Space critical Equipment for EU non-dependence – Space Refuelling Interface

The Horizon Europe call under the SPACE program, particularly topic HORIZON-CL4-2026-SPACE-03-86, focuses on developing space-critical equipment to enhance the EU's strategic autonomy, specifically through the development of a space refuelling interface. This initiative aims to reduce dependence on non-EU technologies and establish a sustainable supply chain for critical space equipment, ensuring compliance with export restrictions such as ITAR.

Eligible applicants include legal entities based in EU Member States, Norway, or Iceland. Organizations controlled by non-eligible countries must demonstrate non-infringement on the Union's strategic assets, interests, autonomy, or security to participate. The opportunity supports a grant-based funding model known as Research and Innovation Action (RIA), with a budget allocation of €2.94 million for the topic, providing grants ranging from €2 million to €3 million per project.

Projects must aim to achieve a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of 5 or higher and include a detailed analysis of the supply chain, ensuring it is free from non-EU export controls. The proposal submission is a single-stage process, opening on March 10, 2026, with a deadline of September 3, 2026. Successful projects are expected to provide unrestricted access to developed technologies and collaborate effectively within the EU framework.

The call emphasizes the importance of establishing reliable and trustable supply chains while enhancing the competitiveness of the EU space industry to meet strategic objectives. It encourages collaboration across sectors and mandates that developed technologies comply with specific EU standards before being made available. The overall goal is to bolster the EU's capabilities in space, ensuring reliable access and operation independent of external dependencies, thus reinforcing European presence and competitiveness in the global space sector.

This is a Horizon Europe (HORIZON) call under the SPACE (HORIZON-CL4-2026-03) program, specifically the topic HORIZON-CL4-2026-SPACE-03-86, which focuses on Space critical Equipment for EU non-dependence Space Refuelling Interface. It is a HORIZON Research and Innovation Action (HORIZON-RIA) with a HORIZON Action Grant Budget-Based [HORIZON-AG] type of Model Grant Agreement (MGA). The call is forthcoming with a single-stage deadline model. The planned opening date is 10 March 2026, and the deadline for submission is 03 September 2026 at 17:00:00 Brussels time. The topic budget is 2,940,000 EUR for the year 2026, with contributions ranging from 2,000,000 to 3,000,000 EUR, and an indicative number of 1 grant.

The expected outcomes of the project results are to contribute to: Reinforcing EU strategic autonomy by reducing non-EU dependencies on critical space Equipment and related technologies across their entire supply chain; Providing unrestricted access to critical space Equipment and related technologies relevant for EU space missions and pilots (e.g. In-Orbit Space Operations); Developing or regaining capacity to operate independently in space by developing resilient space Equipment 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.

The scope of this topic includes: Unrestricted access to state-of-art space equipment and related technologies is a pre-requisite for the EU space industry responding to EU space missions. However, especially for some families of equipment, the available solutions in EU do not meet the current high-performance space requirements. Currently, alternative products sourced from outside EU, are either affected by non-EU export control, that limits its use, or present challenges in terms of trustable supply chains for the implementation of EU space missions with a security dimension. Within the frame of this topic, it is expected to finance and implement a development project aiming at maturing critical equipment with the final goal of lowering the dependency from outside EU. This will be done by establishing a long-term sustainable supply chain for supporting EU strategic autonomy in the space sector. The selection of the supply chains shall reflect this objective. Therefore, the supply chain shall preferably be built fully based in EU and when this can only be achieved partially, services procured from outside EU shall nevertheless ensure that the overall supply chain will remain trustable and not affected by non-EU export control. The latest scenario is subject to the approval of the granting authority (i.e. DG-DEFIS and HaDEA). The space equipment and related technologies relevant for this topic represent a direct implementation of the EU Observatory of Critical Technologies (OCT) Technology Roadmap, named Robotics Manipulators for Space Applications: Space Refuelling Interface. Further details will be provided at the latest at the opening of the Call, in a Guidance document published on the Funding & Tenders Portal. Space is a low volume market affected by a dynamic industrial landscape compared to the terrestrial market therefore, technological spin in and/or bilateral collaborations should be enhanced between European non-space and space industries. Furthermore, proposed activities should be complementary to relevant national or other activities at EU level. Complementary activities should be clearly identified, described and the proposal should report how the complementarity is ensured.

