Transformation to trajectory-based operations

The grant opportunity HORIZON-SESAR-2025-DES-IR-02-WA1-1 is part of the Horizon Europe initiative, specifically under the Digital European Sky Industrial Research 02 program. This program focuses on advancing air traffic management through trajectory-based operations. The budget for this grant is 20 million euros, with individual contributions expected to range between 4 to 10 million euros. The submission process is a single-stage model, opening on April 1, 2025, and closing on September 16, 2025, at 17:00 Brussels time.

Eligible applicants for this grant include research organizations, public entities, universities, and possibly SMEs and large enterprises involved in aviation innovation. The grant primarily supports research and innovation actions, with a significant emphasis on integrating flight operation systems, electronic flight bags, flight management systems, and air traffic control platforms. These integrations are crucial for optimizing flight trajectory management and enhancing the overall efficiency of air traffic operations.

The grant requires applicants to work in consortia, which should include established manufacturers or organizations demonstrating the capabilities to develop and prototype relevant technologies. The funding covers 70% of eligible costs as a lump sum, alleviating the need for detailed budget justifications. A collaboration agreement is required among partners, and beneficiaries will have obligations to disseminate results and share data for broader use and impact within the aviation sector.

The projects funded under this grant aim to facilitate the development of Flight Information and Control Environment systems, network trajectory synchronization, and improvements in dynamic route availability documents, contributing to the broader goals of the European ATM Master Plan. The call encourages international collaboration and emphasizes innovation in air traffic management, with expected outcomes including enhanced safety, efficiency, and sustainability within the European aviation system.

The indicative number of grants available under this call is two, and the total project duration may last up to 36 months.

The HORIZON-SESAR-2025-DES-IR-02-WA1-1 is a HORIZON JU Research and Innovation Actions grant with a budget of 20,000,000 EUR for the year 2025. It is a single-stage submission model, opening on April 1, 2025, and closing on September 16, 2025, at 17:00:00 Brussels time. The expected contribution is between 4,000,000 to 10,000,000 EUR, and the indicative number of grants is 2. The goal is to significantly advance development actions related to FF-ICE, network trajectory synchronization, FMS/EFB/FOC integration for trajectory optimization, and dynamic RAD. This involves improving airborne, ground, ATS, and NM systems. Research should cover TBO integration, ANSP-triggered impact assessment, unconstrained desired trajectory (UDT), FF-ICE/R2 precursors, military flight planning evolution, integration of FOC, EFB, FMS, and ATC platforms, connected aircraft Network TBO, and increased dynamicity in RAD/LoA constraints. Specific minimum requirements include the integration of FOC, EFB, FMS, and ATC platforms, with consortia needing to include established manufacturers or demonstrate the capability to build prototypes. The funding rate is 70% for all beneficiaries, and eligible costs will be in the form of a lump sum. Beneficiaries have additional dissemination and exploitation obligations, including sharing results with other grants and making results available for reuse. A collaboration agreement is required, and the maximum project duration is 36 months.

HORIZON-SESAR-2025-DES-IR-02-WA2-1 is a HORIZON JU Research and Innovation Actions grant with a budget of 14,000,000 EUR for the year 2025. It is a single-stage submission model, opening on April 1, 2025, and closing on September 16, 2025, at 17:00:00 Brussels time. The expected contribution is between 2,000,000 to 7,000,000 EUR, and the indicative number of grants is 2. The goal is to significantly advance development actions related to FF-ICE, network trajectory synchronization, FMS/EFB/FOC integration for trajectory optimization, and dynamic RAD. This involves improving airborne, ground, ATS, and NM systems. Research should cover TBO integration, ANSP-triggered impact assessment, unconstrained desired trajectory (UDT), FF-ICE/R2 precursors, military flight planning evolution, integration of FOC, EFB, FMS, and ATC platforms, connected aircraft Network TBO, and increased dynamicity in RAD/LoA constraints. Specific minimum requirements include the integration of FOC, EFB, FMS, and ATC platforms, with consortia needing to include established manufacturers or demonstrate the capability to build prototypes. The funding rate is 70% for all beneficiaries, and eligible costs will be in the form of a lump sum. Beneficiaries have additional dissemination and exploitation obligations, including sharing results with other grants and making results available for reuse. A collaboration agreement is required, and the maximum project duration is 36 months.

