions 6 000 000 single-stage 2500000 to 3000000
HORIZON-CL4-2025-02-SPACE-81 - HORIZON-RIA HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions 500 000 single-stage 450000 to 500000

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

Nature of Support: The beneficiaries will receive money in the form of a grant.

Application Stages: The application process involves a single stage.

Success Rates: The success rates are not explicitly mentioned in the provided text.

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

Summary: This Horizon Europe call (SPACE-HADEA (HORIZON-CL4-2025-02)) aims to reinforce the EU's strategic autonomy in the space sector by reducing its dependence on non-EU sources for critical Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical (EEE) components and related technologies. The call focuses on funding research and innovation projects that mature these components, establish sustainable EU-based supply chains, and ensure unrestricted access to these technologies for EU space missions. Participation is limited to legal entities from EU Member States, Norway, and Iceland, with specific conditions for entities controlled by non-eligible countries. The call targets technology developments with a TRL of 5 or higher, with funding ranging from €500,000 to €18,000,000 depending on the specific topic. The application process is a single-stage open call, and successful projects are expected to contribute to a more competitive and independent EU space industry. The call specifically mentions connectors as a key area for technology development, targeting a final TRL of 5-6. Applicants are expected to demonstrate that their supply chains and final products are free of legal export restrictions and to provide detailed analyses of their supply chains and commercialization plans.