Space Data Economy

The Horizon Europe program is providing funding opportunities focused on enhancing the space data economy through the call HORIZON-EUSPA-2026-SPACE-02-51. The initiative emphasizes the development and commercialization of innovative solutions utilizing EU space data, specifically targeting applications in energy, climate adaptation, environmental footprint reduction, green financing, and creating liveable cities.

Eligibility for applicants includes a wide range of stakeholders such as industry, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), research institutions, city authorities, and relevant Copernicus Entrusted Entities. The call encourages consortium applications, requiring collaboration among different actors to present comprehensive proposals with business plans. Geographic eligibility extends to legal entities from EU and associated countries, allowing for broad participation while ensuring specific provisions for international cooperation and inclusion.

Funding under this program is structured as lump sum grants, with each project expected to receive between €1.5 million and €2.5 million, contributing to a total budget of €10 million, with around five grants anticipated for this particular call. The application process consists of a single-stage submission, which opens on October 22, 2025, with a deadline set for February 24, 2026.

The nature of support focuses on financial resources earmarked for project implementation, streamlining cost management for beneficiaries. The success rate is estimated at approximately 10 to 39%, reflecting a competitive landscape, while co-funding requirements are not explicitly mentioned.

The overarching goal of the program is to address market fragmentation in the space data sector, fostering the adoption of space data across industries. This initiative underlines the importance of commercial readiness, demanding proposals that not only provide technological innovations but also demonstrate viable pathways to market impact and address societal challenges. The integration of gender dimensions where relevant and adherence to proposal guidelines will be crucial for applicants.

In summary, this funding opportunity aims to propel the European space data economy forward by promoting the integration of EU space data into various critical sectors, thereby contributing to regional economic growth, strategic autonomy, and sustainable development.

The Horizon Europe program is offering funding for projects aimed at scaling up the use of EU space data in strategic areas. The call, HORIZON-EUSPA-2026-SPACE-02, focuses on overcoming sectorial demand fragmentation to increase the adoption of EU space data.

The expected outcomes include:
Development and commercialization of innovative space-based solutions for informed decision-making.
Leveraging EGNSS and Copernicus to modernize energy infrastructure, urban environments, and support green financing.
Consolidating sectorial demand for EGNSS and Copernicus-based solutions, exploring synergies with EU space-based secure communication and surveillance.

The scope of the projects should address the fragmented market for space data and services by developing innovative solutions tailored to specific industries and verticals. Projects should also leverage existing sectorial regulations and policies.

Projects must focus on one of the following priority areas:
Energy (renewable energy, energy efficiency, energy infrastructure): Using space data to inform decisions about renewable energy deployment and management, and to gain insights into energy consumption patterns. Examples include using GNSS and EO to enhance smart grid resilience and efficiency, and to monitor electricity distribution networks.
Climate adaptation and Environmental footprint reduction: Implementing climate adaptation measures and reducing vulnerability to climate change using GNSS and EO technologies for risk assessment, adaptation planning, and resource allocation. This includes developing applications for disaster preparedness, biodiversity strengthening, water resource management, and climate-resilient agriculture. Space-based solutions should also reduce resource consumption, environmental impact, and pollution.
Green financing and insurance: Utilizing space technologies to provide accurate data for transparency, accountability, and risk management in environmental projects funded by green financing.
Liveable cities of the future: Developing space-based applications for modernizing cities, including smart waste management, drinking water management, green constructions, urban mobility, public safety, and sustainable tourism. This also includes monitoring urbanization patterns, assessing interdependencies between urban and rural areas, improving disaster preparedness, and supporting climate-resilient infrastructure. Preserving cultural heritage through monitoring sites is also an objective.

Proposals should present a business plan and promote cooperation between various actors, including industry, SMEs, research institutions, and city authorities. Synergies with Space Based Communication, Navigation and Surveillance (CNS) systems should be explored, and projects should be complementary to national activities and those funded by the European Space Agency (ESA) and Destination Earth.

Galileo PRS related applications are excluded. International cooperation is encouraged, and the integration of the gender dimension should be addressed where relevant.

Admissibility conditions include adhering to proposal page limits and layout guidelines 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 listed in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes, with specific provisions for non-EU/non-Associated Countries outlined in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide. If projects use satellite data, they must utilize Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS.

Financial and operational capacity and exclusion criteria are described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes. Evaluation and award criteria, scoring, and thresholds are detailed in Annex D, with the business plan evaluated under the Impact criterion. Submission and evaluation processes are described in Annex F and the Online Manual, with the indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement also in Annex F.

Eligible costs will be in the form of a lump sum, as defined in the Decision of 7 July 2021. Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes provides further details.