HORIZON-SESAR-2025-DES-IR-02-WA3-1 is a HORIZON JU Research and Innovation Actions grant with a budget of 93,000,000 EUR for the year 2025. It is a single-stage submission model, opening on April 1, 2025, and closing on September 16, 2025, at 17:00:00 Brussels time. The expected contribution is between 9,000,000 to 31,000,000 EUR, and the indicative number of grants is 3. The goal is to significantly advance development actions related to FF-ICE, network trajectory synchronization, FMS/EFB/FOC integration for trajectory optimization, and dynamic RAD. This involves improving airborne, ground, ATS, and NM systems. Research should cover TBO integration, ANSP-triggered impact assessment, unconstrained desired trajectory (UDT), FF-ICE/R2 precursors, military flight planning evolution, integration of FOC, EFB, FMS, and ATC platforms, connected aircraft Network TBO, and increased dynamicity in RAD/LoA constraints. Specific minimum requirements include the integration of FOC, EFB, FMS, and ATC platforms, with consortia needing to include established manufacturers or demonstrate the capability to build prototypes. The funding rate is 70% for all beneficiaries, and eligible costs will be in the form of a lump sum. Beneficiaries have additional dissemination and exploitation obligations, including sharing results with other grants and making results available for reuse. A collaboration agreement is required, and the maximum project duration is 36 months.

HORIZON-SESAR-2025-DES-IR-02-WA3-2 is a HORIZON JU Research and Innovation Actions grant with a budget of 20,000,000 EUR for the year 2025. It is a single-stage submission model, opening on April 1, 2025, and closing on September 16, 2025, at 17:00:00 Brussels time. The expected contribution is between 5,000,000 to 10,000,000 EUR, and the indicative number of grants is 2. The goal is to significantly advance development actions related to FF-ICE, network trajectory synchronization, FMS/EFB/FOC integration for trajectory optimization, and dynamic RAD. This involves improving airborne, ground, ATS, and NM systems. Research should cover TBO integration, ANSP-triggered impact assessment, unconstrained desired trajectory (UDT), FF-ICE/R2 precursors, military flight planning evolution, integration of FOC, EFB, FMS, and ATC platforms, connected aircraft Network TBO, and increased dynamicity in RAD/LoA constraints. Specific minimum requirements include the integration of FOC, EFB, FMS, and ATC platforms, with consortia needing to include established manufacturers or demonstrate the capability to build prototypes. The funding rate is 70% for all beneficiaries, and eligible costs will be in the form of a lump sum. Beneficiaries have additional dissemination and exploitation obligations, including sharing results with other grants and making results available for reuse. A collaboration agreement is required, and the maximum project duration is 36 months.

HORIZON-SESAR-2025-DES-IR-02-WA4-1 is a HORIZON JU Research and Innovation Actions grant with a budget of 24,000,000 EUR for the year 2025. It is a single-stage submission model, opening on April 1, 2025, and closing on September 16, 2025, at 17:00:00 Brussels time. The expected contribution is between 5,000,000 to 12,000,000 EUR, and the indicative number of grants is 2. The goal is to significantly advance development actions related to FF-ICE, network trajectory synchronization, FMS/EFB/FOC integration for trajectory optimization, and dynamic RAD. This involves improving airborne, ground, ATS, and NM systems. Research should cover TBO integration, ANSP-triggered impact assessment, unconstrained desired trajectory (UDT), FF-ICE/R2 precursors, military flight planning evolution, integration of FOC, EFB, FMS, and ATC platforms, connected aircraft Network TBO, and increased dynamicity in RAD/LoA constraints. Specific minimum requirements include the integration of FOC, EFB, FMS, and ATC platforms, with consortia needing to include established manufacturers or demonstrate the capability to build prototypes. The funding rate is 70% for all beneficiaries, and eligible costs will be in the form of a lump sum. Beneficiaries have additional dissemination and exploitation obligations, including sharing results with other grants and making results available for reuse. A collaboration agreement is required, and the maximum project duration is 36 months.