To achieve the non-dependence objective, applicants are expected to include a dedicated proposal’s paragraph covering: The description of the technology and/or technology processes used for developing the equipment and high-level breakdown of the supply chain to be used. Applicants should demonstrate that the supply chain and final product are free of any legal export restrictions or limitations, such as those established in the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) or equivalent instruments applicable in other non-EU jurisdictions. Applicants shall also report, in a dedicated subsection, 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. The description of the suitable technology development process that has been identified and set up within the consortium for avoiding export restrictions of non-EU states and assess vulnerabilities of the supply chain. Proposals covering space equipment and related technology developments that are targeting a final TRL equal or higher than 5 should include a list of proposed applicable standards (e.g. EN, ECSS, ESCC, MIL, JEDEC,…) that are considered relevant for implementing a formal space evaluation and/or qualification. Additionally, projects that aim at a formal space qualification should include as deliverable the full data pack planned to be submitted to the qualification authority. This deliverable should be marked sensitive. Hardware that will successfully complete the space evaluation/qualification is expected promote the EU support by displaying the EU emblem on the package. The proposal is expected to include specific tasks as part of the work plan and related dedicated confidential deliverables to be provided within six months from the start of the project, with the objective of: Analysing and describing, in detail, the full supply chain, each entity and its role in the supply chain, level of criticality and, if relevant, identify dependencies from outside EU; Describing the industrial technical roadmap and a business plan for commercialization with accurate understanding of applications needs, space mission insertion, including time to market indication, of the developed product. Reporting the list of relevant non-EU export control with extra territorial applicability for the specific technology/product under development, independently from the supply chain established for the EU-COM project. 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 EU. Unless otherwise agreed with the granting authority, beneficiaries must ensure that none of the entities that participate as subcontractors are established in countries which are not eligible as set out in the call conditions. The consortium as a whole and individual beneficiaries should ensure that, for a period of up to four years after the end of the project, supply and availability of the hardware, manufacturing, assembly processes developed and/or qualified within the project should be made available to any entity in the EU plus Norway and Iceland, at fair and reasonable market prices and conditions and with no legal restrictions and limitations stemming for example from International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) or equivalent instruments applicable in non-EU jurisdictions. Additionally, beneficiaries that intend to transfer ownership or grant an exclusive licence must formally notify the granting authority before the intended transfer or licensing takes place; the granting authority may, up to four years after the end of the project, object to a transfer of ownership or the exclusive licensing of results. In this topic, the integration of the gender dimension (sex and gender analysis) in research and innovation content is not relevant.

The general conditions include: Admissibility Conditions: The proposal page limit is 80 pages, as described in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes. Proposal page limits and layout are described 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. A number of non-EU/non-Associated Countries that are not automatically eligible for funding have made specific provisions for making funding available for their participants in Horizon Europe projects. See the information in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide. Other Eligible Conditions: If projects use satellite-based earth observation, positioning, navigation and/or related timing data and services, beneficiaries must make use of Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS (other data and services may additionally be used). In order to achieve the expected outcomes, and safeguard the Union’s strategic assets, interests, autonomy, or security, participation is limited to legal entities established in Member States, Norway and Iceland. Proposals including entities established in countries outside the scope specified in the call/topic/action will be ineligible. For the duly justified and exceptional reasons listed in the paragraph above, in order to guarantee the protection of the strategic interests of the Union and its Member States, entities established in an eligible country listed above, but which are directly or indirectly controlled by a non-eligible country or by a non-eligible country entity, may not participate in the action unless it can be demonstrated, by means of guarantees positively assessed by their eligible country of establishment, that their participation to the action would not negatively impact the Union’s strategic assets, interests, autonomy, or security. Entities assessed as high-risk suppliers of mobile network communication equipment within the meaning of ‘restrictions for the protection of European communication networks’ (or entities fully or partially owned or controlled by a high-risk supplier) cannot submit guarantees. Financial and operational capacity and exclusion are described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes. Evaluation and award: Award criteria, scoring and thresholds are described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes. The evaluation committee will be composed partially by representatives of EU institutions. 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 set-up 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 application and evaluation forms and model grant agreement (MGA) include: Application form templates the application form specific to this call is available in the Submission System, Standard application form (HE RIA, IA). Evaluation form templates will be used with the necessary adaptations, Standard evaluation form (HE RIA, IA). Guidance: HE Programme Guide. Model Grant Agreements (MGA): HE MGA. Declaration of ownership and control: A compulsory questionnaire on the declaration of ownership and control is to be filled by all project participants as part of the application. All declarations must be assembled by the coordinator and uploaded in a single file in the portal submission system. For additional information on the assessment of ownership and control process and on the guarantees please consult the draft guidance for participation in restricted calls.

Additional documents include: HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 1. General Introduction, HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 7. Digital, Industry and Space, HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 15. 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 overview lists several topics: HORIZON-CL4-2026-SPACE-03-11, HORIZON-CL4-2026-SPACE-03-31, HORIZON-CL4-2026-SPACE-03-32, HORIZON-CL4-2026-SPACE-03-61, HORIZON-CL4-2026-SPACE-03-81, HORIZON-CL4-2026-SPACE-03-82, HORIZON-CL4-2026-SPACE-03-85 and HORIZON-CL4-2026-SPACE-03-86.