The Commission estimates an EU contribution of EUR 1.50 to 2.50 million per project, although different amounts can be requested.

Application form templates are available in the Submission System, including the standard application form (HE RIA, IA) and evaluation form templates. Guidance documents include the HE Programme Guide, Lump Sum MGA, call-specific instructions, detailed budget table, and information on financial support to third parties.

Additional documents include the HE Main Work Programme 2025 (General Introduction, Digital, Industry and Space, General Annexes), HE Main Work Programme 2023–2025 (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, Rules for Legal Entity Validation, and the EU Grants AGA.

The submission system is planned to open on 22 October 2025, with a deadline of 24 February 2026 at 17:00 Brussels time.

There are two specific funding opportunities:
HORIZON-EUSPA-2026-SPACE-02-51: With a budget of EUR 10,000,000, it aims to award approximately 5 grants with contributions ranging from EUR 1,500,000 to EUR 2,500,000.
HORIZON-EUSPA-2026-SPACE-02-52: With a budget of EUR 5,000,000, it aims to award approximately 4 grants with contributions ranging from EUR 1,500,000 to EUR 1,800,000.

This funding opportunity aims to boost the European space data economy by encouraging the development and adoption of innovative solutions that utilize EU space data, particularly from Copernicus and EGNSS. It seeks to bridge the gap between the supply and demand of space data by targeting specific sectors like energy, climate adaptation, green finance, and urban development. The program encourages collaboration among various stakeholders and emphasizes the commercial exploitation of technological innovations. By focusing on these key areas, the EU aims to enhance its strategic autonomy, foster economic growth, and promote sustainable practices across various industries.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types include industry, SMEs, research institutions, city authorities, and where relevant, Copernicus Entrusted Entities. The call encourages cooperation between these different actors.

Funding Type: The funding type is a grant, specifically a HORIZON Innovation Action (HORIZON-IA) with eligible costs taking the form of a lump sum.

Consortium Requirement: The opportunity requires a consortium of multiple applicants. Proposals are expected to promote cooperation between different actors.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility includes EU and non-EU/non-Associated Countries. 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.

Target Sector: The program targets the space data economy, green and digital transitions, energy, climate adaptation, environmental footprint reduction, green financing and insurance, and the development of liveable cities of the future. It focuses on downstream industries and verticals that can benefit from the integration of EU Space data and services. Specific areas include renewable energy, energy efficiency, energy infrastructure, climate adaptation measures, disaster preparedness, biodiversity, water resource management, sustainable agriculture, smart waste management, urban mobility, public safety, and sustainable tourism.

Mentioned Countries: The opportunity is open to EU countries, non-EU countries, and non-associated countries.

Project Stage: The expected maturity of the project is development and commercialization, as the call focuses on innovation actions and the development of innovative solutions tailored to specific needs with a business plan.

Funding Amount: The estimated EU contribution is between EUR 1.50 and 2.50 million for HORIZON-EUSPA-2026-SPACE-02-51 and EUR 1.50 and 1.80 million for HORIZON-EUSPA-2026-SPACE-02-52. However, the submission and selection of proposals requesting different amounts is not precluded.

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 a lump sum grant.

Application Stages: The application process consists of a single stage.

Success Rates: The success rates are not explicitly mentioned, but the indicative number of grants is 5 for HORIZON-EUSPA-2026-SPACE-02-51 and 4 for HORIZON-EUSPA-2026-SPACE-02-52.

Co-funding Requirement: The information does not explicitly state whether co-funding is required.

Summary:

This Horizon Europe funding opportunity aims to boost the space data economy by supporting projects that develop innovative solutions using EU space data and services (Copernicus and Galileo/EGNOS) in various priority areas. The goal is to overcome sectorial demand fragmentation and scale up the adoption of space data across different industries. Eligible applicants include industries, SMEs, research institutions, and city authorities, who are expected to form consortia and present a business plan for their proposed solutions. The projects should focus on one of the four selected priority areas: energy, climate adaptation and environmental footprint reduction, green financing and insurance, or liveable cities of the future. The funding is provided as a lump sum grant, with an estimated EU contribution of EUR 1.5 to 2.5 million per project for HORIZON-EUSPA-2026-SPACE-02-51 and EUR 1.5 to 1.8 million for HORIZON-EUSPA-2026-SPACE-02-52. International cooperation is encouraged, and the integration of the gender dimension should be considered where relevant. The application process is a single-stage open call, and the submission deadline is February 24, 2026. The call aims to foster the development and commercialization of innovative space-based solutions, modernize infrastructure, support green financing schemes, and address environmental challenges, ultimately driving economic growth and strategic autonomy for Europe.