HORIZON-SESAR-2025-DES-IR-02-WA4-2 is a HORIZON JU Research and Innovation Actions grant with a budget of 6,000,000 EUR for the year 2025. It is a single-stage submission model, opening on April 1, 2025, and closing on September 16, 2025, at 17:00:00 Brussels time. The expected contribution is between 1,000,000 to 3,000,000 EUR, and the indicative number of grants is 2. The goal is to significantly advance development actions related to FF-ICE, network trajectory synchronization, FMS/EFB/FOC integration for trajectory optimization, and dynamic RAD. This involves improving airborne, ground, ATS, and NM systems. Research should cover TBO integration, ANSP-triggered impact assessment, unconstrained desired trajectory (UDT), FF-ICE/R2 precursors, military flight planning evolution, integration of FOC, EFB, FMS, and ATC platforms, connected aircraft Network TBO, and increased dynamicity in RAD/LoA constraints. Specific minimum requirements include the integration of FOC, EFB, FMS, and ATC platforms, with consortia needing to include established manufacturers or demonstrate the capability to build prototypes. The funding rate is 70% for all beneficiaries, and eligible costs will be in the form of a lump sum. Beneficiaries have additional dissemination and exploitation obligations, including sharing results with other grants and making results available for reuse. A collaboration agreement is required, and the maximum project duration is 36 months.

HORIZON-SESAR-2025-DES-IR-02-WA5-3, HORIZON-SESAR-2025-DES-IR-02-WA5-1 and HORIZON-SESAR-2025-DES-IR-02-WA5-2 are HORIZON JU Research and Innovation Actions grants with a budget of 30,000,000 EUR for the year 2025. It is a single-stage submission model, opening on April 1, 2025, and closing on September 16, 2025, at 17:00:00 Brussels time. The expected contribution is between 3,000,000 to 6,000,000 EUR, and the indicative number of grants is 1. The goal is to significantly advance development actions related to FF-ICE, network trajectory synchronization, FMS/EFB/FOC integration for trajectory optimization, and dynamic RAD. This involves improving airborne, ground, ATS, and NM systems. Research should cover TBO integration, ANSP-triggered impact assessment, unconstrained desired trajectory (UDT), FF-ICE/R2 precursors, military flight planning evolution, integration of FOC, EFB, FMS, and ATC platforms, connected aircraft Network TBO, and increased dynamicity in RAD/LoA constraints. Specific minimum requirements include the integration of FOC, EFB, FMS, and ATC platforms, with consortia needing to include established manufacturers or demonstrate the capability to build prototypes. The funding rate is 70% for all beneficiaries, and eligible costs will be in the form of a lump sum. Beneficiaries have additional dissemination and exploitation obligations, including sharing results with other grants and making results available for reuse. A collaboration agreement is required, and the maximum project duration is 36 months.

HORIZON-SESAR-2025-DES-IR-02-WA6-2, HORIZON-SESAR-2025-DES-IR-02-WA6-3 and HORIZON-SESAR-2025-DES-IR-02-WA6-1 are HORIZON JU Innovation Actions grants with a budget of 20,000,000 EUR for the year 2025. It is a single-stage submission model, opening on April 1, 2025, and closing on September 16, 2025, at 17:00:00 Brussels time. The expected contribution is between 2,000,000 to 5,000,000 EUR, and the indicative number of grants is 1. The goal is to significantly advance development actions related to FF-ICE, network trajectory synchronization, FMS/EFB/FOC integration for trajectory optimization, and dynamic RAD. This involves improving airborne, ground, ATS, and NM systems. Research should cover TBO integration, ANSP-triggered impact assessment, unconstrained desired trajectory (UDT), FF-ICE/R2 precursors, military flight planning evolution, integration of FOC, EFB, FMS, and ATC platforms, connected aircraft Network TBO, and increased dynamicity in RAD/LoA constraints. Specific minimum requirements include the integration of FOC, EFB, FMS, and ATC platforms, with consortia needing to include established manufacturers or demonstrate the capability to build prototypes. The funding rate is 70% for all beneficiaries, and eligible costs will be in the form of a lump sum. Beneficiaries have additional dissemination and exploitation obligations, including sharing results with other grants and making results available for reuse. A collaboration agreement is required, and the maximum project duration is 36 months.