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This call for proposals aims to bolster the EU's strategic independence in space by funding projects that mature critical space equipment and establish reliable supply chains within the EU, Norway, and Iceland. The focus is on robotics manipulators for space applications, specifically the space refuelling interface, as identified in the EU Observatory of Critical Technologies (OCT) Technology Roadmap. Projects should aim to reduce reliance on non-EU technologies and supply chains, particularly those affected by export controls like ITAR. Applicants must demonstrate that their proposed technologies and supply chains are free from such restrictions and should include a plan for commercializing their developed products. The call encourages collaboration between space and non-space industries and emphasizes complementarity with existing national and EU-level activities. Successful projects will contribute to unrestricted access to state-of-the-art space equipment, enhance the EU's capacity to operate independently in space, and improve the competitiveness of the EU space industry.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are legal entities established in Member States, Norway, and Iceland. However, entities established in an eligible country but directly or indirectly controlled by a non-eligible country or entity may participate if they demonstrate that their participation would not negatively impact the Union’s strategic assets, interests, autonomy, or security. The call specifies that entities assessed as high-risk suppliers of mobile network communication equipment cannot submit guarantees.

Funding Type: The funding type is primarily a grant, specifically HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions (HORIZON-RIA) and HORIZON Innovation Actions (HORIZON-IA) under the Horizon Europe program. The type of Model Grant Agreement is HORIZON Action Grant Budget-Based [HORIZON-AG].

Consortium Requirement: The opportunity appears to require a consortium, as it mentions the need for a supply chain and collaboration between space and non-space industries. The consortium as a whole and individual beneficiaries have obligations.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility is limited to legal entities established in Member States of the EU, Norway, and Iceland. Subcontractors must also be established in eligible countries, unless otherwise agreed with the granting authority.

Target Sector: The target sector is the space industry, specifically focusing on critical space equipment and related technologies, robotics manipulators for space applications, and space refuelling interface technologies. The program aims to enhance EU strategic autonomy in the space sector by reducing dependencies on non-EU suppliers.

Mentioned Countries: European Union member states, Norway, Iceland.

Project Stage: The project stage targets technology developments with a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) equal to or higher than 5. The goal is to mature critical equipment and establish a sustainable supply chain, suggesting a focus on development, validation, and demonstration stages.

Funding Amount: The funding amounts vary depending on the specific topic within the call:
HORIZON-CL4-2026-SPACE-03-11: €10,000,000 to €15,000,000
HORIZON-CL4-2026-SPACE-03-31: €3,000,000 to €6,000,000
HORIZON-CL4-2026-SPACE-03-32: €5,000,000 to €10,000,000
HORIZON-CL4-2026-SPACE-03-61: €1,500,000 to €2,500,000
HORIZON-CL4-2026-SPACE-03-81: €12,000,000 to €13,000,000
HORIZON-CL4-2026-SPACE-03-82: €6,000,000 to €7,000,000
HORIZON-CL4-2026-SPACE-03-85: €3,000,000 to €4,000,000
HORIZON-CL4-2026-SPACE-03-86: €2,000,000 to €3,000,000

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 their projects.

Application Stages: The application process involves a single stage.

Success Rates: The success rates are not explicitly mentioned in the provided text. However, the indicative number of grants for each topic provides some insight into the potential success rate, which would depend on the number of applications received.

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

Summary:

This Horizon Europe call, under the SPACE (HORIZON-CL4-2026-03) program, aims to reinforce EU strategic autonomy in the space sector by reducing dependencies on non-EU sources for critical space equipment and technologies. The call focuses on the development and maturation of critical equipment, establishing sustainable and reliable supply chains within the EU, Norway, and Iceland. The projects should target technologies with a TRL of 5 or higher, with a specific focus on Robotics Manipulators for Space Applications and Space Refuelling Interface, as outlined in the EU Observatory of Critical Technologies (OCT) Technology Roadmap.

Eligible applicants are legal entities based in EU Member States, Norway, and Iceland, with specific conditions for entities controlled by non-eligible countries. The funding mechanism is through HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions (RIA) and HORIZON Innovation Actions (IA), providing grants ranging from €2,000,000 to €15,000,000 depending on the specific topic.

Applicants are expected to form consortia and demonstrate how their projects will contribute to:
Reducing non-EU dependencies across the entire supply chain.
Providing unrestricted access to critical space equipment for EU space missions.
Developing resilient supply chains relying on EU or trustable sources.
Enhancing the competitiveness of EU space products and capabilities.

The application process is a single-stage submission, with a deadline of September 3, 2026. Proposals must include a detailed description of the technology, supply chain, technology development process, and a business plan for commercialization. They should also address compliance with export restrictions and vulnerabilities in the supply chain. Successful projects are expected to make their hardware, manufacturing, and assembly processes available to any entity in the EU, Norway, and Iceland for up to four years after the project's end, under fair market conditions.