HORIZON-SESAR-2025-DES-IR-02-WA7-1 is a HORIZON JU Coordination and Support Actions grant with a budget of 2,000,000 EUR for the year 2025. It is a single-stage submission model, opening on April 1, 2025, and closing on September 16, 2025, at 17:00:00 Brussels time. The expected contribution is between 1,000,000 to 2,000,000 EUR, and the indicative number of grants is 1. The goal is to significantly advance development actions related to FF-ICE, network trajectory synchronization, FMS/EFB/FOC integration for trajectory optimization, and dynamic RAD. This involves improving airborne, ground, ATS, and NM systems. Research should cover TBO integration, ANSP-triggered impact assessment, unconstrained desired trajectory (UDT), FF-ICE/R2 precursors, military flight planning evolution, integration of FOC, EFB, FMS, and ATC platforms, connected aircraft Network TBO, and increased dynamicity in RAD/LoA constraints. Specific minimum requirements include the integration of FOC, EFB, FMS, and ATC platforms, with consortia needing to include established manufacturers or demonstrate the capability to build prototypes. The funding rate is 70% for all beneficiaries, and eligible costs will be in the form of a lump sum. Beneficiaries have additional dissemination and exploitation obligations, including sharing results with other grants and making results available for reuse. A collaboration agreement is required, and the maximum project duration is 36 months.

HORIZON-SESAR-2025-DES-IR-02-WA7-2 is a HORIZON JU Coordination and Support Actions grant with a budget of 1,000,000 EUR for the year 2025. It is a single-stage submission model, opening on April 1, 2025, and closing on September 16, 2025, at 17:00:00 Brussels time. The expected contribution is between 500,000 to 1,000,000 EUR, and the indicative number of grants is 1. The goal is to significantly advance development actions related to FF-ICE, network trajectory synchronization, FMS/EFB/FOC integration for trajectory optimization, and dynamic RAD. This involves improving airborne, ground, ATS, and NM systems. Research should cover TBO integration, ANSP-triggered impact assessment, unconstrained desired trajectory (UDT), FF-ICE/R2 precursors, military flight planning evolution, integration of FOC, EFB, FMS, and ATC platforms, connected aircraft Network TBO, and increased dynamicity in RAD/LoA constraints. Specific minimum requirements include the integration of FOC, EFB, FMS, and ATC platforms, with consortia needing to include established manufacturers or demonstrate the capability to build prototypes. The funding rate is 70% for all beneficiaries, and eligible costs will be in the form of a lump sum. Beneficiaries have additional dissemination and exploitation obligations, including sharing results with other grants and making results available for reuse. A collaboration agreement is required, and the maximum project duration is 36 months.

This opportunity is a set of calls for proposals under the HORIZON program, specifically targeting the Digital European Sky Industrial Research 02 initiative (HORIZON-SESAR-2025-DES-IR-02). These calls aim to advance trajectory-based operations in air traffic management through research and innovation actions, innovation actions, and coordination and support actions. The focus is on integrating airborne and ground systems, enhancing flight planning, and improving collaboration between various stakeholders, including airlines, air navigation service providers, and military actors. The projects funded under these calls are expected to contribute to the development of the SESAR TBO concept of operations and align with the European ATM Master Plan, ultimately leading to a more efficient, flexible, and environmentally friendly air traffic management system. The calls are structured around different work areas (WA1 to WA7), each with a specific budget and expected outcomes, and they emphasize the importance of integrating various technologies and systems, such as FOC, EFB, FMS, and ATC platforms. Collaboration agreements are essential, and projects are expected to share results and make them available for reuse to maximize the impact and contribute to standardization efforts.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are not explicitly stated in the provided text. However, based on the nature of the calls (Research and Innovation Actions, Innovation Actions, Coordination and Support Actions) and the typical participants in SESAR Joint Undertaking projects, eligible applicants are likely to include: universities, research institutes, large enterprises, SMEs, and other relevant organizations involved in air traffic management research and innovation. The text mentions Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs), Flight Operations Centres (FOC), Flight Management System (FMS) manufacturers, and ATC system manufacturers, suggesting these are also key potential applicants or partners.

Funding Type: The funding types include: Research and Innovation Actions (RIA), Innovation Actions (IA), and Coordination and Support Actions (CSA). All eligible costs will take the form of a lump sum.

Consortium Requirement: A collaboration agreement is required. The specific minimum requirements for the topic state that consortia for this topic shall integrate flight operations centre (FOC), electronic flight bag (EFB), flight management system (FMS) and ATC platforms.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility is primarily focused on EU and associated countries. The text mentions that "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." This suggests that while the focus is on EU and associated countries, some third countries may be eligible under specific conditions.

Target Sector: The target sector is primarily air traffic management (ATM), with a focus on trajectory-based operations (TBO), flight operations centre (FOC), electronic flight bag (EFB), flight management system (FMS), air traffic control (ATC), network management (NM), and air navigation service providers (ANSPs). The program targets the digital transformation of the European sky, specifically focusing on research and innovation in air traffic management.

Mentioned Countries: The text refers to Europe and non-EU/non-Associated Countries.

Project Stage: The project stages range from research to innovation, including development, validation, and potentially demonstration. The calls include Research and Innovation Actions (RIA), Innovation Actions (IA), and Coordination and Support Actions (CSA), indicating a range of project maturities.

Funding Amount: The funding amounts vary depending on the specific topic within the call, ranging from €500,000 to €31,000,000.
HORIZON-SESAR-2025-DES-IR-02-WA7-2: €500,000 to €1,000,000
HORIZON-SESAR-2025-DES-IR-02-WA7-1: €1,000,000 to €2,000,000
HORIZON-SESAR-2025-DES-IR-02-WA6-1, WA6-2, WA6-3: €2,000,000 to €5,000,000
HORIZON-SESAR-2025-DES-IR-02-WA2-1: €2,000,000 to €7,000,000
HORIZON-SESAR-2025-DES-IR-02-WA1-1: €4,000,000 to €10,000,000
HORIZON-SESAR-2025-DES-IR-02-WA3-2: €5,000,000 to €10,000,000
HORIZON-SESAR-2025-DES-IR-02-WA4-1: €5,000,000 to €12,000,000
HORIZON-SESAR-2025-DES-IR-02-WA4-2: €1,000,000 to €3,000,000
HORIZON-SESAR-2025-DES-IR-02-WA5-1, WA5-2, WA5-3: €3,000,000 to €6,000,000
HORIZON-SESAR-2025-DES-IR-02-WA3-1: €9,000,000 to €31,000,000

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 a lump sum grant to cover eligible costs.

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: Co-funding is required, as the funding rate is 70% of the eligible costs, implying that beneficiaries need to cover the remaining 30%.

Summary:
This is a Horizon Europe program call under the Digital European Sky Industrial Research 02 (HORIZON-SESAR-2025-DES-IR-02). It aims to advance trajectory-based operations (TBO) in air traffic management (ATM) through research and innovation actions, innovation actions, and coordination and support actions. The call focuses on integrating airborne and ground systems, enhancing flight plan processes, and improving collaboration between various ATM stakeholders. Projects should contribute to the development of Flight Information and Control Environment (FF-ICE), network trajectory synchronization, integration of flight management systems (FMS), electronic flight bags (EFB), and flight operations centres (FOC), and dynamic route availability documents (RAD). Consortia should include manufacturers or demonstrate capabilities in FOC, ATS, and FMS systems. Funding is provided as a lump sum, covering 70% of eligible costs, with a single-stage application process and a deadline of September 16, 2025. The call encourages international collaboration, particularly within the EU and associated countries, and promotes the sharing and reuse of project results. The call is structured around several work areas (WA1 to WA7), each with a specific budget and focus, ranging from research and innovation to coordination and support activities.